How to Keep a Dog Cool

So, how to keep a dog cool?

Tip 1

This one is the most obvious ‘no-no’, but you’d be surprised how many people still do it; do not leave your best furry friend in the car on a hot day, or any day for that matter! Even with the windows cracked, it’s not enough to make the car safe for pets. Although it’s not illegal in the UK to leave your dog in the car, it is illegal to abuse or neglect them and leaving them in a hot car is deemed as both. Here’s what to do if you see a dog locked in a car https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/dog-locked-car-advice/ 

Tip 2

This next one is a fun tip: Now, we’re not sure about you but we don’t like to be out in the sun unless we have a nice pool to throw ourselves into. The same can be said about our dogs! We wouldn’t recommend anything that requires air as it will be easily popped with claws, so something like a plastic childrens sand pit would do nicely!

Tip 3

Try to keep your dog in shaded areas and ensure he drinks plenty of water. Dog kennels can get really hot so if your garden doesn’t have any shaded areas, perhaps best to bring them into the house.

Tip 4

On very hot days, try to limit his exercise. Whilst we all know physical activity is super important for our pets, high temperatures can be dangerous. You should stick to cooler time periods to walk your dog such as early mornings or later on in the evening. Avoid pavements and asphalt as they will be hot and will burn the pads of your pets paws and take plenty of water when exercising your pet to help reduce the risk of dehydration.

Tip 5

If you’ve got a hot dog (no, not the ones in the bun) sprawled out on the kitchen floor whilst you’re supping on iced frappes, why not let him’ join in the fun with some tasty, cooling treats? Here’s a link to one of the best ones we found on the web http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating/recipes/animal_treats/dog_popsicles.html?credit=web_id527761502

Just a word of caution, if your dog is showing signs of overheating, move them to a shady area and slowly cool them down by pouring cool water on their bodies. COOL, not cold as they could go into shock. You could even place wet towels on them to cool them off. Try to get them to drink a little cold water but don’t force them. And of course, get them to a vet as soon as possible.

And there you have it, our top 5 tips on how to keep a dog cool this summer. We hope they’ve been helpful to you and we hope you all have a wonderful, fun filled summer with your best friends. Stay cool!