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Keep Your Pets Nice and Cool This Summer

SAY ‘NO’ TO A HOT DOG & ‘YES’ TO A COMFORTABLE HAPPY DOG!

Guess what it’s hot outside. In Mallorca? Surprising eh?! Every year, we say the same thing ‘I don’t remember it being this hot last year.’ The heat always comes a bit of a shock. So what do us humans do? We take off our winter coats and heavy clothes, wearing shorts & loose cotton all summer long. We stay in t cool air-conditioned buildings, we head to the pool or sea for a swim, and we drink lots of cool water. Seems obvious? As responsible pet owners, we know not to leave our pets in cars (even on mildly warm days!) or stuck out in the sun without access to shade. But here’re some more “in-depth” tips to keep our pets as cool and comfortable as possible for those times we must leave our pets as we go to work or other appointments?

Just having shade and a bowl of water may not be enough in a severe heat wave when the temperature’s up in the 30s. When it is very warm, the water dish doesn’t have to be in the sun to heat the water up enough to a degree that means your pet may not drink it.

For example, I have friends who keep chickens and geese and they require a lot of water to drink all year round. They would’t want to find out, but my friends suspect quite seriously that their poultry would die of thirst before drinking warm water. Dogs and cats vary in their sense of taste/temperature, but fresh cool water is of course, the top choice for all animals.

In no real order, here are some easy tips to ensure that your pet stays cool this summer and avoids any possible emergency situations, such as heatstroke.

Add ice to your pet’s water dish to keep water cooler longer

A “bath” without soap. Use a garden hose to wet down your dog or use a cool, very wet towel to wet down your cat for evaporative cooling. Once animals figure this out, many enjoy this quick water cool down.

For animals that love the water, an inexpensive child’s pool makes an excellent “on demand” swimming pools for pets. Caution is advised – make sure that the pets are able to use the pool without risk of drowning (keep a special ‘careful’ eye on puppies and children). My friend’s geese adore their kiddie pool & watching them using it can be a real pleasure.

Setting up a sprinkler works well for some animals. This keeps the water running and cool, allowing for a fresh water source on demand. Observe your pet to see how they react to a sprinkler before assuming everything is fine.

If you will be walking with your pet, remember that while paw pads are “tough” they are also sensitive, and can be burned while walking on hot pavement and tar. If possible, walk on grass or dirt, and check your pet’s paw pads to make sure there isn’t any redness or pain.

Good grooming is important. Speak with a groomer or vet to find out what is best for your pet. A full shave may not be the answer, depending on your pet’s coat/bread

If your pet must be outside, make sure that shade is available at all times. While home, be sure to check the area your pet is in – as the sun changes, is the shade still readily available?

Regarding those unpredictable hot summer thunderstorms we have – Is your pet safe? If you have to leave your pet alone, please, if possible, arrange to have a friend or neighbour check on your pet during extreme weather (heat and storm activity) to make sure they haven’t done anything out of the ordinary due to stress or fear that could risk injury or heat-related problems. For example, overheating due to excitement or stress (barking, jumping), knocking over the water dish, getting trapped somewhere trying to escape thunder, etc.—these are all scenarios that can happen when animals are acting unpredictably due to fright or stress.

Finally do remember that ‘light’ coloured dogs are usually more prone to sunburn than dark coloured dogs. Don’t let your pet burn, it’s as painful for them as it is for us.

ENJOY THE REST OF THE SUMMER. Thanks.