It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy. You and your dog are looking forward to warmer weather that gets you up and moving, heading out into the world to adventure, sniff, and pee on every tree you come across. Whether you’re headed to the beach or just relaxing on an apartment patio, your dog will be right there with you soaking up those rays. Summer is the ideal season to spend time with your dog outdoors, and there is a new adventure just waiting around every corner. While dogs are naturally built for outdoor play, it is important to remember that they have many of the same health needs as their human companions.
The joys of warm weather cannot be overstated for most pups; they adore the chance to run, play, and explore the world with you. But summertime, for all its warmth and loveliness, does come with some pretty significant dangers for your dog, too. From overheating to ticks, these 10 special considerations will help you to be a better pet parent when warm weather comes.
Whether you own a beautiful Golden Retriever, a tiny Chihuahua, or the best mutt in the world that you found at your local rescue, it’s important that you remember that all dogs need special protection during the hot summer months. Countless dogs die every year due to heat-related situations, and you don’t want your beloved pet to suffer this same fate.
Safety Tips for Dogs
Dogs love to play outside. Indeed, most of them spend as much time as they can parading around their yards, getting into various types of mischief. During the summer, it is important to monitor your dog’s physical activity. With temperatures skyrocketing to sweltering levels, it does not take long for the animal to succumb to overheating. Do not allow your dog to play in the sun for too long, and allow it to come inside the house if possible.
Follow these tips if you plan to spend plenty of time outside with your pet, there many things you should be aware of ahead of time.
Hydration & Food
Summer weather means that your pup has an increased need for both food and water throughout the day. A portable dog bowl and water bottle will help you keep him hydrated properly on all but the very hottest days. To calculate how much water your dog needs per day, divide his weight by 10. Then, take that number and times it first by 9. Jot this number down. Now, multiply the number you got when dividing his weight by 10 by 18. The results are your lower and upper range for average amount of water needed throughout the day.
Keep Dogs Hydrated
When a dog gets hot, they have few ways to get cool. Since your dog cannot tell you when they are thirsty, you will need to be proactive about giving them plenty of water. Carry a bowl and some water with you anytime you travel with your dog away from home. Then, give them an opportunity to drink every time you take a water break, and pay attention for signs of thirst such as excessive panting.
This works out to be about 2.5 liters of water a day for the average 50-lb dog, or 5 liters of water per day for the average 100-lb dog. But keep in mind that many, many things can impact how much or how little your dog should drink. High activity and heat levels will naturally result in an increased demand for water.
Monitor Your Dog’s Water Supply
Just like humans, dogs are primarily composed of water. Therefore, they need to drink plenty of liquids to stay in prime health. You should provide your pet with a sufficient amount of water. Monitor its supply closely, and refill it when it becomes low or dirty.
Be cautious of over-watering without providing food. This can throw electrolytes of and result in hypokalemia for some dogs. If you find your dog drinking excessively due to the heat, a few pieces of kibble here and there will balance salts, potassium, and other necessary electrolytes, too.
Never Leave Dogs in the Car
Every summer, parents are reminded to avoid leaving their kids in the car. However, dogs are at risk when they are left in the car, too. It only takes a few minutes for the interior temperature of a car to reach unsafe levels. For example, temperatures in a car can reach as high as 160 degrees on a 78-degree day when it is parked in the direct sun. Try to choose dog-friendly areas to stop, or leave your pet at home if you know you cannot bring them inside a store or restaurant.
Many people take their dogs along wherever they go, but you can kill your pet by leaving it in a hot car even for a few minutes. Even on what seems like a pleasant 85-degree day, the temperatures in your car can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes and 120 degrees within 30 minutes even with the windows open a bit. This can cause your dog to suffer from brain damage, organ failure and even death. Leave your dog home, and you shouldn’t hesitate to call the police if you see dogs locked in hot cars because you could save a life.
Dangers of Leaving Dogs in the Car
It’s hot. You stop at the convenience store to grab water (both for you and your pup). You’ll only be in for five minutes, so you leave him in the car. Everything will be okay, right? After all, it’s just a few moments.
This line of thinking is unfortunately exceptionally dangerous. In high heat, a vehicle with mostly closed windows can raise in internal temperature by as much as 20 or more degrees in five minutes. Even lowering the windows doesn’t help if the temperature outside is above around 65 degrees; the vehicle will still become intensely hot – hot enough to kill your dog in just a few minutes.
We hear about it all the time on the news, but some pet owners still insist on keeping their dogs in hot cars. It’s far wiser to take your dog with you, leave him home in the A/C, or make other arrangements while you’re in the store. Most store owners are very understanding about allowing you in with your pup if you explain (provided that they’re allowed to by law) and will accommodate you.
Sun & Paw Burn
Sunburn? Yes, you read that right. Your dog can experience sunburn just like you can. To make matters worse, repeated burns often lead to cancer in the same way for dogs as it does for humans. Paw burn is also a problem, especially on hot pavement or sidewalks during the point of the day when the sun is the hottest.
To prevent sunburn, use a dog-safe sunscreen along any area of your dog’s skin that is exposed. This may include the part along his back, the inside of his ears, the area around the nose, or any bald patches. This is obviously more of an issue for hairless breeds, but even long-haired dogs can experience sunburn. Staying out of the sun between noon and 4 p.m. also helps.
To prevent paw burn, avoid hot sidewalks and pavement on extremely hot days. Instead, walk on the grass or dirt; it doesn’t get as hot as other surfaces. If your dog’s paws do become blistered, see your vet immediately – this is a sign of a second or third-degree burn and it will almost always necessitate treatment.
Protect Those Puppy Paws
Although they may look tough, a dog’s paws are vulnerable to injuries just like your feet. Avoid letting your dog walk on hot surfaces such as asphalt and concrete. As a general rule, if it is too hot for your skin, then it could burn your puppy’s paws. Additionally, thorns, sharp rocks and burrs can all penetrate the pads of your puppy’s feet and lead to infections. Check your dog’s paws after walking in outdoor areas, and consider getting special protective booties if you hike in natural areas.
Avoid Vigorous Walks on Hot Asphalt
Dogs love to be walked, but it’s important to remember that they aren’t wearing shoes that shield them from the pain and damage that can be caused by hot asphalt. Many dogs turn up at the veterinarian’s office every year for blistered paw pads due to standing too long on hot pavement. Additionally, don’t expect your dog to run hard or be out too long in the hot weather, and you should always carry water for your dog as well as yourself in order to stay sufficiently hydrated when you’re outside.
Keep Your Dog Cool & Prevent Overheating
First and perhaps most importantly is the need to keep your dog cool in the heat. Heat stroke is a significant cause of death in dogs; it’s easier for a dog to become overheated than you might think. Just a few minutes in a hot car or full mid-day sun is enough to cause an older or infirm dog to become extremely sick.
Even the healthiest dogs can experience heat stroke after aggressive play or running in the heat, especially if they aren’t drinking enough water or eating along the way (see dehydration lower down for more info on exact requirements).
Keep your dog cool by ensuring that he always has a quiet, shady spot to sit and rest. Offer water regularly during play sessions, and if you’re home, bring him into the air conditioning every so often so he can cool down. A kid’s plastic pool filled with cool, fresh water makes an excellent place for your pup to cool down, too, especially if he likes water.
Overheating in animals is a serious problem. Much like humans, dogs can suffer from heatstroke too. If you notice that your pup is panting a lot while its tongue is hanging out, it may be time to bring it inside the home for some cool air. Consider investing in a cooling pad for inside or outside the home, along with adding a small pool to the backyard for your animal to soak in whenever it gets a bit too hot.
Place a Wading Pool Outside
Those who keep their dogs in fenced-in yards have a better ability to ensure that they have plenty of watering sites and access to shaded areas, but you can improve conditions for your dog in the summer even more when you provide a small child’s pool. By having access to cool water in the pool, the dog can lower its body temperature with a little swim.
Leave Home’s Cooling System On
It may be a temptation to turn off the air conditioning while your away in order to save money on your utility bill, but your home can become unbearably hot during the summer months. If your pet stays inside while you’re away, then leave the cooling system on for their safety and comfort.
Don’t Leave Your Dog Chained Outside
When a dog is chained outside in hot weather, there is always the potential for it to become tangled up and unable to move into shade or get to the water supply. If you’re gone to work all day, this means that you could return to a pet who has died in the hot sun.
Pay Attention to Shade & Water
When dogs are outside, they can’t stay cool in a dog house. If you don’t have a shade tree, then consider putting up a tarp to provide cooling shade for your dog. Be sure to also provide several watering dishes with fresh water at least twice a day both inside and out. No-tip water dishes are your best option, and you can even add ice cubes for extra comfort.
Protection From Summertime Pests
Ticks. Fleas. Worms. Flystrike. All of these infestations start in the spring and summer months, and once they take hold, they can be an incredible pain to resolve. Instead of waiting until your fluffy friend is infested, ward it off in advance by using your vet’s favorite spot-on treatment monthly. Your dog should be treated all year round for the most effective protection, but if you choose to treat only in spring, summer, and fall, start in late February. Full coverage can take a week or so to kick in so bear this in mind before venturing out.
Ticks
Ticks are especially problematic this year in many areas of the United States, mostly due to warm, humid winter weather. Unfortunately, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can make your dog sick, too. If you find a tick on your pup, use these instructions to remove it the right way. Then, call your vet to discuss whether prophylactic antibiotics are required.
While having fun outdoors, it is easy for ticks to latch themselves onto your dog. Unfortunately, these ticks can cause itching and inflammation. Invest in tick repellant and spray it generously over your dog to keep those ticks away. If you happen to notice your dog is continuously scratching itself, it may be time to invest in a tick control treatment that will quickly remove them.
Flystrike
Flystrike happens to dogs and humans alike – just ask anyone who’s gone fishing by a river or swamp at sundown. Between black flies, horse flies, mosquitos, and other nasties, your dog has to fend off all kinds of critters when he’s outdoors. Fly strike simply refers to what can happen when bites become extreme and grouped together; often, infection and irritation follows.
To treat flystrike, most vets recommend flushing the area with an antibiotic rinse while also giving an oral antibiotic to rid the body of the parasites. Some flies may leave eggs that then hatch into maggots; this is a symptom of an extreme infestation that should be immediately addressed by your vet.
Spiders
Spider bites may be painful and potentially dangerous to your dog. Keep them away by spider-proofing your home. There are certain scents that are deterrents to spiders, such as peppermint and citrus. Buy some peppermint essential oil or orange essential oil and wipe down the sides of each window in the home as well as the door frames. Make sure the scent is present in areas where spiders would easily enter the home to keep them out.
Pest Vaccinations
In addition to the obvious discomfort from itching, dogs are susceptible to serious diseases caused by common summertime pests such as fleas and ticks. Before the season hits, make sure your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations and pest prevention medications. Then, check your dog regularly for signs of an infestation, and take them into the vet if a problem gets out of hand.
Standing Water Dangers
Swimming – the water dog’s favorite summertime activity. Most dogs enjoy water if they’ve been exposed to it early enough in life, and will happily splash and frolic while you laugh at their antics. Unfortunately, the dog’s propensity to enjoy water can also be its undoing, too, especially when it comes to standing water like ponds, puddles, and lakes.
Puddles, Ponds, & Lakes
Each of these bodies of water can contain high bacteria counts and even parasites like fish lice in high heat or after thunderstorms. As a general rule, if you wouldn’t swim it in yourself, you shouldn’t allow your dog to swim in it, either. Salt water is less concerning, but can dry your dog’s skin out – a quick rinse when you get home will alleviate any itching and flaking.
Swimming Pools
Finally, a word on swimming pools: though these are generally safe for your dog, be cautious with pool chemicals if your pooch plans to swim. High levels of chlorine can irritate your pup’s skin and eyes, and if swallowed, may make him sick. Speak with a local pool contractor about the safest levels for use with pets.
Keep Control
During the summer, crowds, loud noises and new environments can cause even the best-trained dog to go astray. Practice your training commands with your dog regularly to make sure they know how to sit, stay and come as requested. Then, make sure to keep your dog on a leash anytime you are in an open area away from home. As an added precaution, make sure your dog has double identification tags so that they can be found should they manage to get lost.
Avoid Potentially Lethal Environments
The sun is not the only potential threat to your dog. Depending on where you live, there could be snakes, spiders, and other poisonous creatures lurking nearby. When walking your dog in an unfamiliar area, you should keep it on a leash. In addition, steer the pet away from areas with long brush or rocks. These are the favorite hideouts for many lethal creatures, and you would be wise to avoid them.
Conclusion
Your dog’s fun and energetic personality adds an exciting element to your summer festivities. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that your dog’s health should always take priority. Since your dog cannot talk, it is up to you to notice when they are thirsty or dealing with a flea problem. By being aware of these common safety strategies, you can ensure that your dog has the best summer possible as they play by your side.
Pay attention to these little details and you’ll find that it’s easy to keep your dog safe and happy all summer. As with any other part of canine care, if you have questions or your dog has pre-existing conditions, and you aren’t sure about summer fun, check with your vet. He or she can clarify the best guidelines for your pup’s needs.