As the Christmas period and the warm summer months approaches, it is worth remembering that one of the most deadly conditions for our pets is heat exhaustion and dehydration.
The following are a few tips to remember.
- More water more often. Makes sure there are several bowls of cool, clean water available at different locations around the house.
- Provide shade. Pets left alone need to be able to get out of the sun so make sure there is a nice cool area out of the sun all through the day.
- Short Hair. A trip to the dog groomers at the start of summer will allow you to keep their fur short so they are not getting too hot.
- Let them dig. Dogs dig for a lot of reasons, one of them is to find a cool place under the ground surface.
- Ice poles. Adding their favourite treats to water and freezing it will help cool them down on a hot day.
- Give them a bath. If your pet is kept in a yard, a child’s play pit makes an ideal pool for your dog to cool off on a hot day.
- A yard not a chain. Let your dog roam around a yard or a decent sized enclosure to find the best resting place to cool off.
Dehydration can be deadly so being aware can mean the difference between life and death for your pet.
