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A handy guide to dog days of summer
By cuzzy | June 15, 2008
The summer heat might already be here for some of you and for the rest of us it is only a few weeks away so it seems like a good time to go over the age old tips for dogs to survive the summer.
Here are some great tips from an article I read on NJ.com.
Like all of us dog owners know, taking care of a dog is a full- time job, and giving some extra care and attention to your dog during the warm summer months is a must. Summer is a time for fun for you dogs as well.
Here are some tips on how to take care of your four-legged companion during the summer.
COOL AND HYDRATED
Dogs need to be outside and we all know the reasons. When the hot weather befalls us it’s best to let your dog outside early and late in the day (daybreak till 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. till dark) when the effects of the sun are at their least. I usually have Bosco out before noon but we never hang out in the sun that long or if it is super hot.
Likewise, it’s best to keep a dog inside during the hottest part of the day, if possible. I bet you will usually find your dog sprawled out on the coolest floor in the house during the hottest part of the day.
If you must keep your dog outside during the day, be sure they have access to a shaded area and plenty of water, and if possible check on them every once in a while to make sure they are all right. Maybe even invest in a small kiddie pool or something a dog can soak in. I know friends who have large dogs that love this. That being said, there is always the danger of them getting into trouble with that much water around so keep that in mind.
CAR TRAVEL
A car in the summertime can turn into an inferno, even if it is parked in the shade with the windows open. We all know how hot it is when you get into it after being in the store. Why would you leave your dog in there? You have to remember that the sun changes position during the day and while you may have parked your car in the shade, an hour later it could be in the sun.
If you know that you are only going to be away from the vehicle for a short period of time (15 minutes to an hour), carry a water bowl in your vehicle and make sure that the dog has cool, fresh drinking water at all times. Keep the windows open as much as possible without allowing the dog to get out of the vehicle, and check your car often to make certain that the dog is all right and that the car is still in a shady spot.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Should for any reason your dog have a problem in the heat, the first symptoms of heat prostration or sunstroke are panting, a staggering gait, and difficult breathing. The dog may fall to the ground gasping.
Move him quickly to a cool, shady spot and put ice packs on his head. If possible, place the dog in water or wet him down. Place him in a prone position, make sure he is breathing, and watch his tongue. In any event, pull the tongue to the surface so that the dog will not choke. Cold towels may be placed on the body.
You should get the dog to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
EXERCISING YOUR DOG
During the summer your dog should receive as much exercise as at other times of the year. However, it’s best to exercise the dog either in the early morning or in late evening when the air is at its coolest.
I try not to push Bosco that much when it is hot even if he wants to run forever. Labs tend to not know when they are actually tired and want to keep going. So I am extra careful not to go over board on the running.
It’s always best to teach your dog to enjoy the water as a pup. A romp in the river, a stream or a lake is one of the best ways of exercising your dog during the summer. This is the best part of Bosco. He loves the water so all we have to do is head out to the lake and he is as cool as can be.
Stay away from lakes that have excessive duck or geese populations. The droppings from these waterfowl are full of bacteria and can cause ear infections, stomach disorders and other problems. I have also read and heard stories that geese can drown a dog very easily with it’s wings. So don’t piss off a goose.
Spray your dog down with a hose (make sure to let the water run, in case the hose was in the sun and the water is hot) if you don’t have access to the lake or pond.
When walking your dog in the summer, avoid taking him on concrete or asphalt which can become extremely hot during the summer months. Hot tar can also bubble up and stick to his paws. Walk them on grass, and other natural terrain.
The following tip is the one I think a lot of people ignore because of the cost but should not.
Make sure your dog gets a monthly dose of flea and tick spray, as the summertime is when those pests are at their worst and can cause you more problems (itching, scratching, rashes, etc.) than at other times of the year. If you are working or walking your dog in the field or woods, it doesn’t hurt to put a little extra flea and tick spray on the dog before he goes out.
OTHER SUMMER HAZARDS
Quite often during the summer months, when cars are running at their hottest, radiators can overheat and spill antifreeze on the road or in the gutter.
Dogs can often be attracted to its sweet taste but if ingested, antifreeze (ethylene glycol), can be lethal to your dog, even in very small quantities.
When walking your dog, always be aware of your surroundings and keep a watchful eye along a street for antifreeze that may have leaked out of a car and make sure your dog gives it a wide berth.
TRAVELING WITH DOGS
It goes without saying that you should always check with your destination to make sure they allow dogs and for any special regulations or added cost they might apply.
One of the most important things to do is to make sure your dog is up-to-date with his shots and make sure you keep a written record of his shots and inoculations when you are traveling, especially if you are going out of the country.
Most countries require documentation for your dog, which must be presented at customs. It is pretty easy to keep the dog’s papers with your passports. Also, be sure that your dog has identification tags (with name of dog, owner and telephone number), along with his rabies tag on his collar.
Bosco has never crossed a border but he may have to one day.
For Halifax related tips you can always check out our Halifax Dog Guide Page.
I hope these great tips will help you and your dog have the best summer ever. The tips are not new but they are ones that are always good to remind people about.
Have a great Sunday.
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Topics: Halifax, Lab Related, info, tips and advice, trips |
June 18th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Great information. Animals can’t speak for themselves and having informed owners can be so good for the dogs.
Dog Owner Guide
Learn To Proper Way To Train Your Dog
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June 30th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
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July 20th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Thanks for this great post - I will be sure to check out your bl
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January 5th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Good work writing this. I recently wrote something along these lines for a new squidoo lens. My sister, who is a avid blogger, saw this article and mentioned that I might be interested because of the similarities to mine. Since it is related I will bookmark this blog for future references.
July 25th, 2010 at 12:26 am
If you are looking to train your dog you might consider using the ‘clicker training’ method, which has recently become popular amongst dog trainers all over the country. In this method the trainer has to make use of a clicker, a tiny plastic box with a metal button which makes a distinctive click sound once the button has been pressed. The training method is simple and is in many ways parallel to the positive training method. Here is what you have to do. Decide on a certain behavior which you want to teach or reinforce your dog to do. A number of behaviors/actions come naturally to the dog like sitting, eating, standing, barking etc. and these need just to be reinforced so that your dog knows when you want him to do what. Various other actions like acting dead, shaking hands, rolling over etc. do not come naturally to the dog and need to be taught. Clicker training can be used to do both.