Hot Dog: Tips On How to Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer

With temperatures rising well above 90 degrees this summer, it’s important that we don’t forget about our four-legged friends. Everyday a dog suffers from dehydration or a heat related illness. Many dog-owners do not realize the harsh affects that the sun has on their pets. Dehydration occurs when the total body water is less than normal. When this happens water leaves the body’s cells to compensate for the low levels therefore leaving the cells water deprived. Thirty-five-year-old Sarah Raymond is out for a night stroll with her 2-year-old cocker spaniel Russell. Although it’s near 7:30pm, temperatures are still in the mid-80s. “I either walk Russell early in the morning or later at night,” says Raymond. “I try and avoid the sun as much as possible.” Raymond admits that she doesn’t always think about whether Russell gets over-heated during their walks. “He does pant a lot,” she says, “And I know that’s a dog’s only way of sweating, but I never think to carry water or anything with me.”Raymond says although it can still be very hot at night, she thinks walking during those hours are still better for both she and Russell. “I figure if the sun’s not out then the heat isn’t really affecting Russell.” Raymond says she knows how serious the heat can be in the day-time for her pet that’s why she no longer travels with Russell in her car. “It can get really hot in a car during the middle of the day,” says Raymond, “And I wouldn’t do that Russell. That’s just really crazy to me to leave a dog somewhere that hot.” Paula Escobedo, a Pet Nurse at the Banfield Pet Hospital in Morrow, GA, agrees with Raymond’s decision. “If it’s 90 degree weather, you definitely should not leave your dog in the car,” says Escobedo. In fact according to the Helping Animals website, the temperature inside of a car on a 78 degree day can reach 90 degrees. Can you imagine how hot it gets on a 90 degree day?“If you do have to travel with your dog and run into the store or something right quick, you should bring an extra key with you and leave your car cranked with the air-conditioning on.” She also says another great idea would be to leave a “2-go” bowl in the car. A 2-go bowl is a small bowl that you can fill with water and leave in your car so that your dog can have plenty to drink while traveling. “Keeping your dog hydrated during the summer is very important,” says Escobedo. She adds that dogs can die from dehydration. “You must make sure that they have plenty of water and if you’re taking your dog for a walk mid-day you should carry water with you.” She says one way to test for dehydration in a dog is to lift up the skin on the back of its neck. She demonstrates by lifting the skin on a 7-week-year-old healthy puppy. “See how her skin goes right down,” says Escobedo, “That means your dog is okay, but if it goes down really slow that mean your dog is dehydrated.” She says if you do notice your dog is dehydrated that you should give it water immediately and if water is not available give him Gatorade. “Gatorade is good, but not Powerade,” she says, “Powerade has too much sugar.” Escobedo says that outside dogs need lots of care during the summer as well, and that should have plenty of water and lots of shade. Jonathan Almond is the owner of a 3-year-old pittbull mix named Troy. Troy is an outside dog and gets lots of exposure to the sun. “I try and keep his water in the shade,” says Almond, “And he also has a dog house he can go in.” He says he tries to change out Troy’s water when he gets home and sometimes he might drop a couple of ice cubes in his bowl to spoil him. Walking through the PetsMart, one item you will see on the shelf is Nutri-Vet Sun Defense. It is a sunscreen for dogs. “Dog’s skin is more sensitive than human skin,” says Escobedo. She says dogs really don’t have to worry too much about sunburn and products like Nutri-Vet are for darker and thin haired dogs. Tiffany Guillory’s dog Reesie, is a rottweiler mix and stands at about 2-feet tall. “Reesie is big but she is still a house dog,” says Guillory. Reesie stays in the garage when she is not in the house. “She has plenty of water and plus it’s cool in the garage,” she says. Guillory walks Reesie at least two times a day including in the middle of the day when the sun is its hottest. Many people do this because they do not realize that dogs can suffer from heatstroke or dehydration. In fact dogs get hotter quicker than humans do because they don’t sweat. This is why it’s so important dogs drink enough water to compensate for the water they loose.After learning about how serious dog dehydration is, Guillory says she will now carry water with her whenever they go for walks. “I love my dog,” she says “And I will do whatever I have to do to keep her safe.”