When it’s hot outside, walk with your dog and train him or her less, apply dog-friendly sun cream, keep your dog hydrated, provide shady spots, invest in cooling clothing, and don’t forget about grooming.

Spending plenty of time outdoors is always a great idea! To keep your dog safe in the hot weather, you should be mindful and remember how important is to follow simple tips to prevent your furry friend from overheating.

• Hot days can be stressful and dangerous for both you and your pet if you both don’t drink plenty of clean water during the day. It’s very important to prevent the dehydration.
• If you feel that it is extremely hot outdoors, you should make your walks with the dog much shorter. Also, find a shady place where your dog can take a rest during the walk.
• You should limit the exercises for your dog when it is hot outside. Train your dog only in the shade.
• It’s important to visit a vet regularly to make dog’s vaccinations and other preventive measures. Your pet should receive the heartworm prevention medication year-round. But, if you don’t give your dog preventive medication, you should get tested your bundle of joy for heartworm before the heat season.
• French bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, and other dogs with flat faces should stay at home, because they cannot pant effectively during hot days. Dogs with heart or lung diseases along with the overweight and senior furry friends have to spend almost all their time keeping cool inside your air-conditioned rooms.

• It’s forbidden to leave your dog alone in the vehicle. It’s all about your pet’s safety and preventing a heat stroke. Hot weather or a lack of ventilation in the car is a large problem. Such actions have legal consequences in several states. Keep in mind that leaving a dog alone in a vehicle is regulated both by specific regulations in many jurisdictions and by animal welfare laws.
• If you aren’t sure that your dog is a good swimmer, don’t leave him or her alone near a pool. Don’t allow your furry friend to drink pool water because it contains chlorine and other chemicals.
• Don’t be shy about trimming longer hair on your dog, but forget about shaving your dog. The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and even sunburn.

• Don’t apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your lovely dog that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Apply dog-specific sun cream to the sensitive areas of your four-legged buddy (lips, nose, tips of the ears and belly). Keep in mind that dog breeds with white (West Highland White Terrier, Maltese, Coton de Tulear, etc.) or short hair with pink ears are in the risk category. That’s why you should be careful and shield your furry bundle of joy from the sun rays.
• In general, dogs cool themselves down from the bottom up. Keep your dog’s paws and stomach cool constantly. For instance, you can put damp blankets or towels under them.

First of all, run the blanket or towel under a cold tap. Then, wring out the excess water. That’s a great way to create a cooling mat indoors or outdoors. Don`t forget about refreshing it time after time to maintain the cool effect.

• Don’t allow your furry friend to lie on hot asphalt to prevent your dog’s body overheating. Also, keep in mind that your dog’s paw pads may burn.
• In addition, you should know the symptoms of overheating in dogs and other pets, such as difficulty breathing, excessive panting, drooling, mild weakness, increased heart and respiratory rate, stupor or even collapse. Even more, your dog can feel seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees F.
• You can purchase cooling clothing for your dog. There is a lot of options of cooling coats and bandanas on the market. The choice is yours!

We are sure that your dog will be strong and healthy even on hot days! Just don’t forget your bottle of water!