Female Focus
Page 31 10 tips to keep your dog cool in summer
1. Keep him hydrated Make sure that abundant fresh and clean water is available for him all day and night, checking regularly that there is still water in the bowl and that the bowl is not in the full sun. In the summer water all too quickly evaporates, or warms up, meaning that the dog stops drinking it.
In fact it is a good idea to have a few bowls of water positioned throughout the house, especially close to where the dog usually rests. This way, even if the dog doesn’t want to move because of the heat, it will have a drink of water close by. Water isn’t just important at home; remember to take a portable water bowl / trough when going out on a walk, excursion, or a trip in the car.
6. Change the bedding
In summer many dogs prefer to rest on the
ground.
Just as with humans, a warm and comfortable winter bed is not suitable for the summer heat. In fact many dogs prefer to find areas to sleep that disperse the heat, such as raised soil beds or beds that are made of a breathable material. Also there are refrigerated mats that you can buy which help the dog to keep his body temperature lower.
7. Give him a haircut Do not shave your dog completely, but if he has long hair, trimming his
hair, especially around the belly area, is
another good means of helping to control his temperature. It is important that when you cut his hair you should leave approximately 2-3 centimetres of hair length, because this helps to protect from heat and sunburn.
8. A good brushing Whether or not you cut his hair, a frequent brushing is highly recommended to facilitate molting and removal of the undercoat, i.e. the fine and woolly mantle close to the skin which serves to provide heat in winter. Well brushed hair creates a layer of air which insulates his body from the outside heat.
FF - Your summer Magazine
2. Use ice if you wish It is fine to put a few ice cubes into the water. Ice is not harmful to dogs and if the dog finds the iced water too cold at the moment, with access to another bowl of water elsewhere it will drink from that one, until the bowl with the ice in it warms up slightly. By giving the dog a choice, he can drink the water he prefers.
3. Protection from the sun It is extremely important that the dog has a cool and protected place from the sun in which to rest, especially in the warmest hours of the day. This applies equally if he lives inside, or outside, of the house.
4. Cooling the air
Just as for humans, using a fan or the air conditioning is a good way of lowering the air temperature.
5. Dampen him down Wetting him, especially around the head and trunk of the body, can help to lower the temperature of the dog. Dogs do not sweat like people and any water that wets the dog will evaporate and cause a similar cooling effect to sweat. Swimming pools are also a good way for dogs to cool down, many dogs love to paddle, or indeed swim fully, in them.
9. Do not do physical activities at hot times Dogs do need plenty of exercise of course, but in the summer make sure that his exercise times are at the coolest part of the day.
10. Give food when it gets cooler Dogs frequently have less appetite due to the heat. If possible feed him in the coolest hours of the day, such as first thing in the morning, or at nighttime.
Article written by Maria Carmen Garcia Aguilera from Clinica Veterinaria El Puerto in Javea. English spoken. Av. Lepanto No 8, Local 10. Tel 96 579 3551. Emergencies 657 823 784.
www.elpuerto-veterinaria.com.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60