Cool Down The Hot Dogs!

Cool Down the Hot Dogs!

Wow, it’s hot outside! And if you think so, so does your dog. Dogs don’t sweat. Well, they have sweat glands on their paws, which is sometimes why you might see wet paw prints, but they mostly keep themselves cool by panting.

One obvious way to keep your dog cool on a hot day is to provide plenty of fresh, cool water. I toss a few ice cubes in Willow’s water bowl. She loves to bob for them in her dish, then she carries them away and chomps on them.

Another obvious thing is to provide shade for your dog. A dog house in the middle of the sun is not shade. Even a car parked in the shade is a tragedy waiting to happen. If you must, then have two keys and leave the car running with the A/C on. Otherwise, you may find a brick through your car window, or worse, a dead dog. Temperatures can climb from 78 to 125 degrees in 6 to 8 minutes! If you are lucky enough to have a small dog like I do, you can carry her inside with you. I place Willow in the kiddy seat of the shopping cart at the grocery store. Nobody says anything and if they do, I'll tell them to go take a hike. Yesterday, I carried Willow into the bank and said she was my seeing eye dog.

You can also give your dog a shave, or have it done by a groomer, but be advised that dogs can get sunburned. Be careful the first few days and expose your dog to the sun in short doses. Also, some dog coats require special care in shaving or you might mess it up, so ask an expert first.

Your dog’s paws can also get burned on the pavement or concrete. Test it out with your feet first. If it’s too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. Believe it or not, you can buy doggy booties if you want.

Let your dog decide if she wants to go out on a hot day. If she sniffs the air, takes a quick pee, and heads back to the door, maybe she knows it’s too dreadfully hot to walk. If you do go out, take a doggy water bottle, or your own if you don’t mind sharing. 

doggy water bottle

Other cool ideas are kiddy pools, cooling beds, body wraps, bandanas, etc. Oh yes, the pet marketers are making a buck off of hot dogs.

If you have a pool, you can take your dog for a swim. Running through the sprinklers can be a fun game too. Other cool ideas are: mist your dog with a water bottle, turn on a fan, take a cool towel and rub the under side of your dog with it, or set it down for him to lie on. I take a hot water bottle, fill it with water and stick in in the fridge. After it’s nice and cold I wrap it in a towel and let Willow lie on it, but I keep an eye on her because she’s a chewer and there is potential for a watery mess!

I also make her cool treats in the freezer. Her favorite is a kong stuffed with peanut butter and set in the freezer to harden. It’s cool and keeps her busy for awhile.  Another favorite is crushed up milk bones in beef broth. I set it in the freezer and then break it into chunks for her to eat and play with. Oh yeah, must not forget the standard disclaimer: Remember to supervise all treats to avoid any possible choking hazards.

frozen peanut butter kong

frozen beef broth with crushed milk bones

In closing, watch for signs that your dog may be overheated: excessive panting (fast and noisy), sluggish and disoriented. They may even convulse or collapse. If you suspect your dog is in any danger, give cool water (not icy), wrap her in a wet towel and head to the veterinarian ASAP.

Just Chillin’

Debbie & Willow

Debbie is a Pet Sitter/Dog Walker Extraordinaire at Paaawz Pet Sitting  =)

www.Paaawz.com