Most dogs love being outside and enjoy the heat of the summer. As long as they have adequate water and shade, they enjoy being outside even when it’s hot! Here are a few tips to keep in mind as Oklahoma gets hotter.
How to Keep Your Dog Cool:
- Take a collapsible water dish with you on walks.
- Add ice cubes to their water bowl.
- Avoid taking your dog for walks in the heat of the day.
- Avoid hot pavement.
- Offer a damp towel for them to lay on.
- Try homemade frozen dog treats.
- Use a small kiddy pool.
- Make sure your backyard has shade.
- Replace part of their diet with wet food, which is proven to help keep dogs hydrated.
- Take them to a dog daycare like Vera’s with indoor play areas!
While some dogs love the warm weather, a dog with a thick coat or a short snout will be less comfortable when temperatures rise. Dogs with short snouts cannot regulate their temperatures well because their nasal passages are short. This includes breeds such as pugs, Boston terriers, and bulldogs.
Other dogs that may need special attention in the heat include dogs that are older, obese, or diabetic. However, with proper care, they can continue to thrive in the heat.
Know the Signs of Heat Stroke in Dogs
If you notice any of these signs in your pet, contacting your vet is crucial.
- Rapid breathing and panting
- Fatigue
- Staggering
- Raised temperature
- Muscle tremors
- Excessive salivation and thicker saliva
Here at Vera’s, every yard has indoor, shaded play areas. We are taking extra precautions in the summer months to ensure every dog is safe and cool.
- We are adding shaded areas in the outdoor areas
- Providing frozen treats and ice in water bowls
- We have pools, water sprinklers and splash pads
- We have full indoor areas where we can monitor elderly or at-risk dogs on extremely hot days to ensure they can play in a safe environment.
- You can always add a wet dog food lunch to ensure your pet gets some midday hydration. Sophies People Food for Pets is available in the pet deli section of our lobby!
- Our staff has been trained to notice dogs in distress, and we are cautious about what breeds we have and how long they stay out. Earlier this year, the entire team was trained on noticing the signs of heat stroke and which dogs to watch closely as temperatures rise.
- In addition to our current enrichment activities, we will be starting Pup Push Pops and Frozen Treats for $1! Watch our social media and subscribe to email communications to know when these specials are available!
