Protect Your Pup from the Dog Days of Summer
As temperatures rise we all want to spend more time outside soaking up the sun! And that means bringing our four-legged friends outside more as well. Keep these DO’s and DON’T’s in mind to keep your dog cool and safe during the summer season. 
- DO keep cool and hydrated. When the temperatures rise, the hot weather can make your dog very uncomfortable, even leading to overheating and heat stroke. Supervise your dog outside in the heat and make sure he has access to shade. Also make sure there’s always fresh water both indoors and out. If your dog does appear to be overheated, apply cool, wet cloths to his pads, belly, and head.
- DON’T leave your dog in a hot car. Never leave your dog alone inside of a hot car, even with the windows open. On an 80-degree day, the inside of your car can reach 125 degrees very quickly.
- DON’T treat your dog’s paw pads like shoes. Contrary to what people may think, your dog’s paw pads are not like shoes. Sidewalks and streets can become extremely hot, and even though paw pads are tougher than human feet, they can still get burned by hot pavement. Walk your dog on the grass during extreme heat to keep his paws cool. Don’t forget that hot sand can burn your dog’s paw pads too, so try to take your walks early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler out.
Click HERE for more safety tips from the AKC to make the dog days of summer more enjoyable and safe for you and your pup!