Summer Safety Tips for Dogs.

As we are truly into the hottest part of the year (up here in the Northern Hemisphere!) it’s important for dog owners to know how to keep dogs safe, happy, and cool in the summer.

Hot Dogs in Hot Cars. – This is one of the MOST important tips for summer safety. You should never, under any circumstances, leave you dog locked inside your car. Especially in the summer, on a hot day. It can take merely minutes for your pet to develop heatstroke and suffocate in your car.

On a 78 degree day, for instance, temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your dog home on warm days. If you’re driving around with your dog in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your dog with you when you leave the car.

Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitos…oh my! – Hotter weather is hen all the nasty insects either come out or are far more active. Ticks are usually in long grass and can carry very nasty diseases. If your pip has been out in your garden or a field, it’s best to give them a once over when they come so you can heck for ticks. If you want to know what t to look for either google them or talk to your vets.

Fleas are more active, and your dog is more likely to catch them when out and about in the summer. Treat them regularly with preventative or keep an eye o their coats ad behaviour for any sure signs of fleas.

If not protected, your dog is at risk for heartworm, Lyme disease  and a host of other nasty and dangerous conditions. And don’t forget, many of these diseases can be caught by people too!

Paws to Check the Pavement. – Is it a baking hot day? Are you wondering if it’s old to take your pup out for a walk? Pause a second and feel the pavement yourself. Using the back of your hand, place it onto the floor -if it’s too hot to stay for a second, it’s far too hot for your dear pups paws!

Keep them off the hot asphalt, not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating. It’s also not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck – the hot metal can burn paws quickly too.

Keep Them Watered! – It goes without saying but making sure your dog has enough ad plenty of fresh drinking water. It’s hot and we get thirsty, so do our pets! Our dogs get much thirstier than we do when they get hot, and other than panting and drinking, they really have no way to cool themselves down.

Keep your pet in the shade as often as possible. While dogs and cats like to sunbathe, direct sunlight can overheat them (especially dogs) and cause heat stroke.

Splish Splash! – This might sound a bit silly, but you only need to scroll through Instagram or TiKToK to see how fun getting your pup their own paddling pool could be! It’s a great way to help your dog stay active if it’s too hot for a walk but also a fab way to keep them cool!

Dogs, especially ones that love water, will also love splashing around, staying hydrated and keeping cool in the summer heat, but it’ll also be great for cute Instagram stories!

No one Wants a Burnt Dog! -  Believe it or not, dogs can get sun burnt too! Especially those with short or light-coloured coats. And just like with people, sunburns can be painful for a dog and overexposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer.

BUT it’s extremely important to not use sunscreen that is meant for people. This goes for a lot of other tings too, like toothpaste, shampoo, and soap. Go to a large pet story or talk to your vet to get these things that are specially formulated for our pets.

Please do bear in mind that everything in this post is strictly advisory and has been gathered from various reputable sources from the internet. We're not vets, and you should always seek professional advice if you ever have concerns.

Thanks for reading. If you have anything that you would like us to cover, then feel free to get in touch with us over on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!