Summer is here, but it’s never too late to be thinking about how to protect our furry friends from too much heat.
If your dog house is fully exposed in the sun during the day, it’s not providing helpful shade. The inside of that dog house will hold the heat and your dog will be miserable. Make sure your outdoor pets have access to true shade that provides cooling benefits. If you don’t want to sit there for an hour or more, please don’t ask your pet to do so.
Access to cool, fresh water is important. If your dog turns the water bowl over, consider getting a bowl (or bucket) deep enough for you to bury halfway. A partially buried bowl will keep the water cooler, and they won’t be able to tip it over. You will still have to pull it out to clean it regularly. You don’t want green things or mosquito larvae growing. That’s bad for your pet.
If you’re taking your dog for a walk, check the pavement or sidewalk temperature with the back of your hand. If you don’t want to lay your hand on the surface, please don’t ask your dog to walk on it. Burned paw pads hurt.
Don’t leave too much food sitting out — the ants will find it, and that’s not good to have ants in your dog’s enclosure. Ant bites are as harmful to your pet as they are to your children or you. During the summer, when your dog may be eating less due to the heat, you may need to feed smaller quantities more often.
If you have outdoor cats, consider feeding them in the morning and early afternoon and don’t feed more food than they will eat before sundown. You don’t want to encourage wildlife to dine with you. Please leave a bowl of fresh water outside for passing visitor animals.
Have a happy, safe summer. Visit us at https://milamtouchoflove.org or at the Milam Touch of Love Facebook Group.
