Knowing When To Get Help

Posted on: 9 June 2016

As the temperatures rise for the summer, you might be worried about your dog getting too hot. Luckily, following these three tips can help you help your dog beat the heat and stay as comfortable as possible when the temperatures are high.

1. Consider a New Hair Cut

In the summer, it might be a good idea to let your dog try a new hair style. Just as many people who have long, thick hair complain about it being uncomfortable and making them hot during the summer, hair can make your dog hot, too. Consider talking to a professional dog groomer about your options -- it might be a good idea to give your dog a cute cut or even to shave its hair off completely. Along with helping to keep your dog cool, a new style can also help cut down on the shedding that can be so prevalent during the summer months, which is great if you want to reduce the amount of dog hair that ends up on your clothing and furniture.

2. Give Your Pet a Swimming Pool

Some dogs love getting in the water, but you may not be able to take your dog to a beach, pond or lake very often. Luckily, you can make it easy for your dog to cool off and have a ton of fun in your own backyard with a kiddie swimming pool. Look for one that is made out of hard plastic -- rather than one that is inflatable -- to help ensure that it's strong enough to handle your dog's toenails. You'll also want to make sure that it's low enough to the ground that your dog can easily get in and out of it. You may also want to keep a stack of fresh, clean towels by your back door so you can dry your dog off before you bring it in.

3. Make Up Tasty Frozen Treats

Just as you might enjoy ice cream or another frozen treat when it's hot outside, your dog might enjoy something cool and refreshing, too. Consider freezing a small toy or treat in a block of ice and allowing your dog to lick away the cool, refreshing ice, or make a tasty frozen dog treat by mixing one cup of peanut butter with half of a mashed banana and a small amount of water. Mix them together, then make cookie-sized treats out of the mixture, and drop them on a cookie sheet. After allowing them to freeze, store them in a zip-top storage bag in your freezer, and give your dog a treat anytime that you think it might like to cool down.

Talk to a vet, like Columbine Animal Hospital & Emergency Clinic, for more help.