There are many reasons why you need to keep your dog hydrated during the hot weather. Whilst you will want to care for the needs of your beloved pet, it’s not always the easiest thing to do. It may be that you are wondering how to look after man’s best friend as the warm weather approaches. This article will provide you with some helpful tips for keeping your dog hydrated in the summer.
Understand Why It’s So Important
It’s essential that you hydrate your dog in the summer months because they are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Almost every one of them can be prevented by simple hydration practices. Dogs’ bodies are not as efficient at cooling themselves as ours, so it’s vital that they have access to water all the time so they don’t suffer from heatstroke.
As a preventative measure, it’s very important that you pay attention to how much water your dog has drunk during the day. If you notice any of the symptoms below, take them to a vet immediately:
- excessive panting
- an increased heart rate
- lethargy
- weakness
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- seizures or convulsions
Use A Hose Or Water Fountain
There is no set hydration number for dogs, but if you want to be safe, aim for around one and a half milliliters of water for every pound your dog weighs. One way to give your pet access to fresh running water is by turning on the hose. While it might not be the best way to ensure clean water, it’s still better than what your dog would find in a puddle or pond. You can use this as an opportunity to teach your pet how to drink from a stream of running water. A garden hose is also an excellent way to keep a small area cool during extreme heat because water evaporates quickly from hard surfaces like pavement and concrete. In turn, this helps lower the temperature around your furry friend.
By providing a garden fountain it will encourage your dog to drink, and the filter will help safeguard the water quality. The internet is a great place to find all things dog-related, so why not head over to a specialist website? You can choose the perfect dog water fountain by first learning its capacity, materials, filtration, noise levels, and aesthetics. You can read helpful product reviews discussing their pros, cons, and prices. There are often helpful blogs explaining how they work and how often you need to change the filters.
Provide Plenty Of Water
Be aware that some dogs need more fluids than others, so be prepared to provide more if needed. Aim to always keep your dog’s water bowl full, giving it cold water if it is panting heavily or drooling. Keep the water dish away from other pets and children so they don’t accidentally knock it over. Provide water for your dog in a bowl indoors rather than leaving it outside, because the sun will increase its temperature and make it less appealing.
Ice Cubes
Dogs enjoy frozen treats but they can’t drink cold beverages like humans. Keep a bowl of ice cubes in the freezer and give them periodically throughout the day – many dogs enjoy them. You can put ice cubes in their water bowl for an extra refreshing treat, and even add them to their food.
Add Something Extra
If your canine doesn’t seem interested in drinking, try adding some chicken broth or apple juice into their bowl. Alternatively, add a few drops of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the water for extra flavor and nutrients.
Be Sensible With Exercise
The key times to keep your dog hydrated are before, during, and after any exercise or physical exertion in the summer months. This includes walks/runs, trips out on errands, or even just playing fetch outside with them.
Take short walks with him if it’s really hot outside in order to help him stay hydrated and to stop him from getting overheated. Use an umbrella during walks to provide shade and keep your pup cool, and avoid strenuous exercise during those times. If you’re going on an extended walk, bring along your own travel bowl filled with fresh drinking water and some ice packs to keep it chilly.
Be Wise Over Food
Avoid giving your dog too much food during the hot weather. Offer your pet small amounts of cool treats like frozen grapes, cucumbers, or carrots. Alternatively provide some peanut butter or apples.
Give them a frozen kong toy or bone to keep their mouth and tongue moistened while they chew on it.
Be Mindful Of Your Dog’s Temperature
Don’t let your dog play outside for more than 15 minutes at a time when it’s really hot. Keep your dog out of the sun as much as possible and take steps to provide shade or shelter from the direct sunlight. Consider buying an outdoor kiddie pool for them to play in on really hot days. Make sure there is no chlorine because chemicals like these could be harmful to your beloved pet. If you’re going to be out with your pet, don’t leave it inside a hot car.
Provide a place for your pet to cool off, like a small pool of water with ice cubes in it. Provide plenty of fresh water and cool, moist towels or a cooling mat. A cooling mat is something that you put in the freezer and then place on top of your dog’s bed for it to lay on. If you can, have an air conditioner set up in one room so your pup can benefit from it. You could also use a fan in the room or outside to keep the air circulating.
Hopefully, you now feel more empowered to protect your precious dog’s health. By making some practical changes and making a few purchases, you will have safeguarded your pet’s wellbeing. Then you can relax and enjoy the summer months, with all the fun and laughter that it brings.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
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