Hot days safety  

Summer heat and sun help us all to restore vitality after a long winter. But many pets need extra care in the summer to enjoy the warmth without harming their health.

Sunburn

Any area of ​​skin with a sparse hairline is at risk of sunburn. Don’t count on your pet to sense danger – many animals don’t even seek shelter during the hottest hours. Delicate nasal planum and damaged skin are at increased risk of sunburn..

White-coated, short-haired, and recently groomed dogs are also more prone to sunburn. During the hottest hours, it is best to keep them indoors. To protect your dog’s ears from severe sunburn, apply a high SPF sunscreen that can even be used on children.

In hot weather, any dog ​​can get heatstroke, but young and old animals, as well as dogs with a short muzzle, are more susceptible to this. Heat stroke is accompanied by rapid and heavy breathing and even collapse, and requires emergency veterinary care. To prevent such an unpleasant situation, create sufficient shade when walking or in the garden and try not to overload your dog with exercise in hot weather.

Maintain water balance

It hardly needs to be reminded, but still: your dog should always have plenty of fresh, clean drinking water at this time of the year. Canned food spoils quickly in the heat in a bowl and can attract flies, so it may be best to switch the dog to dry food for this period.

Watch your pet’s weight carefully. Some dogs will spend more time outdoors and expend more energy exercising, so they may need more food, but if the weather gets too hot, a decrease in activity will result in a reduced need for food.

enjoy summer

On long summer days, your dog will definitely want to play outside. Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy warm days.

• Bathing: Many dogs love the water, and the kiddie pool is the perfect way to beat the heat. The lake and the sea are also good for running, swimming and playing your favorite games. You only need to check that there are no deep holes in the pond and that your dog can easily get ashore. Some dogs are afraid of water or just want to walk in the water, so don’t force your pet to swim if you see that he is insecure or afraid. But if the dog itself jumps into the water and starts splashing, do not stop it. Just watch to see if she starts shaking her head or scratching her ears after she dives to her heart’s content – this could be a sign of an ear infection. If your dog bathes in chlorinated water, be sure to rinse it with clean water after bathing and dry it dry.

• Long walks: If your dog loves long walks, do not deprive him of this pleasure. Just remember that hard ground puts a strain on a dog’s paws. At first, try short walks, gradually increasing their duration. Remember to stop to rest and water your pet often. There are several types of bowls for small breed dogs that you can take with you for a walk.

Whether your dog spends a lot of time outdoors or only has the occasional opportunity to explore new horizons, the following tips will help keep him safe:

• Provide your dog with plenty of fresh, clean water. and make sure she has a shaded hiding place to rest during the day.

• Check your dog’s paws frequently, since tar and gravel can remain between the fingertips.

• Caring for your lawn, do not treat it with pesticides if the dog likes to spend a lot of time there.

• Make sure that your dog always has a collar with an address tag, with your name and address on it in case the dog gets lost. In England, for example, this is a legal requirement.