It’s no secret that in the Greater Toronto Hamilton area, we have had an exceptional heat wave. And while we have been trying to find ways to manage through it, our pets have likely been feeling it worse than we have. After all, they are wearing a fur coat every day. We here at Pooch Haven are committed to help you and your dog make the best of this heat wave. We’ve gone through the internet for some tips to help you out.
- Regular grooming When you have your dog groomed on a regular basis, especially the long coat breeds, it helps to keep their coat in check, ultimately helping to keep them cooler. We check their paws, and can make sure that they are not injured from heat.
- Keep hydrated. It’s easy enough for us to go to the faucet or the store to grab something to drink, it may not be that easy for your furry friend. It may be a benefit to have a couple extra water dishes around the home to help them out. If you are going to let them outside for an extended length of time, make sure they have a water dish outside with fresh water. Some of the free-range animals may have enjoyed the water too. If you are going for a walk, even if it is around the block, take a water dish for them. Another neat idea is to have an ice brick in a shallow bucket for them to lap from. This one would be especially good if you are going to be at a park all day.
- Walk them on grass or in shade whenever possible. We’ve all seen the statement “If you can’t stand on the ground for 5 seconds, barefoot, than neither can your dog.” The pads on dogs feet are very sensitive, especially to extreme temperature. If you live in an area that is well built up, and not much green space on the ground, putting booties on them for their walk may save them some pain.
- Repurpose an old wading pool Some dogs are water lovers, and it is not always practical to take them to a lake or a beach. Well a great alternative would be to get an old kids wading pool and let them splash around in it. Smaller dogs can benefit from a smaller pool, and young puppies may need a little bit of coaxing to teach them that water is a good thing.
We hope that you found this informative, and as always we would love to hear your feedback.