Winter was long and cold and the spring, rainy and damp. We’ve imagined those long, hot days in the summer sun and suddenly, here we are in the middle of a heat wave dreaming of the cool days of winter!
Your pets also suffer from excessive heat. Here are some recommendations that could help keep your companions comfortable during the summer months.
Cooling down
The first priority for your pet is to offer a shady, well-ventilated area with a constant supply of fresh water in order to avoid dehydration. The shade from an umbrella, a tree, or the roof over a deck provide adequate cover, but the interior of the house or garage is sometimes a better option.
If you have air conditioning, allow your pet to benefit from it as well. If not, a fan will help as well as a cool surface such as a ceramic or cement floor. The basement is often the coolest area in the house and may be useful for cooling down a panting pet.
You may cool your dog down using a garden hose, allowing him to gradually dry off (outdoors, of course!). The evaporation of the water is a very efficient way of ridding the body of excess heat. Spraying your dog with a water bottle during walks could offer the same result. You may also cool your companion down by applying cool, damp cloths to his neck, chest, head, and feet.
Cats do not appreciate these types of measures, and prefer to stay quiet in a cool home, with fresh water available to drink and dip their feet in.
Birds tolerate the heat quite well, but they must always have access to fresh drinking water and the ability to bathe often. Offer water directly from the tap, in a bird bath, in a large, flat plate, or with a vaporizer, depending on their preference.
Swimming
If your pet is known to have skin problems, consult your veterinarian before allowing him to go swimming. See our section below entitled Skin Care After Bathing for more details.
If you have access to a large body of water suitable for swimming (a lake, river, or pool), allow your dog to enjoy it as well. Avoid standing or polluted water which can cause dermatitis or gastro-enteritis. Many people allow their dogs to swim in the family pool. However, sharp claws can puncture the lining of a swimming pool or scratch other swimmers. Your dog’s fur could also accumulate in the filter system. Another option may be to offer your dog a plastic baby pool for his own use, which can be emptied out at the end of the day for future use.
Skin care after bathing
During swimming season, veterinarians regularly treat patients with bacterial skin infections. Whether your pet suffers from bacterial folliculitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis (Hot-Spot), these conditions require medical intervention. Swimming can be a risk factor for certain dogs in developing these types of infections.
The following recommendations can help reduce the risk:
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Regular use of a veterinarian recommended antiseptic shampoo.
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Save swimming for the hottest days of summer, thereby reducing the risk of maceration.
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Do not allow your dog to bathe in poor quality water.
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Consider having your dog groomed during the summer months.
Summer grooming
A common myth is that a thick, long coat can protect an animal from intense heat. If this were indeed true, we would all be wearing fur coats in 30 degree weather! Owners who shave their dogs during periods of intense heat see the advantages : their pets are clearly more comfortable once shaved. Many repeat the ritual every summer. And what of breeds that are not usually shaved? Nothing prevents a Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog from having a summer haircut, except critics who complain that shaving does not follow breed standards. On the comfort side, the summer cut provides clear benefits to the dog, including much less drying time after swimming.
Summer sports
Limit physical activity in very hot weather : no long walks, running, ball-playing or Frisbee. Favour walks at the beginning or end of the day when the heat from the sun is less intense and the temperature is cooler. Walking on grass is preferable to pavement, since hot roads can burn sensitive foot pads.
Never leave your dog in the car
Finally, leaving your pet in the car is never an option in the summertime. Heat can accumulate in a car at an alarming rate, even with the windows open, and can cause serious side-effects and even death.
Heat Stroke
See our detailed article in the section entitled Summer Topics : Prevention of Heat Stroke.
Enjoy your summer !