Keep Us Dogs Cool and Healthy This Summer
Monday, May 31st, 2010
Hi everyone! This weekend was a spectacular weather weekend for us but, we are getting older and the heat affects us more. Please remember how important it is to keep us pups cool in the summer months. Even though we pant and that is our coping mechanism, pooches can get heat stroke, sunburned and skin cancer. So, please keep the following in mind:
1) ALWAYS make sure fresh water is available for us to drink. Cool/cold is preferable.
2) Provide a shady area for us. If you want us to enjoy the great outdoors with you, make sure there is a shady spot for us to hang out in.
3) Some us us LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to swim and lie in the water. If there is a swimming hole nearby, let us in to enjoy. However, if it’s a chlorinated area, please dry us off as the chlorine is bad for our coats and skin. Think about buying us a kiddie pool to sit in if there’s no place for us to refresh. That will work and make us happy, too.
4) Sounds obvious but DON’T leave us in cars for prolonged periods of times and if you can, put the car in the shade. DEFINITELY leave windows open for air to circulate. If you think it’s too hot, don’t take us…..even if we look at you with those begging eyes!
5) We really like our COOLING BANDANAS. There are several brands out there but when it’s hot and we go for walks, mom or dad puts one around our necks. They really help.
6) Keep the A/C on and think about keeping us indoors. If we want to go in, let us. Keep the air on to keep us comfy. We’ll love you even more for it (if that’s possible)
7) Sounds corny, but, we could use some sunscreen, too! Our noses can burn and if your pup has exposed ears, they can get sunburned. Yes, we also can get skin cancers. In fact, we think Val’s nose was badly burned while wandering the streets after Hurricane Katrina, so take care.
This doesn’t apply to us, but perhaps consider shaving/trimming some hair off those pooches with long locks. They’ll look kind of funny but they’ll stay a bit cooler. Don’t completely shave them as their skin will be exposed and subject to burning.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU SHARE WITH US FOR KEEPING PUPS COOL WHEN IT’S HOT?
We at Brandy and Val, LLC want to “do good where good is needed.” Our mission is to help animals and people and support causes we believe in through our pet therapy work and sales of our books, Brandy and Val Real Dogs with Real Tales and toys.
