As Arizona begins its long hot summer, please remember some simple strategies to help keep your pets cool, comfortable and fit during these sizzling summer months.
Water, water, water! Always have fresh cold water with you on walks, dog park visits, car rides, as well as inside and outside your home. Also, bear in mind the inside temperature of your vehicle when placing your pets inside. It is best practice to run the AC and to S a blanket, towel, or cloth cover on a scorching car seat. Again, bring extra water while traveling with your pet. NEVER leave your pet in your vehicle for any reason! The temperatures inside a parked car, even with a sun shade or parked in the garage, are extremely dangerous and can produce fatal consequences; always consider if your pet really needs to be in the vehicle during these summer months.
Throughout the year, many Arizona pets spend their days outside in relatively pleasant temperatures. However, the summer months can be particularly challenging due to the radiant heat from the patio, the house, or even the pool’s cool deck. If your pet must be left outside, it’s important to remember that the sun’s strength is much stronger during the summer and areas that are typically shaded in the cooler months no longer offer that same shade and/or relief to an outdoor pet. When leaving your pet outside ensure there are plenty of shaded spots available, outdoor bedding, towel, and shelter from the sun so that the pet can find relief, not only from the sun but from the heat of the ground. ALWAYS provide a fresh source of cold water. Water bowls left out in the sun become too hot to drink relatively quickly. Consider installing a misting system around the areas were your pets typically seeking refuge from the sun.
Remember, dogs need to continue their exercise even in the summer months. Consider going for walks early in the morning, before the sidewalks and streets heat up, or look to late evening. If this is not possible, invest in some ‘paw shoes/covers’ to protect your pets paws from the ‘fry an egg” sidewalk temperatures. It can be extremely painful and dangerous for your dog to have their paw pads burned. Bring extra drinking water for you and your dog to keep hydrated, but also to pour on your pet’s paws, should it appear the sidewalk is becoming too hot. Keep a close watch on your pet; you will see a noticeable change in their gait if the sidewalk is becoming too hot.
Taking these few precautions will ensure that your pet stays happy and healthy during the summer.