Beat the Heat: Simplified Strategies for Pet Happiness in the Summer

Summer has started rolling. And we know you are busy surfing the internet for some summer drink recipes and already have started shopping for comfy tees and shorts but are you really going to take no special measures for your pet to beat the heat?

Well, we don’t think you are not someone to do that since you are already here! Though summer is the season of joy, bonding, and fun activities; it can be quite harsh for your pets, and hence here is a quick guide that makes pet care in summer easy and simple for you.

What is the big deal with summer?

Apart from being just another season, it brings in a lot of pros and cons for your pets. The best of summer is that your pets get a lot of time with your kids. The other side of summer is unlike humans, your pets do not sweat it out during high temperatures, which may lead to more injuries and skin infections. Seasonal changes pave the way for a variety of changes ranging from their appetite levels to changes in their behavior.

While dogs and cats can at least sweat the heat out through their noses and paws, birds, rabbits, and hamsters don’t have sweat glands to excrete the heat and are unable to pant as well. And hence proper summer care is more than essential for them.

So here is how you can prepare your pets for the seasonal change

• For small pets such as hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs; extreme weather can be a joy stealer. The best way to take care of your furball from heat is to provide them with a cozy, shady spot with proper ventilation away from direct sunlight

• Increasing temperature can cause dehydration and hence make sure you provide them with fresh water often.

Changing the water often and providing them with clean water can save them from a dozen of infections as well.

• Start limiting their outdoor workouts right when the summer starts settling in, start switching their walking, and play routines to late evenings or early mornings so that they can avoid overheating and exhaustion

• Start watching out for signs. Most pets and some dog cat breeds can neither sweat nor pant; so watch out for signs such as diarrhea, excess drools, vomiting, etc

• You might think their fur can cause inconvenience for them in summer, and might even think of shaving them. But friend, it works well for humans and not for your pet!

Their natural coat works on keeping them cool during the hot weather and warmer when the temperature goes down. So the best thing you can do for them to keep them comfy for summer is to take them to a professional groomer who knows exactly how to trim them the right way for the season.

Common health problems you need to be aware of

We don’t want you to panic when your pet all of a sudden falls sick, below is a list of some common health problems and a few tips on them that can help you deal with them at ease,

• Sunburns, shaving their coat can make them prone to sunburns and we highly recommend you to not shave them and provide them a shady shelter to avoid sunburns.

• Ticks and fleas, carefully check your pets once in a while and after every walk to the garden to avoid these ticks and fleas causing severe infections

• Heat strokes and dehydration, adequate water, and activities to cool them can help in keeping these problems at bay. Continue reading to know more on how to keep them cool and hydrated both on the inside and outside!

Summer diet for your pets

Your pet’s body works way more than it used to lower the body temperature causing high energy expenditure. Though normally, their intake is low, it is important to provide them with adequate nutrition-rich and hydrating food to cope with the energy loss.

1. Your dogs and cats enjoy coconut water just like you do, diluting and providing them coconut water which is loaded with electrolytes, calcium and potassium can help them deal with the heat

2. Add watermelons and cucumbers to their diet. Rich in vitamin B6, B7, and B1 they also make a great snack for them. (Do not forget to remove the seeds from the watermelon, as it causes intestinal blockage)

3. You can provide them with fruit popsicles without any artificial sweeteners once in a while. Fruit popsicles, frozen yogurt are completely safe for your dogs. It can benefit in two ways; while yogurt is good for their gastrointestinal tract, fruits are a great source of antioxidants and vitamins. And they also help them to cool down a bit.

Fun activities that make summer easy for your pets!

Keeping in mind about the pet safety and effective bonding between you guys, here is a list of fun activities that you must give a try this summer especially if you have a dog,

• Host a pet party, if you have a backyard where you can set up a grill you can prepare some treats for your canine buddy too!

• Water, water, water! Splash some cool water, engage them with fun activities with water, and if your dog is an adult take them swimming under your supervision! (We are sure you’d have a hard time taking them off the water)

• Take them for a stroll late in the evenings to a different place so that they will get some fresh and warm breeze, as they would be bored enough in the daytime not being able to get out of the house.

• While long drives can make them tired, a short picnic would not harm ;) Pets make a good travel companion, so start your search mission for some good places for camping and hiking now!