How to protect your pet on hot summer days

With the arrival of summer, not only the days begin to increase, but also the degrees and intensity of the sun. Even if we want to spend as much time as possible outdoors with our furry friend who would never refuse such a moment – because we know well that he wants to be our faithful ally in all our summer adventures – it is important to pay great attention to both our comfort and the comfort and health of our four-legged friend. Just as strong sun and high temperatures can affect our health, the same is true for dogs. Furthermore, although most of us appreciate the sun and heat and find them tolerable, those temperatures can be unbearable for our pets. Hot summers are extremely difficult for quadrupeds, causing discomfort and even serious health problems.

Precisely for this reason we have prepared a list of some tips with which we can protect our companies on hot summer days because, we know well that it is our duty to provide them with adequate protection and to offer them the necessary comfort regardless of the season or situation.

So, when temperatures rise and the sun’s rays make themselves felt in full force, it’s time to take action to ensure your pet isn’t exposed to any risk. With a little extra precaution and attention, we can make the difference between a fun and healthy summer and a summer full of risks and discomfort for our non-talkative friend.

The first and most important thing to remember is this quadrupeds must be protected from excessive heat. As much as possible, try to keep them indoors during the hottest hours of the day, generally between 11am and 4pm. Between these hours, the sun’s rays are strongest but also the most harmful. However, even if the quadrupeds are indoors, you must ensure that they always have fresh water available to hydrate. On hot summer days, when the schedule allows it, change the rules of the walk in order to seize the cool mornings and evenings when the temperatures have already dropped. If your home is not equipped with air conditioning and you feel that the temperature is high even inside, for the comfort of the quadruped we recommend using a cooling mattress, which, thanks to the special non-toxic padding gel, gradually cools in contact with the heat of the animal’s body and thus ensures a fresh, soft and comfortable environment.

Another thing you need to keep in mind is quadruped overheating. Also called hyperthermia this condition is becoming more common during hot summer days. The main reason is to keep the quadruped in an area or room with high temperatures and unventilated, which leads to an increase in the quadruped’s body temperature beyond the limit. Typically, this situation occurs when the dog is left in the car without leaving ventilation or windows open, when he is exposed to too much sunlight, or when he is extremely dehydrated. Precisely to avoid such a veterinary emergency, it is important to always have a water container or a portable dog drinker with you, never leave your pet in the car, not even for “a few minutes”, and never take your pet for a long walk during rush hour without shade or water.

If the sun’s rays are not so strong and you decide to go for a walk, hike or even to the beach, be sure to protect your four-legged friends from sunburn. Generally dogs with fur very short, they are subject to sunburn, but so are the rest of the quadrupeds, especially in the area of ​​the eyes, ears and nose. Fortunately, there are pet-specific sunscreens and sprays that are safe and effective.

As I said before, hydration is essential on hot summer days. So essential that it deserves to be mentioned several times. So make sure your quadruped always has fresh water available and, when you leave your “enclosure”, make sure you have reserve water in your quadruped bag. Of course there are pets who will not drink enough water and it is advisable for them to add different types of wet food to their diet or offer fruit and vegetable snacks with a high water content.

You should also pay close attention to the quadruped’s legs. The health of pads is extremely important during the summer and we often tend to overlook the fact that furries don’t wear shoes, just like us, and feel the temperature much more than we do. Why asphalt and concrete become very hot, the quadruped can suffer irritation and even painful burns to the paw. If you go out, especially during the day, but also in the afternoon, try doing so avoid hot surfaces walk on dirt or grass or even consider purchasing some summer dog shoes to protect them from both burns and other foreign objects that could injure them.

As for the fur, you should know that it protects him not only from the cold, but also from the heat. Even if during the summer we tend to cut them as short as possible, this habit is not recommended because the four-legged skin ends up being much more exposed to sunburn. Instead, a medium cut, regular grooming, regular brushing and regular washing will help improve air circulation and remove dead hair.

So, we think we can all agree that our love and attention are the most important things in keeping our furry friends healthy and happy. This summer we will not only be tanned but responsible owners and let’s give our four-legged friends the love and care they need so that they too can enjoy the summer safely and comfortably!

We wish you a wonderful summer, full of happy moments with your non-speaking friends, and we, safepet.ro, are always here to help you with advice and recommendations to properly care for your pets.