Learn about the main dangers summer can expose your pet to and what are the best vet-approved tips to protect your cat or dog from suffering any heat or sun-exposure related issues so you and your furry baby can enjoy the summer fun in all its glory.
If you are anything like me you spend all winter waiting for summer to come so you can do all the water activities, barbecues, beach days and trips, especially if they can include your furry babies. Dogs and cats also usually know that summer comes with more free time for outings and activities they can enjoy so it is a fun season for everyone. However, as temperatures rise, we should also keep in mind that our pets are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and other summer hazards that we might not be aware of and should consider.
We also need to realize that sometimes they are not as aware as we think when it comes to assessing those hazards (how hot the pavement is or how tired or dehydrated they are) when playing or having fun so it is our responsibility to plan ahead and be watchful.
With a little preparation and care, you can help your pets enjoy a safe and fun summer making sure they stay cool and preventing some dangerous and scary situations.
To ensure their well-being, here are some valuable tips to help you keep your pets safe, cool, hydrated and protected during the summer season.
Provide ample shade outdoors and keep a comfortable temperature indoors
Create multiple shaded areas where your pets can retreat from the sun. Set up umbrellas, tarps, or use natural shade from trees. Make sure there is a shady area available at all times of day taking the sun position shifting into account, this is especially important in smaller yards or ones without trees. This helps prevent heat stroke which can happen in only a few minutes from having to lay in the sun when the temperature is also high.
Indoors, ensure that there are cool areas for your pets to rest throughout the day. Some homes are cool enough in the early morning and night time but get too warm during the day when everyone is at work. If you need some kind of cooling system at some time of day during the weekend to be comfortable it probably means your pets do too during the week. A good option is to use timers on fans and ac systems to turn them on during the hottest hours but not have them on all day.
Make hydration available all day everywhere
Ensure that your pets have access to fresh and cool water at all times. Hydration is crucial to prevent dehydration and overheating. Consider placing multiple water bowls in shaded areas both indoors and outdoors, and carry a portable water bottle for outings even during shorter walks.
To make sure the water stays clean and fresh water dispensers are useful. You can also leave some ice cubes in the bowls outside and of course make sure those stay in the shade so the water doesn’t heat up.
Add hydration to their food
For pets who are not particularly fond of drinking water (sounds silly but it’s very common among cats specially) consider finding ways to increase their water intake by adding hydration to their food, making broth ice cubes or changing their water bowls to fountains.
Here’s my in detailed guide on ideas to increase your pet’s water intake:
Start using cooling enrichment
Adding cooling options to your pup or kitty’s diet will not only help them regulate their temperature but also act as amazing enrichment for the summer months. Here are some of my favourites:
Make frozen snacks like pops or ice cubes
The options are endless from the easiest chicken broth ice cubes to add to water, food or offer on their own or even frozen carrots or cucumbers to the most creative frozen treat recipes.
Here’s my recipe for frozen breath mints!
Serve wet food cold in a variety of ways
Consider serving your pet’s wet food cold or even frozen in enrichment toys or licky mats. Not only will help them cool off but the lickying will also keep them entertained and soothe them and it will allow you to add beneficial foods like probiotics, vegetables or coconut or salmon oils for gut, dental and skin health.
If you need ideas for frozen licky mats and enrichment toys make sure to follow our instagram! There’s a few there that you can adapt, the possibilities are endless!
Keep their outdoor water cold
Add flavored or plain ice cubes to their outdoor water bowls if they like it to keep their water cold.
Increase the measures to Prevent Bug Bites
Summer increases the amount of insects and bugs so it’s important to add extra protection against them during the warmer months.
Fleas, ticks, mites and mosquitoes are not only uncomfortable for your pet but can also transmit diseases that can be very dangerous for your animal’s health like Cat Scratch Fever, Bartonellosis, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, heart worm and leishmaniosis. Parasites can nest in your home making them difficult to eliminate once they’ve been introduced into a household by a pet and they can even bite humans transmitting diseases too which is especially dangerous for young children and immunosuppressed adults.
Having a year-round parasite protection plan if you have a pet is to be taken seriously to maintain your whole family’s health.
Follow a strict vet-approved parasite prevention protocol
With the heat the parasites thrive so it’s important to stay on track with your pet’s parasite treatments and usually even add a few extra protection like repellants or collars and tablets.
You can can ask your veterinarian about the best parasite prevention combo for your specific pet since that will depend on their breed, size, coat, sensitivities and lifestyle but make sure you are using vet-recommended products, not the ones sold in grocery stores or other non-specialized places since they will for sure not work well enough even if you think you are protected and you’ll end up spending double the money.
Apply other bug protection measures
Apart from the repellants, it’s also key to apply measures to your daily routine to decrease your pet’s exposure to these pests which is usually not emphasized enough and it can make a huge difference.
Be watchful of their outdoor schedule
Don’t let your pets out at dusk hours which is when the bugs are more active. Sunrise and early morning and after dawn are the times when there’s less bugs so those are good time frames for outdoor activities for your pet.
Prevent mosquitoes from getting in the house and minimize them in your garden
If you have screens in your windows use them and if you don’t consider investing on them, this will allow you to open the windows and creat air flow contributing to cooling your home while not letting in all the bugs that bother your pet and yourself.
Another good option is to have repellant plants like lavender, citronella grass or even basil or sage on windowsills or you can even put some drops of essentials oils like citronella, tea tree, eucalyptus or lavander oil in those areas.
Other ways to minimize the amount of bugs in your home are:
- Remove any still water accumulated in plant dishes which is where mosquitoes will put their eggs.
- Vacuum regularly especially in corners or under furniture which is where flea might nest and remove rugs if possible.
- Wash your pet’s beds and blankets regularly.
Hygiene and Grooming
Regular grooming is crucial year-round but especially during the warmer months. Each breed/type of pet has specific grooming requirements but in general terms, as the temperatures rise the most common thing is for haired pets to start shedding. In the case of double-coated breeds they will most likely naturally begin to shed their undercoat before summer begins but they usually need a bit of help to remove all that loose fur. Brushing your pets regularly and according to their shedding cycle will:
- Prevent matting, which can trap heat making them even more vulnerable to over-heating
- Prevent knots that can cause dermatological issues like hotspots and skin infections
- Decrease noticeably the amount of fur that we find in our homes during those warmer months
- Make it easier for you to identify any parasites or stuck debris on them after outings.
If you are unsure of your pet’s grooming needs, ask your vet about them because they might surprise you.
For example, for long-haired pets you may consider giving them a summer haircut but for some breeds that might make things worse than just brushing all the undercoat away so consult with a professional groomer first, as some breeds require their coat for protection.
Pay especial attention to ear infections specifically for dogs that like to swim or get wet often.
Check and take extra care of their paws and pawpads to keep them clean of hair where debris might get stuck and to see any blisters caused from hot surfaces and keep them moisturized and protected with specific products that can moisturize but also protect them from the heat.
Consider Cooling and protective Accessories
Invest in cooling accessories
Help your pets beat the heat with cooling accessories. Provide cooling mats, or freeze pet-safe toys or water bottles for them to lie next to. These items can provide relief from the heat and help regulate their body temperature.
This is specially helpful for long-haired or winter adapted breeds like huskies, samoyeds, bernese mountain dogs or even golden retrievers really and older pets who suffer a lot from the heat, I love to recommend this to my geriatric patients who have mobility issues and struggle specially in the summer months, this helps them not feel as defeated by the heat and it makes a big difference in their every day level of comfort during these months that can be more difficult to them.
Use fans or AC to regulate your home’s temperature
I also recommend using fans or air conditioning in at least one area of the house where they can retreat to, especially in those homes that get very warm during the day to keep the environment cool and comfortable.
Consider getting a pet pool
Making a dog pool available for your pets to cool of is an amazing option if they enjoy it. If your pets are going to have access to a human swiming pool only let them swim supervised and show them where the stairs out are and train them to get out of the pool anyways.
If you are going to get them a small pool, I recommend hard plastic ones rather than inflatables that can be popped by claws and also might be a hazard if chewed on.
Make sure to keep the water clean and always check it’s not too hot, especially if left in the sun it can suppose a burn risk for dogs that really love it and might jump right in without checking the temperature.
Also beware with smaller dogs, the water level always needs to make it possible for them to walk in it and make sure their way of going in and out of it is super accessible at all times.
Use sun protection
For short haired pets sun protection shirts may be useful if they like to spend long periods of time in the sun.
This is also necessary for hairless cats and dogs and can be paired with pet-specific sunscreen for those areas where the shirts don’t protect them. Sunscreen is also very important to consider for cats, especially the ones that love to spend hours sunbathing, use it sparsely-haired areas of the skin like the ear base and nose to prevent them from developing Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which is a malignant cancer seen in white or light coloured cats.
With these essential summer tips, you can ensure that your dogs and cats have a fantastic and safe summer season. By providing ample shade, keeping them hydrated, and protecting them from the heat and insects, you can create an environment where your pets can thrive and enjoy the joys of summer alongside you. Stay vigilant, be prepared, and make cherished memories with your furry companions all summer long!
I’ll be making a post soon on summer tips to keep your dog cool on outings and a few frozen treat recipes so stay posted for that!
Do you have any other summer tips you’d like to share? leave them in the comments!
