Hot Weather Dogs: Tips for Keeping Your Canine Cool

Tips for keeping cool through the dog days of summer

If you see the mercury rising, here are some tips to keep your canine cool:

Offer an ice pack or wet towel to lay on

*Add ice cubes to the water dish

*Offer access to a wading pool with shallow, cool water.

*Offer access to cool shade by stringing up a tarp, cloth, or use a shade screen.

*Bring a collapsible water dish on your walks.

*Replace a portion of their regular diet with canned food.Avoid walking on hot pavement, and consider booties to insulate their toes.

*Early morning or evening playtimes, exercise, and walks are best.

*Give your dog some homemade frozen treats.

Heatstroke in dogs: know the signs

*Raised temperature (101.5° is normal)

*Rapid breathing and panting

*Excess salivation and thickened saliva

*Fatigue or depression

*Muscle tremors

*Staggering

Dehydration in dogs: know the signs

*Sunken eyes

*Lethargy

*Dry mouth

*Depression

*Gently pinch a fold of skin at the top of the neck. Is it slow to snap back?