Summer is officially here and that means extreme temperatures. Here are some tips for keeping your dog safe on outdoor adventures this season as well as fun activities to make sure you are meeting your dog’s daily exercise needs on those really hot days.
Every year, veterinarians treat countless cases of health issues resulting from dogs being in extreme temperatures. Heat can be very dangerous for dogs in a number of ways… from burned or torn paw pads to heat stroke to life threatening bloat. So, here are our top tips for preventing your dog from being a victim of extreme temperatures!
Knowledge is power. Our biggest tip is to plan your outdoor adventures and activities according to the temperature that day. Here is our cheat sheet for knowing how the temperature affects pavement and astro turf in the shade and the sun. That being said, grass, dirt and other surfaces are cooler but our dogs regulate their body temperature by panting and through their paws so if they are walking on hot any surfaces for a prolonged period of time, it will affect your dog.
Hydration. Keeping your dog hydrated is essential for helping them regulate their body temperature. Do you know how much water your dog NEEDS to be hydrated?
A minimum of 1 ounce of water per pound that your dog weighs when they are not exercising. At least double that for days that your dog does any kind of aerobic exercise.
The key is to ensure your dog is hydrated BEFORE exercise and/or outdoor activities and you cannot assume that if your dog has access to a water bowl, that they are hydrated. So, here are some tips for helping make sure your dog is hydrated.
- Re-hydrate your dog’s food by adding water to your dog’s meals. 1/2 the amount of your dog’s food (I.e. 1/2 C of water for 1 Cup of food)
- Make sure you clean your dog’s water bowl – DAILY. Bacteria grows on those bowls quickly, especially in warmer temperatures and that bacteria will make your dog drink a lot less out of that bowl
- Add flavor! Adding a splash of Low sodium Bone Broth is incredibly helpful for enticing dogs to drink their water
- Have your dog drink Electrolytes before and/or after exercise and outdoor activities
- Hydrating frozen dog pops! Having these on-hand to give before and/or after exercise and outdoor activities. Here is the recipe I use:
- Popsicle Mold
- Fill with 1/2 Water + 1/2 Bone Broth
- Instead of using the popsicle handle, I put a jerky stick in it. Here are my two favorites:
- Bixbi Jerky (Use code: ADVENTUREDOGS for 15% off)
- Honest Kitchen Ocean Chews
Be prepared with products that effectively keep your dog safe. There are a lot of products claiming to keep your dog cool, but do they actually work? There are two areas of your dog that you need to focus on to keep your dog’s body temperature regulated – the paws and the stomach/groin area. So, protecting the paws is essential for keeping your dog safe. Here are our two top products for paw protection:
- Dog Booties: designed for summer, not insulated for winter
- Protective Paw Wax: this doesn’t mean your dog can walk on hot surfaces but the wax coats your dog’s paws and helps protect them effectively
- Insulated Travel Water Bottle & Bowl: to keep the water cool
Variety of exercises to utilize. It can be tough to meet your dog’s daily exercise needs when you are battling extreme temperatures. We have some fun and effect exercise ideas to try this summer!
1.Early morning walks before temperatures rise! In the summer, the temperature doesn’t always drop off enough to safely walk in the evenings
2. Treadmill workout is perfect for hot weather days because your dog can get exercise safely, indoors. Interested in getting a dog treadmill? Here are our two top finds! Small to Medium Dogs or Small to XL Dogs
3. Swimming / Water Play is a wonderful form of exercise in the summer months! Find your local dock diving pool to rent, get a sprinkler, splash pad or kiddie pool to play with your dog in. OR if you are fortunate to live near a body of water, ALWAYS make sure it is a continuously moving current, has clear water and is cold. Be extremely careful of blue algae – it is DEADLY for dogs. When in doubt, we recommend carrying these algae test strips so you can test the water before allowing your dog in
4. Canine Fitness is extremely versatile and highly effective in working your dog’s brain and body – any age, any breed! It can be done inside or outside! Check out our Adventure Dog Fitness page for more information!
5. Paddleboarding! This is my favorite summer activity with my personal dogs. If you want to paddle board with your dog, make sure the water you’re going too is algae free so it’s safe for your dog to cool off in and/or drink.
The top priority when paddle boarding, is that your dog still has access to clean/cold water to stay hydrated. When in doubt, pack it with you! I use Ruffwear UltraLight Bowl (it fits perfectly under the straps on my paddle board) & Freeze an H20 Lickable Bladder (to slowly defrost) & store it under my straps under the bowl. We always recommend a dog life jacket for safety and we use wide & long inflatable SUP’s for stability!
We hope this helps you have a SAFE and FUN filled summer with your dog!
Please like and share with all of your fellow dedicated dog owners and be sure to subscribe to the Adventure Dog Blog for more adventure tips and training inspiration!
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