When it’s hot outside and you are uncomfortable, just imagine how your dog feels – it’s wearing a fur coat! Your dog is restricted to your backyard and it is dependent upon you to keep it cool.
Some ideas to keep your dog cool:
- Provide your dog with a wading pool – in the shade in which it can lie.
- Ensure that there are several accessible sources of cool, fresh drinking water in your dog’s environment . The water containers should be secured so that they can’t tip over.
- Make your dog some frozen treats.
- Put a brisket bone and some salt free stock in an old margarine container. Freeze the contents and pop out of container in a shady spot for the dog to enjoy. You can vary this idea of course.
- Place an ice brick wrapped in a tea towel where your dog tends to lie down.
- Lie a tarpaulin covered with some damp towels on the floor for your dog to lie on or next to.
- Wet your dog with the hose and towel off just lightly.
- If you are leaving your dog alone, ensure access to cool areas i.e. tie back doors or gates that may close accidentally.
- Take your dog for a swim at the beach or water hole. Remember that the sand will be hot.
- Keep the air conditioning on or a fan.
- Be aware that the tar on roads will burn your dog’s pads on hot days as will the trays in the back of utes. Leave your dog at home when it’s hot.
- Most importantly – DO NOT EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR – EVEN FOR FIVE MINUTES. THE TEMPERATURE IN A CAR CAN RISE TO 80 DEGREES IN SIX MINUTES.