From running around at doggy day care to sprinting after toys in the park, your canine needs exercise to prevent muscle weakness and obesity-related illnesses. However, during summer, you must take precautions to keep your pup cool in the heat. The following advice will reduce their risk of overheating, becoming dehydrated, and other concerns. 

How to Keep Dogs Cool in the Summer Heat

1. Hydrate Them

During summer, dehydrated dogs have a much higher risk of experiencing heatstroke. To keep your canine’s body temperature from skyrocketing, they’ll need access to cool, fresh water at all times. Put water bowls in the yard and bring bottles with you on walks. To calculate how much water the animal should drink per day, add one ounce of water for every pound of their body weight.  

2. Plan Walks

The mid-day sun bearing down on sidewalks makes the pavement too hot for dog paws. Walking on the surfaces could burn and blister their pads. To ensure that your dog doesn’t experience these injuries during your walks, try to go out at dusk and early evening.

This is when sun is low in the sky, which means the pavement is cooler. You should still touch the ground before beginning to gauge whether the pavement is too hot. If you cannot accommodate these times, invest in a pair of boots that your furry friend can wear. 

3. Provide Shade

A dog could overheat when their temperature climbs above 104 degrees, which will require a trip to the veterinarian. Basking in the sun while wearing a fur coat is not always safe for your pup. To regulate their body temperature, put sun shades, canopies, and patio umbrellas in the yard for your dog to lounge under. If you take them to a doggy day care facility, they will either have plenty of tree covering where the animals roam or well-ventilated structures to shade them while playing outdoors.

Whether you have a busy work schedule or are planning a trip out of town, Joe, Carol, and Peggy at Robinwood Kennel in Highland Heights, KY, will look after your canine. Since 1970, the family-owned business has been providing doggy day care, grooming, and pet boarding to families in Campbell County and the Cincinnati, OH, area. The facility is only minutes from Northern Kentucky University and about a 15-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati. For doggy day care availability or to reserve a spot in the kennel, call (859) 781-2352. Visit them online for more information about their services.