Summer is rapidly approaching so in most states across the US that means warm temperatures are on the way. If you think you are hot, how do you think your beloved pet that wears a fur coat 24/7 feels?
The temperature outside can be too hot for you or your child. It can be difficult to stay outside for more than a minute or two. Make sure to include your pet in this as well.
I have a 9-year-old Saint Bernard. He hates to be outside when the temperature is 55o F or higher.
He only needs to go outside to use the bathroom. In winter, he loves to lay out on our deck during a blizzard. Despite the howling winds and wind chills below zero, he won’t come inside until we drag him.
Here are my simple tips on how to keep your fur babies cool this summer.
Turn the Air Conditioning On
In summer, running your air conditioner can make your electric bill go up. Think about the high cost of Veterinary care for a pet with heat stroke if you don’t want to. You will face a vet bill of at least $3000, rather than a $50 to $100 increase in your utility bill.
Set your air conditioning to 70 or 68 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 72. This will help keep you and your pet cool.
You can always put on a sweatshirt or cuddle under a blanket, but your dog can’t remove his fur coat. (Although Some dog breeds can be shaved during the summer, many should Not, such as Saint Bernards. Ask your Vet before shaving your dog, as it may do more harm than good.)
Don’t have air conditioning?
- Fill a couple of medium sized plastic bowls with water and freeze. Once frozen solid, place it on the floor. Put a box fan or space heater in front of it. Set the fan to the “on” setting only. Then, fight the dog or cat for the cool spot in front where it’s cool. When all the ice is melted, put the bowl back in the freezer and take out the backup.
- Use blackout curtains in your windows where the sun shines directly in.
- If you have a basement, keep the door to it open so your pet can have access at all times. It is usually the coolest place in the house. This is where you can find my dog all day and night on hot days.
Other Simple, Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Pets Cool
- Buy a Cooling Mat, or two. You can find them in all shapes and sizes even at discount stores. I found an XL one for my dog at a grocery store in “the aisle of shame” for less than $15.00. It doesn’t have to be put in the freezer and stays cool while your pet is laying on it. Now if I could just get the big lug to lay on it!! Last year he wanted nothing to do with it. I put it back out a few weeks ago, and now he will at least lay his head on it. He is a bit camera shy, so I don’t have a picture to show you.
- Pet Beds are raised a few inches off the ground, but it is enough to keep air circulating beneath them.
- Fill a Kiddy Pool or run a Sprinkler in the backyard, if your dog likes water. The kiddie pool was another fail at my house, but if you have a pet that loves water, you’ll have as much fun watching as they will playing. Here is an inflatable fire hydrant sprinkler I got last year too in that same “aisle of shame” for less than $10. At least one of my dogs was brave enough to use it!
- Who doesn’t love a frozen treat on a hot day? With just a few simple ingredients you probably already have, it is easy to make your dog frozen pupsicles he will love!
- Ingredients:
- Watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, apples, bananas, mango, pumpkin (canned is fine), sweet potato
- Plain Greek Yogurt (with NO xylitol-it is TOXIC to dogs)
- Peanut Butter (check label for xylitol!)
- Fresh Parsley and mint
- Organic veggie or chicken broth (no salt)
- Small paper cups for molds and stick treats for stick or silicone dog theme shaped molds…heart, paw print, dog bone.
- Directions:
- the fruit or leave it whole, mix with yogurt or layer it with the fruit, and pour into a mold, freezing each layer individually.
- Make a PB&J pupsicle. Mix peanut butter with a little water so it is pourable. Pour into a mold, fill only halfway, then freeze. When frozen, pour a layer of fruit on top to fill the mold. Freeze for at least 4-6 hours.
- Combine any of the above ingredients in any way you think your pup would like. If you use a small paper cup, try adding some fruits and veggies to the broth mixed with a little water, and freeze it for an hour, then for the stick, place a stick type dog treat down through the middle and freeze for 6 hours. Peel away the paper cup before giving the frozen treat to your dog.
- Walk them in the morning at dawn or at night. Dawn is the coolest part of the day. Temperatures over 77 degrees are considered too warm for a dog to be walked in.
- Did you know that the temperature of asphalt in direct sunlight has been measured as 40-60oF hotter than the surrounding air temperature? Vets have said that on a 90oF day, the temperature of pavement can reach 150 degrees. You can test if the pavement you and your dog will be walking on is too hot by stepping on it for 7 seconds in bare feet. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog. (7 second rule from the Journal of American Medical Assoc. 214 (11) 2025-2027)
We treat our pets like family and hope you do too. The summer temperatures can be hard to deal with. Remember this simple phrase: If it’s too hot outside for you, it’s also too hot for your dog! I hope these tips are helpful to you and your fur baby so you can both enjoy your summer.
