What are some summer safety tips for keeping dogs safe outdoors?

1. 87

   DonnaCosmatoposted 11 years ago

   What are some summer safety tips for keeping dogs safe outdoors?

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2. 61

   PageCposted 11 years ago

   Keep the dogs in the shade, keep them relatively still, and offer plenty of cool water. You can get small, battery-operated fans to help keep them cool also.
   
   I like to reuse water bottles - fill them not quite full with water, and freeze. Then, if I have to travel with my dogs during hot weather, I can use the bottles to help cool them down, and when the ice melts, the dogs have drinking water.
   
   You might want to fill up a kiddie pool with water, and have the dogs lie down in that to help cool their foot pads and underbellies.

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3. 74

   MickiSposted 11 years ago

   I voted up PageC's answer, but I want to expand on it with a big DON'T in the summer: do not wet your dog to cool them down if they are over heated.
   
   The cool water gets into their undercoats close to their skin. It then becomes body temperature water. If they are overheated, this keeps them overheated.
   
   They can only cool down by panting and not be sweating through their skin like we humans. So, we do them a dis-service by trying to submerge them in cool water.

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4. 67

   gail641posted 11 years ago

   Make sure that they always have fresh, cool and clean water to drink, so that they stay hydrated.
   
   Dogs should be in the shade where it's a little cooler, and out of the sun. If it gets really bad--really hot out--the dog(s) could be brought inside the house where it is safer. Dogs are members of the family, so it might be a good idea to bring them into the house, so that they don't have to be outdoors in the unbearable heat.
   
   When it's really hot dogs shouldn't walk on the pavement, or any surface that is hot, because it might burn their feet.
   
   Dogs need to be on "Heartworm" medication to prevent heartworm disease.

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5. 60

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years ago

   I have been planning on writing a hub on this so look for it soon.....one very important tip is to not leave dogs alone in parked cars - the cars can overheat very quickly resulting in extreme heat stress and even death. This applies even if the windows are "cracked."

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   1. 83

      mary615posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you on this one!  I don't allow my dogs to go on errands with me when it's hot because I'd have to lock the car with the windows up.  I've seen careless people do this, though.

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6. 61

   landscapeartistposted 11 years ago

   1. Lots of shade.  Trees offer the best shade because of the breeze they create.
   2. Lots of cool fresh water in unspillable containers.
   3. Do not over exercise them in the heat.
   4. If they are going to be running around, be sure to keep plenty of cool water nearby for them to drink.
   5.Don't let them run too much on the gravel roads as it will split their pads, causing bleeding and sometimes infection.  If they crack or split their pads, you can put vaseline on them to soften, seal and protect the pads

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