Summer is in full swing and we are just as a busy as ever, but wanted to send a few reminders your way about keeping your pets safe during these hot summer months! We all love to spend as much time as we can with our beloved pooch companions especially on summer vacations, but it’s super important to remember that our furry friends are just as susceptible to heat exhaustion and sun burns as we are!

Here are a few tips to keep your doggy happy and healthy during the summer months:

• Remember to keep a lot of cool, fresh water available and bring some along on your longer walks to keep your pup hydrated for the long haul.
• Keep your pet as cool as possible on hot summer days. You may purchase a kiddie pool for them to lounge in and keep cool at any local Petsmart. They usually run about $8 and your dog will be happy as a clam to feel the cool water on their bellies!
• It’s also important to remember that a dog (or any animal for that matter) should not be left inside a vehicle even for a minute during summer weather. Temperatures in vehicles, even with the windows down, can reach over a 100 degrees and this could end terribly for your beloved four legged friend.
• Many dogs love to swim but be sure to monitor how long they are out in the water, between the heat and their love of swimming, your dog could tire easily. Give your pooch some down time even if they seem reluctant, this will give them time to recharge their batteries and help avoid unnecessary accidents. May pooches drown each year so keep a close eye on your pup in the water be it the ocean, lake, or a pool. Supply plenty of fresh water at the beach, the salt water can cause an upset belly and dehydration. After your swimming adventures are over for the day, rinse your dog with fresh water and try to dry out their ears and between the toes so they don’t develop yeast infections from being damp.
• Make sure to apply sunscreen to your dogs exposed skin, especially if they are fair skinned at least 30 minutes prior to being outside for an extended period of time. Believe it or not, dogs are just as prone to skin cancer as we are so it’s important to protect them from overexposure to the sun.

We hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and safe summer! Below you will find some pictures of Adoptable LBWF doggies enjoying their pool time!