Dog Days of Summer
The “dog days of summer” affect us all. While the summertime is full of fun, travel, and outdoor adventure - it can also take it’s toll on us with the extreme heat and dry conditions. See below for some helpful end-of-summer tips to keep in mind as we near the end of the season with the hottest temperatures affecting us all over the country this time of year.
How to Beat the Heat - Protect Your Pup
Be sure your dog always has access to clean, fresh water. Your dog needs to stay hydrated as much as possible! If you have a silver bowl for your pet’s water dish, it can create algae and fungus; keep it in the shade or better yet switch to an outdoor-friendly bowl.
Provide your pet access to a shady comfortable spot where they can go to escape the heat. If you are able to leave your pet indoors with the air conditioner running while you’re gone that will ensure they are cool. If not, make sure your dog has shelter with plenty of shade.
Keep ants and pesky outdoor critters away from your pet’s food bowl. If your dog only eats at mealtime, it’s best to pick up the bowl and put it inside away from pests. If your dog is a grazer, be sure to put it on a tray that keeps ants away, and keep the food in the shade.
Never leave your pets or kids inside of a hot vehicle! Temperatures can rise in a matter of minutes to dangerous conditions causing your pet to be in distress and overheat quickly. It’s best to leave pets at home while you go out to run errands.
If you need a good way to cool off your pet, wet a beach towel with water and cover it on your dog. The cool damp towel will help them regulate their body temperature.
Dogs tend to eat less in the summer months. Don’t worry as this is completely normal as they are moving around less to conserve energy in the heat. If you notice your pet becoming too lethargic or not eating at all in a 24 hour period, keep an eye on them closely. You know your dog best at the end of the day so if you feel that something is off it’s best to contact your vet immediately to rule out anything serious with their health.
If you’re running low on pet food prior to a summer trip be sure to place your reorder in advance to ensure you don’t run out! Contact your local distributor to get it delivered as soon as possible or simply place your order on Amazon!
Questions on your pet’s nutrition? If your pet is overweight, underweight, or perhaps experiencing drier skin than normal, maybe it’s time to switch the Nature’s Select recipe you feed them. Contact our team of friendly pet care advisors weekdays, Monday through Friday, 7am to 4pm PST for personalized pet care consultation! Call us at 714-993-5500 or send an email to info@naturesselectcorp.com