With the arrival of heat it is very important to take certain precautions so that our dog is cool and without the risk of suffering a stroke. heat or sunstroke. Especially those dogs with long or dark hair are susceptible to it.
On our site we are going to give you some advice about the care we should provide to a dog when the heat is important. Do not forget that if you observe any symptoms of illness such as diarrhea or very high body heat, it is advisable to contact a specialist. Keep reading and discover some tricks to avoid heat in dogs:
1. You should always have fresh and abundant water
Keeping our dog well hydrated is essential to prevent he alth problems related to excessive heat. Inside the house we should always have a container with plenty of fresh and clean water that we renew daily Especially in summer we will check that it is always fresh and clean.
A trick that we can use to know if our dog is well hydrated is to gently "pinch" the neck area. The skin should return to its original shape within seconds. On the contrary, a dehydrated dog will have little elastic skin.
two. We'll put the food at the last minute
To facilitate and improve the digestive process, it will be convenient to make the dog's meal time habituate to the end of the day, which usually offers a temperature less elevated. This helps the body to carry out digestion in a relaxed way.
3. Offer him more moist food to hydrate him
If you notice that your dog drinks little water, offering him wet food is an excellent option to keep him hydrated and also enjoy a tasty meal. Choose a quality food and don't forget to give him some oral hygiene snack so that he doesn't accumulate a lot of tartar when you choose this type of food.
4. Turn on the fan if you notice it is very hot
Just like people, dogs cool off by using the fan! If the heat of the day is really suffocating, help it with a fan to make it more bearable. I'm sure he'll thank you.
5. Avoid being overweight
Weights that are overweight or obese have a lipid layer that excessively isolates them from the outside and causes them towarmer than other dogs. For this reason, the arrival of heat usually affects them very negatively.
Discover on our site a diet for obese dogs and the best exercise for obese dogs. Remember that weight loss should be a gradual process. Choose the coolest times of the day to exercise like in the evening or early evening.
6. We will never feed him before exercising
Digestion is a delicate process, for the same reason, in point number 2 we highlighted its importance. You should know that if we offer food to the dog before exercising, it can suffer gastric torsion. An ailment that can be deadly if not treated in time by experienced professionals.
7. The shadow, your great ally
Whenever your dog is with you, it will be useful to think of shaded areas in which to shelter him. When you go to one of the dog-friendly beaches in Spain, for example, it is essential to go with an umbrella.
8. Always have water on hand
Just as we do inside the house, outside it we must also have fresh water for our best friend. We can take with us a bottle, a Tupperware container to empty it and even a can of water sprayto occasionally spray his mouth.
9. Never leave him alone in the car
In just 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can go from 23ºC to 32ºC which can cause heat stroke. In 30 minutes we could talk about a risk to your life. Dogs should never be left locked in cars. Never.
10. Avoid using the nylon muzzle
The nylon muzzle, or any other that closes the dog's jaw, does not allow him to pant which makes thermogulation impossible for his Body. It is important to choose one of basket type, like the one in the image. Discover the different types of muzzles that exist.
Remember that the best method to avoid heat in the dog is to pay attention to it on a regular basis, especially if we are away from home. Learning about first aid is another great option.