How do you Keep Your Dog Cool In The Sun? We have woken up today to see the sun blazing through the curtains, and the temperature at 23oC already.
So with a walk around another National Trust planned for today I really need to consider how to keep Storm cool.
Storm is the type of dog who loves to lye in the sun, to the point he gets so hot he will make himself sick! This isn’t ideal, but how to I stop him from doing it? The simple answer is I can’t, he is simply a sun baby.
However, as much as I can’t stop him from lying out in the sun there are a number of things I can do to help him keep cool in the sun. In this post I am going to talk about the things we use to cool Storm down so he can still enjoy the sun as safely as possible.
Firstly your dog can get Heatstroke. This is a serious matter and you need to know the signs and what to do.
When a dog gets too hot they can’t always lower their temperature by panting. If you suspect your dog or any other dog of Heatstroke then you need to immediately move them into the shade. Heatstroke can kill!
The RSPCA recommend the following if you suspect heatstroke in your dog:
For the best chance of survival, dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature lowered gradually.
Move him/her to a shaded/cool area.
Immediately douse the dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock. If possible, you can also use wet towels or place him/her in the breeze of a fan.
Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water.
Continue to douse the dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle but never so much that he/she begins to shiver.
Once the dog is cool, take him/her to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.
Now I have your attention lets have a look at the items which I use to keep Storm cool.
I’ve got to say I love Storm’s Cool Mat, we bought it from Amazon and it goes everywhere with us. The Cool Mat doesn’t need to go in the fridge as it is filled with a non-toxic gel which cools your dog down when he lays down on it. Storm uses this in the car, in the house and in the garden. It does also fold up so we can put it in a backpack and take it out with us.
Buy yours at the link below! Highly Recommended by us!
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So as you know Storm loves to spend time in the garden, and getting him inside to have a drink is a nightmare, so we bought him a paddling pool! Yes you read that correctly, paddling pools are not just for kids they are great for the dog who loves water. We play games in the paddling pool, where we throw a biscuit in and Storm then goes bobbing for it. This works in two ways. Firstly he is getting a drink and secondly he is wet so the water cools hims down.
Grab a Paddling Pool Here!
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As simple as it sounds, your dog needs to drink. We have a Portable Water Bottle and Bowl which we take with us when we go out. the bottle is attached to a tray which is used as a water bowl. A really handy little contraption to have in your dog bag at all times. We do always take extra water though as on long walks this isn’t enough.
Have a look here to buy yours now!
Portable Water-Bottle [amazon_link asins=’B001BYMLYC’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’barking-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’95d58a8b-5348-11e7-af2f-d982049867db’]
I’m about to order Storm an Ice Bandanna. Its not always possible for me to take his cool mat out with us. The Ice Bandanna works the same way as the Cool Matt so again there is no freezing or chilling in the fridge. It contains a non-toxic gel to help cool the dog down.
This is where I’m getting Storm’s from!
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So if you read my previous post Free Ice Cream For Dogs you will already know Storm is a sucker for an Ice Cream. Obviously don’t give your dog to much Ice-Cream but as a treat its a great way to cool them down and get some fluid in them.
So there you have it, just a few ways we keep Storm cool when the sun is shining. There are lots of other ways to keep your dog cool, but I’m sure you now get the idea.
But on a final note, and this is a biggy. This is the one I bang on about time and time again, and it’s so simple
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR!
There is no fluffy way to put this, DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS that is the only way to say it. If you leave your dog in a hot car even if it is only for 10 minutes they can DIE.
Go back to the part of this post about heatstroke in dogs. Remember your dog is part of the family, do not put their lives in danger by leaving them in a hot car.
Enjoy the Sunshine with your dog
We don’t get much hot weather in the UK, so I hope that this little post helps you find new ways to keep your dogs cool, and how to enjoy the sunshine safely.
How to Keep Your Dog Cool In The Sun How do you Keep Your Dog Cool In The Sun? We have woken up today to see the sun blazing through the curtains, and the temperature at 23oC already.