Unofficial Start of Summer…

dog sun break

…that means we love to spend time outdoors.  For many of us, that means bringing our beloved dogs with us when we can.  It can’t be overstated: we have to be careful of the health (and death) risks associated with having our dogs out in extreme temperatures.

Dogs have very different cooling mechanisms than we do.  They can overheat very quickly, especially those who are

brachycephalic (short nosed).  Dogs will not tell you when they’ve had enough.  They want to be with us and please us so much that they can easily be pushed past their limits.  Owners often mistake their willingness to play in the heat as a sign that they are fine, but this is sometimes not the case.

Pay attention to the heat. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water, but don’t let them drink a whole bowl at once if they’ve been exerting themselves in the heat.  Make sure your dog has shady options.  Yes, the same message gets preached every year.  Ask any vet who has treated and/or lost a dog to heat stroke or a heat related problem and they will tell you – if only the message was repeated one more time…Help spread the word and keep our delightful dogs SAFE!

Happy (unofficial) summer!

XO,

Stacie & Ronan