Traveling With Your Pet When It’s Hot

During the summer period, our furry friends need even more attention and care than in the other seasons.

In fact, just like human beings, dogs suffer when the weather is hot and, as a consequence, they need to keep hydrated.

Wetting your dog with some water can be a huge relief and can help him avoid serious problems.

Also remember that in the summer, dogs also have another enemy, and that is mosquitoes.

So what’s the best thing to do? Take precautions and vaccinate your pet before the warm weather arrives.

Moreover, when you travel, treat your dog or cat as a family member, let him drink frequently and adapt to his needs.

Your four-legged friend will thank you and will repay you with his affection and love.

Keep in mind that hot weather can cause problems for dogs, especially puppies, older dogs, or overweight dogs.

Here are some hot tips to win your dog over in the summer:

If you are going shopping or running errands with your furry friend, it’s essential that you don’t always walk in the sun.

This is especially true on hot days. On particularly hot days, you should limit the duration of your walks.

Alternatively, choose the coolest hours of the day (early morning or evening) to take him out.

Alternating physical activity with moments of quiet rest in the shade can be particularly useful.

Your pet needs to be in the shade, and above all, he needs to drink.

So even when you go out for a simple walk, he always needs to be hydrated.

Taking a collapsible bowl with you may be a good option.

Moreover, whether you are in the city or on the beach, don’t forget that your dog is not wearing any shoes: therefore, when it’s sweltering, also the soil becomes unbearable for his little paws!

If your pet lives outside in the garden, make sure he has some shaded areas.

If that is the case, you have to intervene by making your pet move or, more simply, by wetting him slowly on the head.

Dogs with black coats should be especially careful since the color of their fur increases refraction.

Dogs can stay on the beach only if the conditions are favorable (for instance, if there is some wind or fresh air).

However, even in this case, your pet may suffer heatstroke.

Therefore, it is always better to bring a small tent or a shelter where he can peacefully rest.

Water must always be available: your dog should be provided with fresh, clean water.

Make sure you change the water once in a while so that it is free from the sea’s salt. Don’t stay on the beach all day!

This goes without saying: five minutes in a car under the sun can be fatal for a dog or a cat.

In fact, many pets die because of heatstrokes.

The temperature inside a car can reach very high levels in a short amount of time and can become lethal for your dog.

Even if you leave the vehicle in the shade and with the windows slightly lowered, the situation does not change.

In fact, that is not enough. The passenger compartment heats up rapidly and your dog, with hyperventilation, radiates heat.

So always take him with you and don’t leave him in your car at all. You are responsible for your pet’s life.

Even if you have taken all the necessary precautions, your dog may experience a heatstroke.

If your beloved dog has heatstroke, you must act quickly. But how should you behave if it happens?

First of all, you must be able to recognize the symptoms.

Some signs your pet is experiencing a heatstroke are: Heat stroke symptoms are:

If you notice these symptoms, cool your dog down with a wet rag and rub it over his neck, groin, and underarms.

If this is not enough, take the dog to the vet immediately.

During the summer months, dogs can be victims of filariasis, a mosquito-borne disease.

Therefore, you ought to take precautions before the arrival of summer.

Ask your vet to give you advice on what type of vaccines can prevent your dog from having this disease.

Alternatively, you can protect your pet with pesticides.

You can find plenty of them on the market, some can be in the form of a spray, or of a collar.

These items are used to fight fleas, ticks, lice, mosquitoes, and sandflies.

When you decide to take your four-legged friend on the road, treat him like a human being: make him travel comfortably and make him drink plenty of water.

If you are driving, frequently stop so that he can stretch his legs.

Also, avoid driving fast since it could make your pet feel nauseous.

Provide your dog with fresh and clean water at all times, as well as dry and moist foods.

If we leave your dog outside for an extended period, it is advisable to place several bowls around the house, on balconies/ terraces, and in the garden.

Moreover, make sure your pet is eating enough: maintaining a constant body temperature requires a metabolic commitment, which consists of consuming calories.

Overall, dogs and cats must always have fresh water at their disposal.

It is a fundamental element for life: a dog can go on for a few days without food, but can hardly survive more than two days without drinking.

Your pet’s fur has a function, it acts as thermal insulation.

This signifies that it protects your dog from heat. If you shave your dog, his skin remains uncovered, and he will not have any means to protect himself.

Cats are less susceptible to heatstrokes since they have a more exceptional ability to protect themselves.

However, they only have sweat glands on their paws, so, if they are feeling too hot, they are most likely to increase their respiratory frequency.

If you notice accelerated breathing and restlessness in your feline, you must immediately move your cat to a cooler environment and wrap it in a wet towel to help him cool down.

If you have a terrace or a garden, and if your dog loves water, the most effective technique to cool him down is by buying a paddling pool.

There are so many different pool sizes, and you can definitely find one that is suitable for your furry friend.

He deserves to have fun in the water during the hottest hours of the day. Alternatively, you can go to a dog center that has a pool!

Who doesn’t dream of lying down on a nice cool surface when it’s hot?

Over the last few years, mats containing a cooling gel have become incredibly popular: they keep your pet’s mat fresh all day.

Thanks to a self-cooling mat, your dog will withstand the hottest hours of the day.

These mats are beneficial even for long car journeys when the passenger compartment reaches very high temperatures.

If during the winter you buy clothes to keep your dog warm, why don’t you buy him clothes in the summer to keep him cool?

On the market, you can find accessories that work just like cooling mats, and once they are removed from the freezer, they cool your dog for several hours.

They are ideal for when you want to go on long walks where there is little shade.