4 Ways To Keep Pets Cool In The Summer

Posted on: 22 March 2016

When summer arrives, it is important that you keep your pets as cool as possible. This will reduce risks of heat exhaustion and more serious conditions. Here are some easy ways to keep your pets cool inside and outside the home.

Be Careful With Outdoor Exercise

If you have dogs, you need to be very careful about how you take them out, when, and how often. Try to take them out to potty during the early morning and late afternoon or evening hours. If your dog insists on going out in the middle of the day, take it on the grass, which is much cooler than concrete. Asphalt can burn its paws if it is hot enough, so either put protective booties on its feet or carry the dog to an area of the grass. Reduce the amount of time it goes on walks when taking the dog out during the hottest time of the day. Bring water with you just in case.

Provide Shade For Your Pets

When your cats and dogs are outside, make sure they have access to shade. This can either be a shady area in the lawn or on your patio. Set up large trees in pots on your patio that have oversize greenery, which can provide a small amount of shade on a patio. You can also put up the awnings on a deck or patio, which can also give them some shade. In the yard, try to plant some big bushes and plants that will give them shade while relaxing on the grass, which cats especially enjoy doing.

Let the Pets Enjoy the Air Conditioner

During the summer, you don't want to rely on the fans to keep your pets cool. While this might help temporarily for humans, pets don't often feel cooler with fans alone. Make sure you have your HVAC unit in excellent condition and that your air conditioner provides sufficient cooling throughout your home. On the hottest days, let your pets come inside and enjoy the cool air. You may want to have repairs done if it seems to not be working efficiently, or have the air filters cleaned or replaced for adequate cooling of your home.

Always Have Enough Water

You always want water to be available to your pets, but it is even more important when the weather heats up. Make sure your pets have cool water inside and outside. If you find that their bowl keeps heating up outside and the water gets too warm, replace it with cool water. Consider changing to an insulated bowl that will keep the water cool. For more information about keeping your pets healthy, contact a company like Pittsburgh Spay & Vaccination Clinic.

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