Hot Weather Tips for Cool Pets

Pets, who live outdoors or stay outside during the day, should have plenty of fresh, clean water. The water should be renewed once to twice daily or as often as necessary. Pets also need a cool, shady place to lie down and rest, such as under a tree, shrub or porch. In the summer, your pet's favorite resting place is a perfect breeding ground for fleas (keep this in mind when de-fleaing your pet and yard). Pets who lay around a lot during the day tend to use several different places to keep cool. They prefer wooden surfaces (like the porch or dog house) and bare concrete, not asphalt, which heats up in the sun. For pets that like water, a child's plastic pool is great to play in, or even a bird bath (depending on the size of your pet).

Pets that are kept indoors, especially those kept locked in one room or a crate, should always have a fresh supply of water and adequate ventilation. Keeping the air-conditioner on in your house or in a single room seldom poses a threat, but hot, stale, stuffy air can be very uncomfortable for your animals.

In the summer, dogs tend to become more active with the pleasant weather, but try not to overfeed to compensate. Too much food can sit heavy in your pet's stomach and sometimes make them sick. This can also happen if your pet drinks too much water at one time, especially if the water is extremely cold and your pet has been exercising strenuously.

If your pets travel with you, be very careful about leaving them in the car for extended lengths of time. Even in the car, water should be easily accessible for your pet and all windows should be cracked to allow air to circulate freely through the car. In the summer months, when the temperature is normally 85° F or above, the temperature in your car will increase at least 20 degrees above that found outside. If you find a pet that is locked in a car with all the windows up, you have e the option of calling the police or the local animal control center to come get the animal out of the car. When they arrive, they will determine if the life of the animal is endangered and rescue it if necessary.

Exotic pets such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and others should also be protected from the heat, as their species requires. In our experience, it is best to make your exotic pets as comfortable as possible on hot days and then keep an eye on them for signs of overheating. Most birds, for instance, do not like to be in drafty areas, and tend to get cold easily. Rabbits, on the other hand, overheat very easily and prefer cooler air.

The most important thing to remember is to use common sense when preparing your pets for the summer. Some longhaired pets like to have a little hair removed to make them more comfortable, and some don't. Some pets prefer to be indoors, while others like to the outside in the fresh air. You have to watch your pets, or ask them, what they prefer to keep cool.