Summer Heat: Tips for Cooling Down

It's not just you who can struggle with the summer heat; your pet can too. Especially sick and older animals often have difficulties when exposed to high temperatures. This is because dogs and cats only have sweat glands on their paws, and their number is not sufficient to cool the body adequately at high temperatures. With a few simple measures, you can help your pet cool down and ensure their well-being.

Avoid Strenuous Activities

Extended walks or strenuous sporting activities with your dog should be avoided or moved to the cooler morning or evening hours.

Plenty of Water, Less Food

It is important that dogs and cats consume enough fluids in the heat. They are more likely to do so if the water is fresh and cool. Therefore, refresh the drinking water for your pets more often than usual. On walks, you should always carry a water bottle and offer your dog something to drink every 20 – 30 minutes.

Dogs and cats move less in the heat and therefore consume less energy. Therefore, the amount of food should be adjusted and distributed over several smaller portions throughout the day. When it's warm, flies often enter the home. There is a risk that flies will lay their eggs in moist cat or dog food, so only offer as much food as will be eaten immediately, ensuring no leftovers remain.

Even in extreme heat, never give your pet ice-cold water or large quantities of cold food directly from the refrigerator. While this may cool the animal down initially, the cold can irritate the stomach and lead to vomiting. It is better to fill a Kong or a lick mat with liver paste, cottage cheese, or pureed fruits and vegetables and freeze it. Such treats not only provide pleasant cooling without the risk of stomach irritation but also offer a meaningful activity.

Create Access to Cool Places

Even indoors, it can get very warm in summer. To keep your home relatively cool, you should keep windows closed during the day and close curtains or blinds. In the basement or bathroom, temperatures are often pleasantly cool. If you have the opportunity, open the doors to these rooms so that your cat or dog can retreat there. Additionally, you can provide cooling by placing a damp towel on the floor where your pet can rest. Cooling mats are also very suitable for cooling down at home, as well as in the car or on the go. These are filled with water-storing crystals and provide long-lasting cooling through slow evaporation of the water.