Summer time is finally here in Boston! It’s time for both you and your pets to get outside and enjoy the sunny weather. Here at dogsrusboston.com, we wanted to give you some pointers about keeping your pets cool in the warmth of the sun.

  1.  Don’t leave your dog in your car while you run an errand. I know, it sounds obvious, but throughout the country police have had to come to the rescue of overheated dogs in shopping center parking lots. As a point of fact, on an 85 degree day, the inside of a car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes. Think of poor Rex having to endure that heat!
  2. Make sure your home is cool enough for the cat! When Fiona the house cat is home during the day, make sure she is not stuck in a hot house. Draw the shades and keep a fan or AC running to make a cool cat even cooler. She’ll thank you with lots of purrs when you get home.
  3. Flat faced pets have a harder time with the heat. Because of their shape, pets like Pugs and Persians can not pant as well as other dogs in order to effectively cool down their bodies. Take extra care in keeping these four legged friends cool for the summer.
  4. Know the symptoms of over heated pets. If your pet exhibits these symptoms, offer them water and bring them to a cool spot immediately until these symptoms subside.
    • Heavy panting
    • Heavy drooling
    • Trouble breathing
    • Rapid heartbeat
    • Dark or red gums and tongue
    • Dizziness
    • Weakness
    • Agitation
  5. Watch the asphalt. In winter, we make sure our dogs paws are protected from cold, salt, and ice. In the summertime, we need to take similar care. If the asphalt is hot enough, it can cause damage to our dogs pads. Keep time on hot asphalt to a minimum for the sake of your pooches paw pads.
  6. Water, water, water… Make sure Walter the Weimaraner has enough water to drink on a hot day. Check the water bowl more often as it will disappear faster than usual in the summer heat.

Enjoy summer safely with your pets. What ideas have you implemented for your pets’ summertime comfort? Reply to this blog post to share them with our community.