How To Keep Your Dog Safe In The Summer Heat

With all these increasingly rising temperatures here in the QC it's important to remember that even though you get to wear shoes on that steaming hot pavement, your dogs don't! Contrary to popular belief, dogs' paws can be very sensitive and are susceptible to burns during these scorching summers. Lucky for you, there are some easy tips and tricks to help ensure that you and Fido can still safely get out for some exercise during those sunny days!

1. Walk during cooler times of the day! I know it can be hard if you're not a morning person but walking early in the morning before the sun has a chance to heat up the sidewalk can be super beneficial to you and your dog. Or, if you just can't bring yourself to stop hitting that snooze button, walking after sunset is a great alternative too! Walking on the pavement (when it's not too hot) can also help toughen up a dog's paws making them less susceptible to burns, kind of like a callus on your hand!

2. Find alternative places to walk that don't include paved sidewalks! Exercising your dog doesn't have to mean doing anything specific, as long as you're out and moving, it counts! That being said, consider taking your dog out on the trails, to a nice shady park, or the dog park is great alternatives and your dog will love that you're switching up the routine.

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3. Educate yourself! Unfortunately with these high temps heatstroke is more of a risk factor for dogs and it's important to know the signs so you can act quickly. The Humane Society states that the symptoms can include "heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness." If you start to notice any of these signs, move your dog to an airconditioned area and apply ice packs and/or wet towels, provide ample water, and take your furry friend directly to a veterinarian.

Stay safe out there QC!

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To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.