More Tips for Keeping Your Dog Hydrated During the Summer
One of the most important things you can do to keep your dog safe and healthy during the summer is to make sure they are properly hydrated. The following are a few tips for ensuring your dog stays hydrated all summer long:
1. Provide them with plenty of water. The most obvious way to keep your dog hydrated all summer is to make sure they are getting plenty of fluids. The best way to do that is provide them with fresh water everyday, and make sure they are given opportunities to drink after any physical exertion that they undergo. In addition, if you are worried they are just not getting enough fluids to stay hydrated, you could change from a dry or kibble type dog food to a wet, canned dog food. The fact remains, that if you want a well hydrated dog, they have to have fluid available to them at all times. You don't need a drink only once a day, so don't think your dog can manage off a drink once a day. Keep their water dish full. If you are too busy to keep it full, buy a more expensive, but self filling dish with a water storage container attached to it so you only have to fill it occasionally.
2. Change your dog's water regularly. You may think your dog is getting enough water because their water bowl has liquid in it, but dogs are not going to want to drink old, dirty water any more than you are. So, one of the things you need to do to help keep your dog hydrated during the summer is change their water, and clean their water dish daily. If not, a film might form around the dish, and the water could have bacteria, and other things in it that could make your dog sick.
3. During the hottest parts of the day, which are generally between 10 am and 4 pm, you should keep your dog indoors or in the shade. If your dog is not allowed in your house, or you do not have a place to pen them up while you are at work, etc. that is inside, then at the very least make sure that they have sufficient cover or protection all day long. They need something that will stay shaded as the sun moves across the sky. They need a space that will be cool, and remain cool so that they do not overheat. Even with water, being in the heat of the sun all day can cause dehydration or fatigue.
4. Trim their hair. A thick fur coat in the middle of winter might be nice, but in summer it means trapped heat and increased sweating. You may not realize how hot your dog is, but increased sweating means loss of hydration. Help your dog stay cool and hydrated by shaving them, or trimming their hair when summer starts. Just be careful that the exposed skin does not get a sun burn.
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