Loving with Dogs
Published: April 20, 2009
As the weather changes from somewhat chilly to humid, sun-worshippers prepare their travel odds and ends for the ultimate summer getaway. Humans can bathe under the heat of the sun for long hours protected by sun block lotion with high SPF, but what about our best friends – the dogs which are our favorite companions for almost all occasions.
Dog-owners love to drag their cuddly-wuddly pets anywhere, anytime like during a morning jog in the park, an afternoon stroll in the mall, or an evening dinner at a nearby pizzeria. And during this season, those who have considered their pet dogs as part of the family will not forget to bring them along to lovely summer destinations like vacation houses in the province, beach resorts, and even on out-of-country trips.
But do you know that traveling and other outdoor activities are not actually recommended for dogs during hot days? It does not take a genius to know that a dog’s body is heavily covered by furs and that they do not have sweat glands. They release the heat from their bodies through deep breathings. And so, you may observe how warm they feel inside by the way their tongues droop from their mouths.
Lovepets.com President Joey Tiosayco says, “It is not just about the sun being out and hot. A bad humid climate condition could be worse to our dogs. When we feel hot and sweat up, our dogs feel much worse than that. How many times worse? It depends whether your dog is acclimatized or not, more coaty or not, hyper or not—just like humans who move a lot, they sweat up more than the inactive ones.”
However, dog-lovers need not worry! Your bonding moments with your charming pets are not really over this summer season. Hear out some tips from Lovepets.com on how you can spend happy times with your dogs outside the coziness of your house.
- Minimize your dog’s sun exposure between 10am to 3pm. The Animal Welfare Law Republic Act 8485 of 1998 says it is not advisable to expose your dog under the direct heat of the sun from around 10am to 3pm (when it is hottest).
- Have a bowl of water ready all the time. When you bring your dog out, chances are your dog would play and run around with you or with other dogs in the area. So, always bring water and a bowl then, have it ready in a spot as you and your dog settled in a particular place. Dogs will find their way there every time they feel the need to drink. It is actually better that way than you initiating them when to drink or not.
- Let them have their water ice-cold. Bring along a small cooler with lots of ice and store the bottled water inside. If you want to travel light, put the bottled water in the freezer the night before your trip until it gets icy. Wrap the icy bottle with towel and pack it safely in your traveling bag. The ice will slowly melt along the way and you will have a real cold drink for your dog.
- Give your dog an extra support. Water is enough but it pays to give your dog a rehydration support like the one from Royal Canin. It is a powder that has to be mixed with water for instant rehydration and energy booster.
- Keep them refreshed with instant cool wipes. Dampen a small face towel with clean water. Place the damp towel in a plastic bag, then keep it in the freezer overnight. Pack it safely in your traveling bag. The cold towel will come handy in helping your dog beat the summer heat. Do not wait for your dog to react negatively with the hot temperature. Just wipe the towel on the areas where there is less coat (fur)—face, belly, hip and armpit—from time to time.
- Don’t make your dog a fashion victim. Don’t force your dog to wear clothes especially when going outdoors and in places that are not properly ventilated. Imagine how hot a dog feels with that built-in fur which is impossible for them to take off for a while, unlike the piece of jacket that we, humans, wear which we can easily remove from our body anytime we like.
- Check on their needs every now and then. Yes, you can bring your dog to the beach. Just be more cautious with dogs that are into it as a first time experience. Sporting breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers may love and enjoy the water more than any other breeds. Let your dog feel the summer fun, and don’t forget to check on all their needs from time to time.
- Seek help from a veterinarian when the need arises. It is hard to tell if a dog is about to suffer from a heatstroke. The signs would only show when the condition gets irreversible, and that stage could be very fatal. When your dog collapses, rush it to a vet and apply cold body rub right away on the face, belly and other areas that have less coat (fur).
Lovepets.com is a pet welfare group that promotes responsible pet ownership. Join their cause 
