Summer Is Almost Upon Us and It Is Hot Out There

Summer is almost upon us and it is hot out there! Summer time is when pets tend to be more active. Since it's hot, can you imagine what our furry friends feel? It can't be easy to have that thick skin when outside temperatures are soaring. There are several things you can do for the summer to keep your dogs more comfortable.

You may think of shaving your dog’s long hair for the summer. But keep in mind that this dog's coat is designed to protect him harmful sun rays and insulate heat. Thus simply trim his hair and Nature will do the rest.

One of the favorite summer activities is swimming. Whether in a pool, pond or ocean, the need to cool down and have a good time is essential. As a rule, dogs tend to prefer water, but there are some races that are not swimmers or do not like swimming at all. If your dog seems hesitant, do not push him. Try to bath him into shallow water with toys, but if he does not move, allow him to enjoy or rest on the shore.

If you and your pet swim in pond, river or lake, make sure to clean your dog's skin after the bath to get rid of the mites that could lead to an infection in the future. And finally, if you take your dog on boat trips or similar, remember he should wear a life jacket too! Your dog may knock off the boat anytime and this life jacket can make all the difference, especially if your pet is old or obese.

The biggest concern in the summer is heat stroke. As most of our time is spent outdoors in the summer, it is important to understand how heat affects our pets. Dogs cool off by sweating through the pads of their paws and panting. But older dogs and certain breeds such as bulldogs or pugs have a hard time, to remain cool. Thus always re-hydrate them at regular intervals, make sure they stay indoors between 12 and 15:00, when it is usually hotter. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, e.g. excessive panting, thick saliva, drowsiness, dry nose, sunken eyes, difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating uncontrollably and even bloody diarrhea, he may be suffering from heat stroke and you need to create a cool breeze to cool him and then get a vet immediately.

Since most of our time is spent outdoors in summer, it's no surprise that there are cases of dogs running, lost or even stolen. The only way to counter this is by investing in a GPS tracker for pets. GPS for dogs have changed the way we keep our pets safe and secure. Trackers like SpotLight GPS dog collar is lightweight and durable and can be easily connected to your dog's collar. It is waterproof and comes with rechargeable batteries as well. Spotlight Pet Locator is very simple to handle. Once activated, you can create safe places or areas where it is safe for your dog to roam freely. If pet moves out of these areas, you will be notified via text or email so pet will return home as soon as possible. With SpotLight, tracking your pet is simple, efficient and lets you enjoy a smooth and safe summer!