Dogs love summer just as much as you do, but staying cool on those scorching hot days can be difficult for our furry friends. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your dog comfortable without spending too much time and money on dog grooming products. This guide will walk you through simple summer grooming tips that will have your pooch ready to face the sun in no time! You can also check out this summer grooming checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything when it comes to caring for your dog this season. With proper maintenance and care, your dog can be happy and healthy all year long!


Dogs don’t sweat, they pant

Obviously, your dog doesn’t sweat like we do. If they do, they can easily overheat. Even if you live in a cool climate, you should still be on high alert during warm summer months. Overheating can lead to health problems and could even put your dog at risk for heat stroke and sunburn.


Wash Their Ears Often

Dogs’ ears are designed to release heat, but only if they can air out. Frequent ear cleanings are best for preventing painful infections that can result from trapped sweat and bacteria. During these extra-hot days, you should be extra vigilant about checking your pet’s ears every day—especially if he or she is wearing a collar. To prevent any problems, pay attention during walks or when your dog shakes off water after a bath. You can often see black waxy discharge around their ear flaps or base—this is usually an indication of yeast overgrowth and requires prompt treatment from your vet. It's also important not to put anything in your dog's ears other than cleaning products specially formulated for use on dogs.


Limit Their Physical Activity

When it’s really hot outside, you’ll want to take special care not to over-exercise your dog. Just like people, dogs need some amount of physical activity every day for their mental and physical health—but if it’s unbearably hot out, limit your dog’s exercise sessions as much as possible. More than one or two walks per day are likely excessive; instead, try shorter playtimes in cooler areas. Remember that heatstroke can happen even when you aren't physically exerting yourself; so if you live in a hot climate and have been playing with your pup in the sun all afternoon, make sure he has access to shade for his rest time.


Give Them Fresh Water

It's important to keep your dog hydrated. Dogs can't perspire, so it's up to you to keep them cool. One way is by making sure they have access to plenty of fresh water—add some frozen fruit, like strawberries or blueberries, for an added bonus! A good rule of thumb is half a gallon per 15 pounds body weight. Keeping a bowl full in cool areas of your home and refilling regularly will also help in keeping your dog from experiencing heat exhaustion. Get them Vaccinated: Did you know dogs can't just run around outside all day without repercussions? Just like humans, dogs are susceptible to heat exhaustion when temperatures rise over 70 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods.


Don’t Shave Their Hair or Cut Their Nails

The easiest way to prevent heat-related injuries in dogs is to make sure they stay as cool as possible. Staying hydrated, preventing overheating and staying inside are three good ways you can help your pet deal with their fur getting a little long and hot. If your dog’s hair is long enough that it’s collecting around their paws or in between their toes, then they could have trouble walking or getting stuck on things because they get tangled up. Make sure you keep their paws trimmed—or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that yourself then take them in for a professional grooming appointment every few weeks so someone else can make sure those claws are nice and smooth.


Use a Chill Mat For Puppies

Chill mats, also known as puppy cooling pads or kennel coolers, are a great way to help keep your dog cool while they’re indoors. Basically, these are like beds but designed with a fabric that can be wetted and cooled down with water. Some mats are made entirely out of materials that can easily absorb water; others have an additional cooling gel layer below the fabric surface. Either way, you should simply fill up a basin or tub with cool water and add some ice cubes before wetting your pup's pad down—and voila! You should leave it in there for about 10 minutes so it has time to soak up all that lovely coldness before putting it on their bed.


Make Sure They Have Shade When Outside

Though you may think that having your dog outside in your fenced-in yard is a safe place for them, you’d be surprised at how easily they can get burned. Dogs are mammals just like us and they love laying in direct sunlight. So much so that they sometimes don’t realize that their fur is getting too hot until it’s already burned off! Make sure there are trees or umbrellas or whatever out there for them. They’ll enjoy shade just as much as you do. As an added bonus, if it gets cold at night, you won’t have to worry about keeping them indoors – they can sleep under a tree while you doze on your couch inside!


Be Careful About Hot Temperature Surfaces

Though dogs may not be able to tell us when they’re too hot, that doesn’t mean we can’t see when they’re struggling. If you suspect your dog is overheating in a warm environment, get him inside quickly and do what you can to cool him down. If it isn’t possible for you to bring your dog inside for safety reasons, try wetting him down with cool water as best you can. You might also want to leave water out for your dog and give him access to air conditioning if at all possible. Even if you have no other way of cooling him off, allowing him access indoors will still lower his overall body temperature by a few degrees—the most important thing is just getting it down!

 

That was it for this blog, we hope you find it interesting and value-adding. The next time you see your dog doing any of these actions you know what they actually mean!

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Written by Himanshu Tripathi

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