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Life

23rd Jul 2019

This is how to tell if it’s too hot to bring your dog for a walk

Rebecca O'Keeffe

dog

Dat heatwave though.

Lads, in fairness, it’s fierce hot out.

And all we want to do is be outside enjoying every second of it.

However, we need to remember that the extreme heat isn’t always our friend.

It can also be pretty harmful to our furry pals, too.

We need to be particularly cautious about walking dogs this time of year.

The hot ground could burn their paws, and really hurt them.

So how do you test to see if it’s safe to walk your doggo?

dog

Dog’s Trust advise simply to try and hold your hand on a pavement that’s in the sun for seven seconds.

If you can’t handle the heat, then it will be too hot for your dog, too, and will burn their lil paws.

They also have a number of other tips to ensure your dog’s safety in this lovely, warm weather.

They say to never leave your dog alone in a car. Even just a few minutes can prove fatal to them. On a 22-degree Celsius day, the temperature can rise by 11 degrees in just 10 minutes and opening a window or parking in the shade does very little to offset this.

Also, don’t forget to bring plenty of water for your dog to drink when you are exercising them – pop-up transportable bowls are great for when you’re out and about with your pooch!

dog

Another great way to make sure your dog stays hydrated is by freezing some of their favourite toys in water or making an ice-lick with frozen treats inside. This will encourage them to lick the ice which will help to hydrate them!

Also, THINK of the cute pictures!

Do make sure your dog always has a nice shaded spot both indoors and outdoors where they can escape the heat of the sun. On especially hot days, you can put out a damp towel for them to lie on to keep them even cooler. Make sure to replace or rewet it often though, as it can dry out quickly.

Oh, and if at all possible, avoid long car journeys with your dog, especially during the hottest parts of the day and try to avoid busy roads where you might get stuck in traffic. You can use a car sunblind to provide your dog with some shade while you’re driving!

Enjoy the weather, and be safe!