General Care and Nursing

Hot weather tips

Hot weather tips

It is easier to keep a puppy warm than to keep him cool. When a dog becomes overheated and perspires, he needs plenty of drinking water to replace lost fluids. A pan of water placed for him in the morning is not enough. Provide fresh, cool water several times daily. Be sure that both the water and the bowl it is served in are clean. 

During hot weather, exercise your dog in the morning or evening and keep him out of the midday sun. see that his outdoor exercise pen has a section of shade. 

Don’t worry if your dog goes a little off food during a hot spell; he may be quite sensible about eating less at such a time. Give him the same kind of food but not quite so much of it. Do not take him for long rides, especially if you have to leave him along in the car for any length of time. A car parked in direct sunlight gets hot inside very quickly; in a matter of minutes, the interior temperature can soar to 110 {}.

Do not clip off his coat since it will help to screen the skin against sunburn and insect bites. Daily brushing will remove much of the dead undercoat, which adds to overheating and discomfort. Heavy coats can be thinned out but never given a “crewcut”. Never use poisonous weed killers or plant sprays where your puppy plays. They can kill your dog or make him very sick. Fresh paint and varnish must also be kept out of reach.