Before we know it, the warm, hot summer will be upon us. As a pet owner, now is the time to start thinking about your outside dog. Depending on where you live, you might need to consider ways to keep your dog cool, so they can stay healthy and happy throughout the entire summer.

A primary way to help keep dogs cool in the summer heat is to make sure they have shade. Look around in your back yard; are there lots of trees for shade? Is there a dog house? If not, you may want to consider building a doghouse for your pet to rest in, out of the mid-day heat and away from the harsh sun. Somehow, however, your dog needs to be able to get shade, whether it is from the shadow of the deck, the backyard trees, a doghouse, or even the shadow of a tool shed. An outdoor dog bed can also keep them cooler with ventilated materials that mitigate your pets unwanted heat.

It is also important to keep your pup well hydrated in the summer. When it is so hot outside, water can evaporate quickly into the air, so you need to make sure that water bowl stays filled. If you are gone at work all day and are unable to re-fill the water dish on a regular basis, you may need to simply purchase a larger dog bowl, or a big tin bowl for water.

The most important thing for you to be aware of during the summer months, however, is your dog’s health. When it is very hot outside, it is easy for dogs to succumb to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If this should ever occur, it is important to be aware of the symptoms and first aid procedures of heat stroke, so that you can help treat it and then take your precious pet to the veterinarian clinic as soon as possible, if necessary.

First, it is important to be aware of what exactly a heatstroke is. It may be defined as the following: heatstroke can occur if a dog is left alone in a car or is left unattended outside too long on hot summer days. The symptoms of heatstroke are rapid breathing or panting, resulting in collapse. To treat this, first take you pet to a cool or shaded area. Next, use a sponge or hose to gently cool down your dog with water; do not use ice, because the two extremes (hot and extreme cold) could cause your dog to go into shock. Next, gently encourage your dog to drink small amounts of water in order to restore hydration. Finally, contact your local vet for further instructions.

It is nice having an outdoor dog because sometimes it can seem like they require less care than an inside dog; however, during the summer, it is important that the dog is carefully watched and cared for on the excessively hot days. Pet doors provide easy home access to give pets freedom to come inside when it gets too hot outside. The more you can do to make your pet comfortable, the more you can actually care for and help your pet as well. Good luck keeping your pet cool and healthy this coming summer!