5 Tips on Keeping Your Pet Cool in Winston-Salmen from Forsyth Veterinary Hospital

We're in the middle of the summer heat, and it can affect your pets as much as it does you. At Forsyth Veterinary Hospital we see patients every week that have been affected by the heat in a wide variety of ways. Our vets near Winston-Salem want to make sure that all of our patients are cool and healthy during these hot summer days, so they're recommending you take these steps to make sure your dog or cat is healthy all season.

1. Time Your Outdoor Activities - Dogs and cats are smart. Did you ever notice how they like to spend summer days laying on cool tile floors? Follow their lead and limit walks and other outdoor activities to the morning and evening, the cooler parts of the day.
2. Take Care of Their Paws - Sidewalks and asphalt parking lots can get scalding hot in the middle of the day. If you have to walk your pet when the sun is out, put booties on their paws to prevent them from getting burned. Some parking lots can get hot enough to send pets to the animal hospital with second-degree burns; train your pet to wear protection to prevent this from happening.
3. Veterinarian Warns About Car Danger - There has been an increasing number of new reports about pets getting sick or dying because they were left in hot cars. The temperature inside a car on an average warm day can rise to lethal levels in just a short time. No matter how much you love your pet, there's no reason to bring it on a car ride when they have to stay inside at the end of the trip. Our entire veterinarian team urges you to leave your pets at home where they're safe and cool.
4. Water, Water Everywhere - Pets get dehydrated as well as overheated very quickly. Make sure you check their water bowls several times a day and consider floating some ice cubes in the bowl for additional coolness.
5. Give Your Pet Some Cool Fun - Some larger dog breeds, especially those originally from northern Europe, love to splash in the water. Give your dog a treat by giving it its own kiddie pool or sprinkler sessions. Fill the pool with cold water and allow your pet to lounge around in the shade to keep cool. Some dogs love to splash in the sprinkler for more playful activity. 
    

Contact Our Local Winston-Salem Animal Hospital for More Information!

Our veterinarian near Winston-Salem wants to know: What's your best tip for keeping your pets cool in the summer heat?