Summer has finally arrived, which means holidays, beach days and barbeques! As the winter coats go away and the air conditioners go on, it’s important to make sure we help keep our pets cool as the temperature rises.
Not sure where to start? Here are our tips on how to keep your pets cool throughout summer!
DIY Ice Treats:
Ice treats are a great way to encourage your pet to stay cool and hydrated in the hot weather!
Here’s a quick and easy recipe for DIY ice treats:
- Place a few of your pets favourite treats in an ice tray (suitable for smaller dogs) or an empty ice cream container (suitable for larger dogs)
- Fill with water. To add a bit of flavor you can mix in some beef stock or gravy powder!
- Tip the treat out and watch as your pet enjoys their new treat! It’s a great idea to place the ice treat into an empty food bowl so there’s not as much clean up afterwards!
Pool Time:
Kiddie pools are a great way to help keep your pets cool in the warmer weather. Dogs can splash around and even drink! Alternatively, you can get out the garden hose and splash your pet, (as long as they are enjoying it!)
Stay Inside:
During the hot weather, it’s a good idea to keep your animals inside. If your pet normally sleeps outside, consider bringing them inside on warm nights, especially if you are lucky enough to have air conditioning. Like us, once they get hot it is hard for our pets to cool down, so its best to keep them cool before the weather heats up.
Smaller animals such as birds and rabbits can be quite heat sensitive too. If you can’t bring them inside then try to move their cages to a shaded area, and drape wet towels over their cage. And always make sure your pets have fresh water
Wet Their Feet:
As cats and dogs don’t sweat, it’s important for us to do what we can to help them regulate their body temperature. Dogs and cats regulate heat through their feet and paws, so dipping their feet in water will help cool them down.
Exercise:
It’s important for our pets to keep active despite how warm or cool it may be, so you may have to adapt their exercise schedule in line with the weather. During the warmer months, it’s a great idea to exercise your animals early in the morning, or in the evening to avoid peak temperatures. Here’s a list of our favourite pet-friendly destination’s in New Zealand if you’re lacking some inspiration!
