Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe During These Hot Summer Days

Summertime is a great time to get outside and enjoy the weather with a nice walk around the neighborhood or one of our many parks. And it's a great time to bring your dog along too to get some exercise.

I have two Greyhounds and a Whippet, and they love to go get out of the house and go for a walk. The campground where I spend many weekends and vacations is a great place to take them for a nice long walk.

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But, when the weather is as hot as it has been this week, some precautions need to be in place when taking your dog for a walk. At the campground, the roads are paved, and one of my Greyhounds for whatever reason prefers to walk on the pavement rather than the grassy areas. When it's a hot day, I have to pull him back off the pavement since it's too hot for him to walk on.

With the hot weather days continuing, the Broome County Humane Society has some important precautions to be aware of if you plan on taking your dog outside. First, if the temperatures are over 85, and it looks to be that way for a while, they recommend you limit your dog's outdoor exercise

Some dogs handle the heat better than others according to the Humane Society. Those that don't do as well, include short-nosed breeds. Keep your dog off the pavement on a hot day such as we are now experiencing. Hold your hand on the pavement or sidewalk for 7 to 10 seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's way too hot for your dog's paws.

Never leave your dog in a hot car. That should be a no-brainer. And please, don’t leave your dog outside in the summer heat. The Broome County Humane Society says that could lead to skin burn, dehydration, and possible heatstroke.

Check the graph below for how hot is too hot for your pet, from the Broome County Humane Society. Keep your pets cool, and make sure that have access to enough water. I make sure to fill my dog's water dish every morning before I go to work.