Keeping pets cool

Water, water, water!

Provide plenty of fresh, cool water in large water containers, and be sure to provide numerous sources of water in case one is accidentally knocked over. Ensure the containers are accessible to your pet at all time and place them in the shade. You can add some ice cubes to the water to keep it cool, or freeze half a bowl of water overnight and add half a bowl of cool water before giving it to your pet.

Ensure that your pet’s water bowl is checked and topped up on a regular basis, and in the event that you are out, ensure that the bowl or bowls are big enough to hold enough water for the whole day.

Stay shady

All pets must be kept in cool, shady areas. It is ideal to bring pets indoors on hot days. If you’re feeling warm, chances are they are too. Remember the sun moves throughout the day – so ensure your pet has shade from all aspects throughout the day. You can provide extra shaded areas with shade cloth or umbrellas to make sure your pet can get out of the sun. 

Place a clam shell pool in the shade and fill it with water so your dog can wade in the water to keep cool. If your pet shares the yard with children, remember to have all necessary precautions in place, including fencing, in order to keep children safe.

Another fun way of helping your pet cool down is to let them play in a sprinkler, making sure they are always supervised.

Keep them comfortable

If your pet seems to be in discomfort, try wetting their feet and misting water onto their face. This is an option for dogs, cats, ferrets, poultry and caged birds as many animals control their inner temperature through their feet. It’ s important not to saturate a bird’s feathers as this can cause them to go into shock.

Watch when you walk

You might want to reconsider the timing of your daily dog walk on really hot days, as a ground that feels hot to touch can do serious damage to your pooch’s paws. A good way to sense-check whether it’s a good time for a walk is to place the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog. Commit to walking your pet early in the morning or later in the evening when the weather is cooler.

By doing this you’ll also avoid dehydration, sunburn and heat stress that can occur.

Protect pink noses

Little pink noses are cute, but can easily become sunburnt. Your fair-skinned pet needs a special sunscreen for animals to protect it from the discomfort of sunburn and the added risk of skin cancer, so don’t forget that ‘slip, slop, slap’ doesn’t just apply to people. Indoor cats sunbaking through windows can even be at risk, so get some pet-friendly sunscreen here to make sure your pet isn’t caught out.

Groom, but don’t shave

You may think you’re doing your dog a kindness by shaving their hair to cool them down. However double coats are designed to keep dogs warm or cool depending on the weather. Dogs naturally shed their undercoat during summer, allowing their skin to remain cool. If shaved, growing back this undercoat can make dogs even hotter. Their top coat also vitally prevents sunburn.  

Shaving double coated dogs can also permanently change their coat, often losing its soft smooth texture.

Still, grooming remains important all year round, with regular grooming helping to brush away any dead or excess hair.

Whip up some pup-sicles

Frozen treats in a treat dispenser or kong (or even cupcake liners) are a great way to cool down your dog and keep them occupied. Get creative in the kitchen! There are many simple recipes, and freezing your kong overnight can help keep your dog extra cool this summer. Check out some treat toys here. Pet popsicles are a great treat and can be made out of all kinds of things your dog (or cats) eat normally, so experiment to see what they like best!

You can even fill takeaway containers with a combination of beef or chicken stock, water and some kibble or wet food, freezing overnight and giving to animals on a hot day – they’ll thank you for it.

Don’t forget feathered friends

Make sure your bird’s cage is in the shade or bring it inside when the mercury looks set to rise. You can also help your bird keep cool with a light mist spray or bird bath. Regularly checking your bird’s water is essential, particularly on hot days when it can quickly evaporate. Installing a second water feeder can also be a good back up in the warmer months.

Look out for little ones

Small pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and birds, are particularly susceptible to heat. Please bring these animals indoors during hot weather. If allowed free run in a laundry or bathroom, they will benefit from the cool tiles.

If this is not possible, drape their cage with wet towels and provide a sturdy icepack or frozen water bottle wrapped in a wet towel for the animal to lean against so it can to regulate its own body temperature. Make sure the animals’ enclosures are out of direct sunlight and protected from the sun as the shade moves throughout the day.