Hot dogs aren't cool

in cars! Or pretty much anywhere.

Hot dogs are not cool in cars!

You might remember a while ago, back in April, I did a tips based post on keeping your dog cool at home, if you don't remember then you can refresh your memory by clicking -here-. Now however the weather is hotting up even more and people seem to be forgetting that while they enjoy being out soaking up the rays or going for a countryside drive, their furry companion might not so much...

We're seeing an increasing number of dogs left in hot cars and not all are owned by members of the general public, who are perhaps blind to the issues. Some are owned/looked after by professionals, who work with dogs only a daily basis, which makes it even more frightening, proving it can and will happen to anyone who chooses to ignore the facts. To find our more about the recent Police dog losses check out this article. The worst part of this story is the fact he had it happen to him before! We need to learn from the mistakes that have already been made. Sergeant Craven is not the first and sadly I doubt he will be the last. A similar thing happened back in 2009 with Nottinghamshire police. While most take it to be common sense, some owners are neglecting their duties to their dogs. If you cannot take your dog out of the car when you arrive at your destination, please don't put your dog in the car in the first place, leave him/her at home. The car ride is not worth being left in your car, which becomes an oven in minutes. If your dog can't be alone, ask a friend, family member or even a pet sitter to watch them for you.

The Kennel Club are behind a newer campaign to try and raise awareness on the issue, which you can check out in full here - Hot dogs are not cool in cars.

The sun doesn't just bring danger in cars, it brings out a whole host of sun loving critters. Everything from bees and wasps, which can give your dog a severe allergic reaction if they sting your poor pup, to Adders, our only poisonous snake here in the UK. An Adder bite is unlikely to be fatal to us 2 legged folk, but to our 4 pawed friends, the consequences can be life or death. Please contact your vet asap if you think your pup has been stung/bitten! To get an idea of some of the damage caused by Adders, you might want to check this out. Tragic. Please don't let it happen to your furry friend.

Everyone wants to enjoy the summer sun with their beloved pets, so follow the KC's guidelines, feel free to take away anything from my tips and be aware of the potential dangers because a safe, healthy dog is a happy dog and a happy dog is your best friend.

Well wishes,

Love & licks as ever,

Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe and Lily.
xo

Keep cool this Summer! (Tips)

So, we mentioned in our last post that the weather here is starting to heat up, which means our girls need some ways to cool down! As promised, here's a list of the things we do, to keep our girls feeling fresh!

Food;
Keep their food light and where possible give them chilled/frozen foods, i.e 'pupsicles'.
You can make a pupsicle out of almost anything, mashed banana, a drop of honey and plain yoghurt for something sweet, or chicken pieces, salt free stock and carrot for savoury.
Turn your summer treat into a boredom buster by freezing foods within a toy, i.e a Kong :)

Doggy safe freezable foods include; Peanut butter, low fat yoghurt, low salt stocks, cream cheese, canned dog food, soaked kibble, chicken/meat pieces, various veggies, i.e carrots, sweet potato, peas etc and other commercial products, such as the Kong pastes or Fish4Dogs salmon mousse.

Always test your pooch with a tiny amount of peanut butter and/or honey before making the full treat, some dogs can have very mild allergies to these, however it is extremely unlikely, all 4 of ours are fine with them :)

Water;
Now more than ever your dog will need access to clean, cool water, but on those days where the tongues come out and panting is heavy, a couple of ice cubes in their water dish will do the trick. Make sure you rinse them first though, we don't want any tongues getting stuck!

Rest;
On hot days your dog(s) will probably rest a fair bit, so make sure they have plenty of 'cool spots'.
Make sure they always have access to shady areas, if necessary provide them a small child's tent to rest in.
If your dog is a sunbather, like Rafferty, dampen an old towel for them to lie on, make sure to keep the towel damp throughout the day, a spray bottle is ideal for this.

Fun;
Nothing beats playing with your dog on a sunny day, so feel free to incorporate some 'keep cool methods' into your fun! Sprinklers and shallow paddling pools make for great (supervised) fun!
There's a host of water friendly toys out there, from brand name retriever toys to the good old tennis ball :)
(Never pour ice water on your dog, or squirt them in the face, they'd like it about as much as you would!)

Other;
Hairless breeds and some white haired dogs may need a little sun cream on the tips of their ears etc.
Easy to overlook, but sunburn can be as bad for your pooch as it is for you :(
When the fun is over and it's time to relax, a small electric fan is great.
Just make sure your dog is dry and that the fan is kept of reach of inquisitive noses and paws!

Hope these tips we've picked up along the way help you have some fun in the sun, whilst staying cool!

Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe & Lily.
xo

P.S Don't forget; Never ever leave your dog in the car. Thieves aside, your pup would be at very high risk of sunstroke at this time of year. Sunstroke can be extremely dangerous and have serious consequences. If you suspect your dog has sunstroke, please call/visit your vet immediately.
Summer also brings more insects, including bees and wasps, which can give your dog a severe allergic reaction if they sting your poor pup. Again, please contact your vet asap if you think your pup has been stung/bitten.
Now is a great time to give your pup their summer wormer and flea prevention treatment!
And last but not least, remember to watch for poisonous plants in the garden/home and have a safe Summer!