Figuring out how to keep your dog cool during NYC summers is important. If you think NYC summers are bad for you, imagine how devastating this time of year can be for someone covered in fur. Dogs are not physiologically immune to heat; they are as affected by extreme heat and humidity as much as we are. Luckily, organizations like Mayor’s Office Alliance for NYC Animals and the ASPCA offer tips on how to keep your dog cool and fancy free during the heat and height of NYC summers.
Don’t Leave Your Dog in the Car
Leaving your dog in the car to run into a store? How many times have you gone into a store to grab one or two items and emerged hours later loaded down with booty? It’s too easy for you to become distracted when you’re away from the car, and it would be so easy to forget that your dog was waiting for you in your vehicle. Before you think you’d never do that, remember that people do it with human babies all the time. Leaving the A/C on or cracking a window is not a solution. If there was some sort of engine failure, the A/C would fail, and your dog would be left in what would essentially be an oven, and a cracked window would do absolutely nothing in hot, humid temps. It’s a horrible thing to think about, but it’s important to realize how easily a scenario like this can happen.
Avoid the Hottest Parts of the Day
Temperatures can hit Defcon 1 levels as early as 9 a.m., but mid-day to late afternoon is when the mercury can really soar. Avoid taking your dog out during the hottest parts of the day. It’s too easy for them to become overheated. Add in the fact that the concrete and blacktop are literally steaming hot and you’ll be dealing with a dog doing the equivalent of a fire walk. On brutally hot days, limit your dog’s time outdoors, walking him early in the morning and late in the evening when the temps are more manageable. If you must take him out during peak heat time, spray down his coat with water before you leave so that he feels refreshed and cool.
Carry Water with You
Image Source: Flickr/istolethetv
Head over to the Petsmart in the Village and pick up some portable bowls for your dog, so that you can give him water on demand and on the go. The Top Paw Travel Pet Water Bottle is just a few bucks, it’s easy to carry, and it’s truly essential on super hot days. A bowl attached to a bottle, it makes it easy for you to dispense the water into the bowl when your dog wants to drink. The water can go back into the bottle when your dog has had his fill. The Petmate Collapsible Travel Dog Bowl is another great option. It comes in large three-cup or small one-and-a-half cup sizes, and it collapses down to less than half an inch, making it a breeze to carry.
Apply Sunscreen
Dogs need sunscreen too, especially dogs with short, thin fur or those that have light-colored fur. Speak with your vet about which sunscreen is best for your particular breed. You can use dog sunscreens like Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray, but if you’re in a pinch, Dogster Magazine recommends using the same sunscreen you use on your human baby. The important thing is to protect your dog’s delicate skin from sunburn and dangerous UV rays.
Main Image Source: Flickr/istolethetv
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