We asked Midtown’s Doguroo for some tips on keeping your four-legged happy, healthy and cool through the warm months.
Take your dog for a walk after applying topical flea treatment
Topical flea treatments need to soak into your dog’s coat to begin to spread and effectively protect your pet. Take your dog for a walk after applying treatment to distract them from rolling around, licking, or rubbing against items in your house.
Swimming is excellent exercise for dogs, especially for those with join or hip ailments.
Swimming and moving in water is one of the best forms of exercise for your dog. The increased resistance to movement, for example, means that a 5-minute swim is equivalent to about a 5-mile run. The buoyancy of water also supports and lessens stress on the joints, encourages free movement, and provides a safe environment for exercise. Hydrotherapy has even proven to be an effective treatment for dogs with arthritis, dysplasia and other mobility issues.
Signs of heat stroke in dogs include rapid panting, a bright red tongue, lethargy, and vomiting.
Dogs do not have an efficient cooling system (like humans who sweat), and can become overheated easily. Signs that your dog could be suffering from heat stroke include rapid panting, a bright red tongue, thick, sticky saliva, lethargy, dizziness, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Moderate heat stroke occurs when the body temperature reaches 104 degrees. To treat heat stroke, try to lower the body temperature by applying cool (not cold) water to your dog’s face and feet, and increasing air circulation around them with a fan. Then promptly take them to your veterinarian.
Dry your dog thoroughly after swimming or bathing to help prevent hot spots.
Hot spots are surface skin infections that occur most commonly during the summer months. Though any dog can develop a hot spot, medium and long-haired breeds are most susceptible. Here are a few ways you can help your dog to avoid the irritation and discomfort of hot spots: Dry your dog thoroughly after swimming or bathing. Wet hair against the skin prevents proper air circulation and can quickly lead to a hot spot. Use a flea preventative or repellent product. Persistent scratching is one of the most common causes of hot spots. Comb your dog regularly and have them professionally groomed every four to six weeks. A healthy coat with no matts or tangles is much less likely to harbor excess bacteria.
Have your dog’s undercoat removed instead of shaving to keep them cool.
Guard hairs in your dog’s top coat protect them from the sun’s harmful rays, while the fluffy undercoat helps insulate them from the cold. We recommend the Shed-Less Treatment during the summer to remove your dog’s undercoat instead of a full body shave. The Shed-Less Treatment involves using a formulated blend of shampoo and conditioner to loosen the dead undercoat hair. Then the grooming staff gently brushes away this extra insulation leaving those important guard hairs in place.
For more about Doguroo, visit doguroo.com.