Last weekend it was hot. Okay not as hot as on the East Coast, but hot for the Bay Area - and I decided Jade was desperate for a walk. The front of my house has two driveways divided by about 30 feet of lawn (a friend of mine claimed that the second driveway was for speedboat storage); I put Jade on a leash and we walked down the “boat” driveway, parallel to the front lawn, and back up the driveway in which we actually park - and right back to the front door. And nothing, not even treats, convinced Jade that we should go for a longer walk. I opened the front door, he dashed inside, flopped down on the tile inside the front door, and began snoring. Which leads me directly to suggestion number one for helping your pets beat the summer heat.

Tip #1: Provide Your Pet With a “Cool” Room

Designate one room in your house to be a “cool” room. Last year the Bay Area experienced record breaking highs, and I began reading stories in the newspaper about animals who had died from heat exhaustion in their homes. You don’t need to air condition your entire house to keep your pet safe. Instead, pick one room and make it as cool as possible. Put up blackout curtains to block out the heat of the sun; install a window air-conditioning unit and leave it running on hot days (keep the door partly closed so that all the cool air does not simply escape); if you have a pet who is extremely prone to overheating, consider purchasing a cool bed for your pet to sleep on (my favorites are those made by K&H manufacturing).

Tip #2: Exercise At Dawn and Dusk

Dusk and dawn are the coolest times of day and your pet is least likely to overheat at these times. Personally, I don’t believe “dawn” is a time that any normal human being should actually be awake, so I take advantage of the long daylight hours and head out for a walk around 6:30 or 7pm when I get home from work. And try to avoid blacktop and pavement and stick to grass and dirt trails - paved trials, even in the evening, can be so hot they can actually burn your pets’ paws. A good rule of thumb: if it’s too hot for you it’s too hot for your pet.

Tip #3: Ensure Your Pet Has Access to Water Fresh Water At All Times

Ensuring your pet has access to fresh water is never so important as during hot times. Pets are especially prone to dehydration in hot weather. Dehydration can lead to permanent organ damage and even death. The simplest way to prevent dehydration is to ensure your pet always has access to fresh water. In addition to fresh water, you can give your dog the occasional frozen treat. Fill a Kong with water or diluted chicken broth and place it in the freezer. Once the liquid is frozen, give it to your pet (outside is best) for a doggy version of a Popsicle!

How do you help your pet beat the heat?