CANINE CREEK®
Dog Wash & Pet Boutique

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if they could drive! ®

CANINE CREEK
Dog Wash
& Boutique

How can I keep my animals more comfortable now that the heat is here?

I’m asked this, or related questions often this time of year. Everyone has their own way of doing things but I’m going to offer suggestions that have worked at our house and at others that we have visited.

The biggest things to remember for all critters are shade and water. All critters should be ok as long as they have plenty of each. Remember that shade moves as the sun moves so be sure that there is shade available during the hottest part of the day. If you have an animal that is kenneled and cannot seek out shade for himself, this is particularly important. A doghouse is great but, insulated or not, they heat up. Some shade cloth or a solid top over the kennel is a good idea as well as protection on the sides. If your animal’s kennel is located on cement, you have an even bigger challenge as the cement will hold heat and you have to worry about your pet overheating or damaging it’s pads. A misting system on the kennel is an idea as is a child’s wading pool.  Dogs will lay down in the water, or just stand in it, to cool themselves off. Mister systems are a good idea for chickens and other fowl who easily overheat. If you can’t afford to by a system, there are misters that stand on the ground and attach to a hose. You can also use an old hose which has been tied off on the end and in which you have poked holes with a nail or thick needle. If your dog or your horse are ok with those, hose them off during the day. If your dog is long coated, be sure to brush him out when he dries so that he doesn’t mat.

Just as you need to keep hydrated, your pets do too. Try filling water containers in the evening so that they can cool overnight. You can always top them off in the morning. Small containers heat up faster and can get knocked over easily. Bigger containers are better but be sure that your animal can reach the water even as the level lowers. If necessary, leave several containers in different locations so that they get the sun at different times. Generally, multiple animals need multiple containers. Don’t use metal containers. You heat water in metal, right? Also, if you use a Lixit for your dog or horse make sure that it is always in the shade. If it burns when they lick it, they aren’t going use it. This also goes for water bottles with metal tubes that most small animals like rabbits and pet rats use. These animal cannot take heat. To keep them cool, freeze water or soda bottles and place them in the animal’s cage so that they can lay on or against them.

For horses, water is really important in the heat. Many horses don’t drink enough when it is hot. Try floating apple rings on top of the water. The horse has to slurp to get the apple and therefore, he has to take in water. If you depend on automatic waterers, CHECK THEM OFTEN! I know of several animals that have died horrible deaths because the automatic waterers had clogged or malfunctioned without the owner’s knowledge.

If your pets can be in the house during the heat of the day, great. If not, make them as comfortable as you can while they are outdoors. There are cooling pads and bandannas that are available through several pet catalogs. They contain crystals which turn into a gel when soaked in cool water. If your dog, or cat, is very heavily coated, consider having them clipped down being careful to leave some coat so that they still have protection from the sun.

The scourge of summer for many animals is flies. They can cause serious health problems and even death if they are allowed to get out of control. Sheep, rabbits and dogs (especially older, overweight or incapacitated ones) are prone to maggot infestation if they are not kept clean. Make sure that you animals do not have any hanging, dried on or loose poop on their rear ends. If so, wash well or use baby wipes to keep them clean. Fly sprays, lotions and other applications are available everywhere. Make sure to use them according to the directions on the label. For fly strike areas on dogs, burros and other critters, zinc oxide ointment applied to ears, noses and legs helps heal as well as protect. Apply the ointment and then use fly protectant over it.

Dr. Dave Gantenbein
Antelope Valley Animal Hospital
(661) 273-1234