HEAT

• NEVER leave your dog in the car, not even with the window partially open. Even with the window cracked, or on an overcast day, your dog still cannot sweat enough to compensate for the extra heat in his body. You could easily come back to the car (or truck, or van, or SUV) and find your dog dead in the back seat.
• NEVER put a muzzle on your dog on a hot day. A dog cannot open his mouth with a muzzle on, so he cannot let off ANY heat by panting. He will quickly succumb to heat exhaustion or, since vomitting often accompanies heatstroke, he may choke to death on his vomit.
• If you want to walk with your dog, do it in the cooler hours of the early morning and evening. Short-nosed breeds like boxers cannot pant as well as their longer-nosed counterparts.
• Give your dog plenty of cool water. Always keep his water dish filled. Any time he is outside, give him access to deep, cool shade. A fan can help him as much as it can help you -- but be sure it isn't stirring up dirt or dust or anything that can get into his eyes.
• If he is indoors, and it gets quite hot in there, turn on the air conditioning or several fans. Remember that if you are hot then he is probably hotter.
• REMEMBER: short-nosed breeds are most likely to suffer from the effects of the heat. Their short noses gives them considerable less tongue mass, and they can sweat far less than a long-nosed, long-tongued breed. Think how much less heat relief they get from sweating than you do!
• Don't forget the sunscreen. Yes, your dog can get sunburn.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING A COOL PAD FOR YOUR DOG CRATE

Materials: Standard Pillowcase, Polymer Granules, Thread

Buy a package of polymer granules which are marketed by different companies, but are comprised of x-linked polyacrylamide. This material is very absorptive. 1 lb. will hold 50 gallons of pure water. This is marketed under the names Soil Moist, Crystal H2O, or HydroSource.

Sew 8 lengthwise "tubes" with a very close stitch. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of polymer to each tube. Sew across the width about 6" from the bottom. Add another 1/2 teaspoon to each tube and sew across the width again. Continue doing this every 6" until you reach the top. Place it in cool water for about 30 minutes - this will give you 50% absorption. You can place this in another pillowcase when it is in your dogs crate. Hang to dry. Handwash in mild soap - do not machine wash or dry. Finally, if your dog will chew up bedding, do not use this is his crate.

OTHER SUMMER DANGERS

Herbicides, Fungicides, Pesticides, Fertilizers, Cocoa Shells or Cocoa Mulch (which contain theobromine which will kill your dog),plus poisonous plants such as Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus (leaves), Avocado, Azalea and other Rhododendrons, Bird of Paradise, Cyclamen, Daffodil, Dieffenbachia (aka Dumb Cane), Easter Lily, Hibiscus, Holly, Hydrangea, Lily of the Valley, Mistletoe, Morning Glory, the entire Nightshade family (which includes tomato and potato plants), Philodendron and Schefflera, Poinsettia, Rhubarb (leaves and roots), Tobacco.

Click here to see an article published in the American Journal of Veterinary Medicine Association linking bladder cancer in dogs to lawn chemicals.