Tips for Keeping Your Dog Properly Hydrated During Hot Weather

Are you worried about your dog staying hydrated this summer? It is a real concern amongst pet owners, especially if their dog is an outdoor dog, or they have had problems with hydration in the past. 

A few of the things you can do keep your dog hydrated during the summer are listed below:

Tip one: Do not exhaust or dehydrate your dog. Your dog will naturally drink sufficient water, but sometimes the circumstances, conditions, or activities you submit them to can cause them to dehydrate, and lose fluids faster than they should. For example, walking them in the hottest part of the day, caging them in direct sunlight, or leaving them in an enclosed car, even for just a few moments, can cause them to sweat too much, and lose the fluids that are keeping them hydrated.  So, help your dog stay hydrated by keeping them out of direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day (10 am to 4 pm). If they can be indoors, in a controlled environment, it would be ideal, but if it is not an indoor dog, you can pen it up in a place with shade, or some sort of shelter to protect them from the sun. 

Tip two: Give your dog sufficient clean water every day. You would not want to drink out of the same cup every day without cleaning it at some point, and your dog doesn’t want that either. Clean their dish daily, and provide them with fresh, clean water. You may need to give them water twice a day, or, if the bowl is big enough, and they are not prone to spilling it, you can just give them water once a day, and any time you see the dish empty. During the hot summer months, they will likely need more water than they need during the cooler months because they will sweat less. So, even if they did not need as much water before, be sure to up the amount they get in summer. 

Tip three: Make a few simple changes to help them retain more fluid. One thing you can do is give your dog more fluid in their diet. Many humans do not drink a lot of water, but eat high water concentrated foods like fruit and veggies. A dog usually does not have this option, as they typically eat dry dog food. So, one things you can do is switch to canned, or wet dog food during the summer to give them an additional source of fluid.  Another easy change to help them retain more water is give them coat a shave. A thicker fur coat can lead to more sweating, which means more fluid loss. 

These three tips can help keep your dog hydrated and healthy all summer long.