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6 Summer Safety Tips for Dog Owners

29 11:18:00
You go from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned office and on the way home you reverse that order but maybe you stop at an air conditioned store or two on the way. As you follow your usual summer routine, how's your dog? Be sure that you are protecting your dog from the heat. It can be deadly.

If possible, leave your dog inside your home. Even if you've got your air conditioning unit on a programmable thermostat, your house will still provide a relatively cool place for your dog.

Forget the dog house - unless it's got its own A/C or is well ventilated. Dog houses do not provide any comfort for your pet in the heat. Just the opposite is true. There is usually little or no airflow in a dog house so they become extremely hot. You might even want to remove the dog house during the summer heat.

Shade and more shade - If your backyard doesn't have trees that provide a cool place that's out of the sun for your pet, create one. Pick an area of your backyard that is as protected from the sun as possible. Add a "ceiling" made out of a tarp or sail - you don't want to obstruct air flow but you do want to provide shade. And, be sure that the shade you make lasts throughout the day as the sun changes position.

Water is a necessity. Don't count on just one bowl of water as it could get tipped. Provide several weighted bowls of water in different spots so you are sure your dog has plenty of water available. When you come home, make sure there's more cool, fresh water available inside as well as out.

Get street smart. Your dog loves to walk but in Phoenix the asphalt is hot enough to cook an egg. Not only can sensitive paw pads burn - the heat from the asphalt can raise your dog's body temperature very rapidly. To test the heat of a sidewalk or the pavement, put your hand down flat. If you can't keep your hand there comfortably for 7 seconds or more, it's too hot for your pet. Go to a park or any grassy area to exercise your pet and limit exercise time so your dog does not overheat.

Give your dog his own pool. A small wading pool with a few inches of water may be something your dog really enjoys. Keep it in the shade so the water stays cool and doesn't get hot. If your dog takes a dip in the real swimming pool under your supervision, be sure to remove all chlorine and salt from his coat.

Now, let's talk about you. You want to go from your air conditioned office to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned home! That means you need reliable air conditioning service - especially in the Valley of the Sun's hot summers. Have a pre-season air conditioning maintenance before the summer starts. If you have any problems, call for air conditioning service right away. For quick help when your air conditioning isn't working, call Ace Home Services in Phoenix, AZ. They're available 24/7 so you can keep you - and your pet - cool and comfortable. Visit them online or on the phone by calling: 602-926-1280