Hot Dog

It's hot here in Toledo, Ohio! Hot, muggy and buggy. We've had too much rain and the mosquitoes are bad.

Here's my amateur (as in check with your vet) checklist of  precautions to take in this weather.

1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car when it's hot. I know you've heard it before, but it's tempting to want to take them with you (my dogs love rides and know how to spell the word.)
2. Take water with you if you go to the park. There are all types of gadgets out there, but a throw away plastic tub and a used plastic bottle with tap water works just fine, too. Dehydration is a big problem with dogs. They don't sweat like us and can only pant to regulate their body temperature. A recent post from Dog Reader has great info on dehydration.
3. If your dog loves to play outside, get one of those cheap baby pools and fill it up with water, or just spray them with the hose.
4. For protection against mosquitoes, my vet recommends Off for kids. Also, according to their web site, K9Advantix protects agains mosquitoes, along with fleas and ticks. I can't find any information on Frontline, but once again, check with your vet.
5. Even if you do use a product like Frontline, check your dog often for fleas and ticks.
6. If all else fails, turn on the AC and play inside!