Perhaps it's not been hot enough to warrant air conditioners just yet, but New York has seen a few hot, steamy days in the high 70s and low 80s, with more heat expected over the holiday weekend that have prompted Training Humans to break out the fans. Monday's forecast promises a high of 86. And summer isn't even officially here yet. Did we mention we killed our first mosquito? Yeah, having a pet means dealing with lots of responsibility. But we know you can do it.
It's hot. Anyone who lives in an apartment knows how stuffy it can get in there, even with all the windows open. It's a box. It retains heat. And if you're uncomfortable, imagine that poor ball of fur. Say you're broke and you don't even have an air conditioner (hey, it happens). Perhaps it broke (when it rains it pours). You can't afford to buy one right now and you weren't expecting it to suddenly be steamy and humid quite this soon (that's New York for you). Lucky for you, the chain pharmacies, such as Rite Aid, have really decent fans for reasonably inexpensive prices. I got two of them for no more than $18 a pop, and both are running right now. One in my bedroom, and one in the living room, where I am hanging with the furballs.
It's important to stay properly hydrated, especially in this heat. Your pets are going to need lots of water; they get dehydrated faster than you think. So if your pet is on its own for many hours because of your schedule (and there are going to be days that you want to play after a long day at work), be sure to leave multiple bowls of fresh water, and throw in some ice cubes for good measure. As a matter of course you should wash their bowls daily because they do get slimy.
Unless you walk your cat (hey, you never know), this next tip is for dog owners who walk their dogs. You still need to do it, but as it gets hotter, depending on how flexible your schedule is or isn't, you might need to shorten walks significantly. Consider carrying fresh water with you at all times in a portable water bottle for dogs (available at pet supply stores for dogs of all sizes) for longer summertime walks.
Check the weather! Go to Weather.com, click on Weather Apps on the bar at the top of the screen, and click on Pet Care Advisor. Use the drop-down menus to answer each question, click on either the Yes or No to answer whether your pet is overweight, and enter your zip code and your pet's name (optional) and it takes you to a new screen (we filled one out for Atticus) that gives you an ideal window of when you should walk your dog. Again, if you have to walk your dog before and after work and those times are outside the window the tool gives you, you will at least know to make it quick walks.
Live in a nice house with a pool? Lucky you! But not so fast. Here is one instance where you want to treat your dog as if it were your child, which means: Never leave a dog near a pool unsupervised. Remarkably, not all dogs know how to swim. It's not an instinctive skill for all of them.
Grilling season means lighter fluid, matches, and the typical accoutrement that come with backyard barbecues. Some dogs (especially puppies) are chewers and they will try to eat anything. Be sure to keep your grilling supplies out of their reach. Save yourself the fright of having to race to an emergency animal hospital, and the risk of losing your furry pal--not to mention the potentially crippling expense.
And last but not least for now, Training Humans wishes to repeat: Never leave your pet alone in the car. Ever. Even for a quick second. Even with the window cracked. It will cook and die. We know we've said this before, but it truly does warrant repeating. Spread the word, and help us to fulfill our aim of not seeing any news articles about dogs dying inside hot cars.
Training Humans wishes you a happy and healthy summer. Please look for guest blogs coming soon with tips on what to do in case of emergencies and how to prepare yourself for natural disasters.
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