The last few days here in Iowa have been absolutely hot and humid! Summer is here full force once again. If you look at the forecast for the next week ahead, it looks to be much of the same….hot and humid. 
A question I am often asked is, “Do you dog walk in the heat?” That’s a good question and I decided to take a few moments to answer that today!
Yes….we walk dogs all year round, no matter what the weather is like. Our clients are busy people who rely on us to care for their pets when they can’t be there. Just because it’s hot out doesn’t mean that we will skip the visit. However, in the summer, we do have to be cautious about the weather!
We typically enjoy a nice 30 minute or so walk with your dogs….but in the summer, that’s not always wise. Many of our visits and walks occur during the typical workday around lunch time. Since that is often the hottest part of the day, we have to be careful and mindful of your pets health as well as our own. So depending on the weather and the time of our visits, we might have to make the call to shorten up our walks for everyone’s safety!
Here are just a few reminders for dog owners when it comes to the summer heat here in Iowa:
-Avoid walks or prolonged outside time during the hotter parts of the day between 11am-5pm!! On a day with a temperature of 90 degrees or so, it only takes 15 minutes for your dog to overheat. If you let your dog free roam your fenced in yard, be mindful of how long you leave your dogs outside. And also be sure that your dog has a shaded area to hang out in!
-Be mindful of your dogs fur!! Darker colored dogs will overheat much faster than those of lighter colors. And if your dog has longer hair, consider cutting it shorter in the summer so they will stay cooler!
-Dogs paws can get burned!! On a hot sunny day, be mindful of your dogs paws. If you wouldn’t walk barefoot on the sidewalk because the cement is too hot, it’s probably too hot for your dog to walk on. Stick to the grass!
-Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!! Just like humans, dogs can overheat or experience a heat stroke too!! Especially on the warmer summer days it’s extremely important to stay well hydrated! Keep your dogs water dish filled, carry a portable water dish on your walks, and keep a bowl of water in the shaded outdoor areas of your yard.
-Don’t leave your pets in your car!! We all have heard stories about how hot cars can get in the summer….hot enough to bake cookies on the dash in just a few minutes! And while you may enjoy taking your dogs along with you to run your errands, be more mindful of doing so on the hot summer days. If you must take your dog with you, be sure to leave the windows down enough so there is plenty of air flow! 
Remember your pets safety and health this summer as the heat effects them just as much as it does us! At Everyday Helper we make it a top priority to be mindful of everyone’s safety and health. Some days that means that we have to shorten up our visits as a result, but no worries-you can still count on us to look over your pets while you’re away!
As a reminder, we also require veterinarian contact information for all pets that we care for in case of emergency. Don’t forget to keep us updated on any changes in your pets care!
Stay cool, and have a safe and enjoyable summer!!
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