Help your pet keep cool

Labored breathing, Tongue color will change from dark red to purple and fast pulse are signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If your pet is displaying any of these, get to your local vet fast! These signs are often accompanied by increased heart and blood pressure and can lead to stroke, seizures, or heart failure. You can also bring a small spray bottle of ½ water and ½ aloe vera juice to spray on your dog while walking outdoors.

This mixture can even be sprayed directly into the mouth while the dog is panting. Cover your dog with a white T-shirt to provide moving shade (for a dark colored dog) or sun protection (for a light colored dog).

Bring coconut water (for the electrolytes) on your excursion so that you can give some to your dog while out.

Freeze a Kong toy with yummy, edible liquids or blueberries or take it one step further and freeze an assortment of toys and chewies.

Freeze a plastic water bottle and give the bottle to your pet with a towel to collect the moisture). Your dog can lay next to it if he/she wants to. Or soak and freeze a washcloth or dish towel and allow your dog or cat to lay on it.

You can also try the fan next to a bowl of ice water trick. Fill a bowl with cold water and add some ice cubes, then place it directly in front of a fan. The fan will blow the colder air towards your dog. Of course, use supervision with this one, and don’t leave your pet unattended with the fan and water bowl.For pets such as hamsters, freeze small slices of fruit and give it to your them to munch on. This should be done once a week as excessive watery fruits will cause diarrhea.

Place an aluminum plate or ceramic hideaway in fridge to cool and place it in the cage for them to rub against or lie on. If you have an extra you can interchange them when necessary. Move cage away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Allow your hamster to play outside its cage in a cooler area such as bathtub (drain plug, no water).Birds need water to bath and drink in hot weather so buy a bird bath.

You can even use any wide flat container for a bird bath.Keep the water in your bird bath cool by adding ice cubes several times a day, or refilling the bird bath with a hose.

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