It's quite hot here in Boynton Beach, Florida. Here are some summer dog care tips you can follow to make your dog as comfortable as possible in the South Florida heat this summer.
A short haircut is a great first step. Especially if your pet's coat is on the longer side. Consider giving your dog a summer groom to reduce their coat length and improve their ability to stay cool.
A shorter coat comes with other added benefits. They're easier to maintain, require less brushing, and are less prone to matting. Also, less dirt and debris get stuck to your dog when their hair is on the shorter side.
Just be careful not to go too short. Especially if your pet spends a lot of time in the sun, because that can overexpose their skin to the sun's rays, which are quite powerful during the summertime in a place like South Florida.
Their paw pads can really take a beating in weather like this as well. Lately, when I've been walking my pups, I've been letting them walk in the shade or on grass and picking them up in sunny areas. Especially over asphalt, but on concrete as well.
This isn't always on option, particularly for medium or large dogs. Saving your dog's walks for morning or evening hours can help with this, if you're not in a position to pick your dog up or if they're too large to be picked up.
At our pet grooming salon, we have doggy paw balm that we apply to paw pads. It's included with all bathing, bath & blow dry, and grooming services. This doggy toe bean moisturizer helps quite a bit as well.
Next are some of the more basic summer dog care suggestions, but we'll highlight them anyway.
Check your dog's water bowl even more frequently than you normally would to ensure they have plenty of fresh drinking water.
Try not to leave them in a vehicle unless the air conditioner is running, even to run a quick errand.
Look for the walking path that provides the most shade when outside.
Limit physical exertion to morning or evening hours.
Keep your canine's breed in mind. If your dog is a Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boxer, Pekingese, or any other type of dog with a short, compacted snout, be extra mindful of these pets, as they tend to have a harder type breathing in general and cannot pant as efficiently as other breeds can in an attempt to cool off.
If your dog is an outdoor dog, definitely supply them with fans or wading pools if possible, and make sure they have access to shade, even if it means getting them a tent or canopy of some sort.
And if your dog is on the older side, be even more mindful of these elements of caring for your beloved pet in the heat.
As dog lovers, we tend to our pet's health and happiness year-round, but due to South Florida's heat during the summertime, keeping these tips in mind will help ensure your dog stays comfortable and hydrated until the weather cools off a bit.
At Hip Hip FurRay, we're passionate about canine wellness. We're constantly offering our clients advice on how to help an anxious pet, or how to prevent matted dog fur.
We appreciate it when clients ask us questions, wonder about our drop-off and pickup procedures, or ask us about how and when we kennel the dogs in our care.
We all just want the best for our dogs, and summer dog care as well as general grooming best practices, are just a couple of things we can remain mindful about, when it comes to healthy, happy doggos.
If you're interested in checking out our pet salon, our website is a great starting point. We also have many pictures of our clients and our facilities posted online on sites like Google and Yelp.
Please feel free to call or email us if you have any questions about our dog grooming services in Boynton Beach, FL. And if you'd like to book a bath or groom for your pet, our fast and easy online booking calendar allows you to book an appointment online with ease.
We hope these tips help your pets stay cool and healthy this summer until the cooler months are upon us.
Best,
-HHF