Hello, friends! Since we are in the summer season here in Maine, I thought it would be a good time to share some safety tips. For us, summers tend to be relatively short and not extremely hot. We can have some hot, humid days scattered throughout the summer, but overall, not too many. Other than the occasional summer that falls out of the norm.
In some parts of the country, summers are longer, hotter, and more humid. Remember in my last post, I told you about our vacation to Walt Disney World and the excessive heat we experienced? My mom and I decided we would have a hard time living in an area where this was a normal occurrence, especially in areas where summers are much longer than ours.
Wearing my boots to protect my paws from the hot pavement in the summer!
While at Disney, my mom and I thought a lot about summer safety and what items are most important for a service dog. Well, I guess my mom thought about this ahead of time because she came well prepared with the things I might need for the hot weather. But it was a topic of discussion for us because it was much hotter than expected for this time of the year!
Do you know what I would need or use on these hot summer days? Here are a few that my mom and I think are important. Can you think of any others?
Plan outings either early or late in the day when it may be cooler.
While we were on vacation, we went to the parks early in the day. And then returned late in the afternoon to meet up with my dad and brother, Eric. We did a few things in the park and then had dinner before returning to our resort. Since we were on vacation, we could plan our days so they best met our needs.
But what happens when we have a more rigid schedule without the luxury of lazy vacation days? Sometimes we have appointments scheduled closer to midday. Or we are out doing errands in the early afternoon when the heat and humidity may be at their highest. During these times, we have to rely on other safety measures.
Protect my paws from hot pavement.
Have you ever walked on hot pavement with your bare feet? If so, you know how hot it can get, especially if the sun has been beating down on it for an extended time. My paws are quite sensitive, so the extreme heat or cold is very uncomfortable for me. My mom has told me that Buffy had much tougher feet than mine.
Trying on new boots!
It is important to protect a service dog’s paws because if they get burned, it could impact their ability to do their job while their paws heal. There are a couple of options… boots or Musher’s Secret. I prefer the Musher’s Secret, but this isn’t always as effective in the extreme heat.
Dog boots come in a variety of styles and sizes, just like shoes or boots for people. Usually the boots need to be ordered online, so my mom only has the description listed, and occasionally a video showing a dog wearing them. Not being able to see them in person and try them on my paws makes it challenging to know which will fit the best and be the most comfortable.
Just a few of our boots! My mom has lots more!
Over the years, my mom has collected lots and lots of different boots! She ordered several styles for Buffy until she found the ones with the best fit and which ones she preferred. And then did the same for me because my paw size and preference were different from Buffy’s. She says she has so many dog boots she could open a shoe store for dogs!
My mom has one type of boot that is my favorite. They are soft, flexible, and comfortable on my paws. These were the ones I wore while at Disney. But sadly, I lost one. We searched for it but had no luck. Sadly, my mom got them years ago, and they have since been discontinued. So I will have to try some of the other boots we have and hope I find some that are almost as comfortable.
A container of the Musher’s Secret! An item my mom always has with us!
Musher’s Secret is a protective wax originally designed for sled dogs to protect their paws from ice and snow while racing. It has become a popular option for service dogs. The Musher’s Secret can be less effective in extremely hot weather. Because of this, my mom usually uses it when the temperatures are more moderate or if our outings will be shorter.
As I’ve shared before, my mom has a hard time with the heat and humidity. So, unless we are doing something like a family vacation to Disney World, a special outing, or lengthy errands. my mom and I stay inside where she can be more comfortable. Even when we are outside, we move from one shady spot to another, avoiding the direct sun for long periods.
Have plenty of water available for when I am thirsty.
During the cooler or cold months, I seldom need a drink when we are out for appointments or doing errands. But my mom always has a collapsible water bowl hooked to the backpack on her chair, just in case I do need a drink. This way, if needed, she can get a bottle of water to fill my bowl.
The collapsible water bowl my mom always has on her wheelchair!
During the months when temperatures are much warmer and often hot, my mom always has a portable water bottle with an attached bowl on her chair. This way, she has easy access to give me a quick drink as needed when we are away from home.
The water bottle with bowl my mom always has with us in the summer!
When we travel, my mom brings bottled water with us for me to drink and to wet my food. At home, I am used to the water that comes from the faucet. But when we are traveling or away from home, the tap water may contain additives I’m not used to. This can cause some stomach upset, soft stools, or even diarrhea. Bottled water eliminates all of these concerns.
Limit how much walking or exercising is done when it is hot or humid.
Some of you may remember my stories about playing in the big fenced yard we have at our house. This is where my two sisters, Roo and Tetra, and I play games of chase or keep away. We also love chasing a ball that our dad throws for us.
I love to run! But I have to limit my outside fun in the summer!
But during the summer our playtime is limited. As long as it isn’t too hot or humid, we can play during the day. But on those very hot, humid days we can only play for a short time in the early morning or late evening. After we play, we get a drink once we come inside. And often nap on the cool floor!
Wear a cooling coat or cooling towel.
They make various types of cooling gear such as coats, harnesses, neck wraps, mats, and towels. Some you wet or soak in water while others are reflective. There are also some you can put cold gel packs in. When we were on vacation, my mom had a cooling towel that she wet with water and put under my vest. For me, this setup worked well, especially since we weren’t out during the hottest parts of the day.
You can see the edge of the cooling towel under my vest! I’m also wearing my favorite pair of boots!
Some dogs are more sensitive to the heat than others. My mom has told me that Buffy was more tolerant of the heat than me. She loved lying in the sun! And I avoid it whenever possible! This is interesting because Buffy was black and I am yellow. It is often thought that black fur can absorb more heat from the sun. And a lighter color, like my yellow fur, is more reflective. But, like people, the heat and cold can affect everyone differently.
I hope you are enjoying your summer! Creating special memories with friends and family can be a highlight of vacations! Stay safe and cool this summer!
