This post is sponsored by Wellness® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about the Wellness® CORE® RawRev™ raw food dog food but Horseshoes & Hand Grenades only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Wellness or PetSmart are responsible for the content of this article.
I can’t even believe how quickly this summer has gone by. In roughly a month I’ll have Sophmore in High School and a Kindergartner. That’s why it’s important to make what we have left of summer fun family time and this includes our pets. In our lives a house is really not a home without pets. I can’t even remember a time that I didn’t have a pet, and usually multiple. Mountains, beach, desert, camping, fishing, hiking; you name it the dogs are probably going with us. Just like taking precautions with kids, including your pets in summer activities also requires a certain amount of planning and preparedness.
Keeping Your Dog Safe & Healthy In the Summer
Keeping your pets safe and healthy while you’re out making summer memories is a lot like keeping your human children safe and healthy. A little extra attention and common sense will pretty much do it, but the main things I consider when making sure my dogs are summer ready include:
Plenty of Water – especially if they’ll be outside during the day or maybe you’re on a weekend hike or camping trip, make sure they have access to plenty of cool, clean water. Staying hydrated is just as important to a dogs health as it is a persons. If you’re feeling thirsty, your dog probably is too.
Shady places or time indoors – when the temps soar, your pets a place to seek refuge from the direct sun. Similar to humans, too much sun and no way to cool off can lead to heat stroke and in some cases it can be fatal. Bring them in or at least make sure they have plenty of water in a cool, covered location.
Be aware of sunburn potential – our shorter haired friends, and especially those with light coats can get sunburned. I used to have dog that I actually had to put sunscreen on his belly because he liked to lay on his back and his pink tummy would burn every time. I sure do miss that old man, but just because they’re dogs, doesn’t mean their skin isn’t as sensitive as your kids’.
Asphalt is hot – If you’re out walking with your pets, beware of burned pads. On super hot days try to visit parks or places with grass or soft dirt to exercise. If the asphalt is hot enough to fry an egg, it’s certainly hot enough to burn those pads. If you can’t stand on it barefoot, you probably don’t want your dog too.
Safety first – Some dogs are amazing swimmers, but not all, dogs with life jackets are cool. This isn’t necessarily a need for all dogs when going in the water, but if you’re going to be out there for long periods of time when they could become exhausted or you’re just not sure of their swimming abilities, it’s a good investment.
Proper Diet – If you’re not eating good, your body isn’t functioning at it’s best. This is super important in extreme weather conditions. including hot summers. Wellness® CORE® RawRev™ is a brand new dog food offered by Wellness that allows you to incorporate raw food easily and safely to every meal. High-protein, grain-free kibble is combined with 100% raw meat pieces to create a savory, nutrient-rich meal packed with everything your dog needs to thrive from the core. A convenient, safe and easy way to incorporate raw food into your dog’s diet it’s a high protein option for lean body mass and muscle tone.
Join the Raw Revolution this summer! Visit Petsmart and Buy one get one 50% off 2-5lb bags! For more cute animal photos than you can handle, be sure to follow Wellness on Instagram!
What summer activities do you include your pet in? How does RawRev support your dog’s healthy diet in order to be able to stay active? What summer pet care tips do you have? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wellness®. The opinions and text are all mine.
Graham says
September 13, 2017 at 3:31 pmSo many people need to read the part about hot asphalt! I see lots of dogs walking around my city in the summer on hot surfaces that the owner certainly wouldn’t want to be standing on barefoot. I think people just assume that since dogs are animals, they can handle it. They forget that we’re animals too, and we most certainly CAN’T handle it. Sure, pads are usually a little thicker and more calloused than foot skin, but they’re still made of skin! Imagine having the entire soles of your feet burned, and then being expected to go on another walk that evening or the next day. It blows me away what some people do to their dogs!
Now that my rant is over, I have a question – Are the chunks of meat dehydrated, or are there just like raw chunks in the food? How does this affect storage/spoilage?