Previously, I talked about why it's important to groom your dog to remove hair and dead skin cells which could inhibit their ability to "fluff up" and stay cool during the warm days of summer. While cooling mats to rest on, along with cooling vests and collars to wear on hot days, can really help to keep your dog's core body temperature in the safe range, what else can you do for them to keep them cool and entertained when it isn't safe to walk them?
My collies love "pupsicles" and they are easy to make. For a sweet version, pour liquid yogurt or kefir into popsicle molds, adding diced strawberries or blueberries for texture. Place a piece of bullystick into the mixture in place of a popsicle stick. For a savory version, use bone broth or low sodium chicken or beef broth, adding diced carrots or zucchini for texture. And if you don't give your dogs bullysticks, try a piece of chicken jerky instead as a popsicle "stick."
Ice cubes are something that a lot of our dogs enjoy and are actually a great way to slowly rehydrate an overheated dog. Contrary to popular belief, the risk of cracking a tooth on an ice cube is fairly low, so don't hesitate to make ice cubes fun for your dog! Try using old-fashioned ice cube trays, adding strawberry pieces, blueberries, or bits of carrot to each cube before freezing. This makes it more fun getting that ice cube broken as it results in an extra treat!
Take those ice cubes a step further by floating them in about an inch of water in a child's plastic wading pool. Your dog can stand in the pool (a great way to cool them off as you are cooling them fast through their feet!) and bob for ice cubes. Be sure to supervise this activity as dogs, like children, can drown in a very small amount of water. This is, however, a great way to cool a small, brachycephalic dog, in particular.
If your dog isn't a fan of the wading pool, simply place the ice cube into a Kong or even a bullystick holder. This gives them something to hang onto while working on the ice cube, and creates another level of engagement with the cool treat.
Finally, add in some cool, low-calorie fun to those interactive puzzle toys by freezing blueberries and using them instead of (or in addition to) the kibble and small treats you are already using for those toys.
Alright, time to go make those pupsicles for my collies. As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
Ozzie isn't a huge fan of the wading pool and getting his feet wet,
but he does love pupsicles, and even plain ice, on a hot day!
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