Exercising Animals in Hot Weather

It’s time for hot weather in Utah! The lazy days of summer are here, but your pet still needs their regular exercise. The Humane Society of Utah wants you to keep your pet on their exercise regiment, but offers these tips for hot weather exercise safety:

Exercise your pet in the cool of the early morning or in the evening. You are both sure to enjoy the temperature and being outdoors while avoiding over heating.

Before you go out on an exercising excursion, be sure to carry a gallon thermos filled with fresh, cold water. Your pet will thank you for the nice cold drink after exercise time in the sun.

If you take your dog out for a walk, avoid hot asphalt. Dog paws can get burned. Stick to grassy paths if possible.

If you have an overweight animal, keep the exercise regimen to a healthy minimum. You may want to consult with your veterinarian about the optimum exercise time for your pet.

Be aware of areas that have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals as they are often used as part of summer lawn and garden care. If you suspect that your pet has is sick or may have been poisoned by chemicals, contact your veterinarian at once.

When you are exercising your animal, you will want to keep an eye out for signs of heat stroke, such as heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, fever or rapid heart beat. If you notice that your pet is displaying these types of behaviors after a vigorous exercise session, you may want to contact your veterinarian.

It’s important that your pet continues to exercise and have fun in the sun, just be sure that you are aware of your pet’s needs with hot weather exercising.