Keeping Pets Happy and Healthy in the Heat

We wrote a few weeks ago about keeping children healthy in the summer heat, but we want to share a few more tips that can also apply to our furry friends. For more information, you can visit HuffPost.

Check the Heat Index – The heat index is the combined measurement of the temperature and the humidity. When the humidity is higher. the temperature should be lower to maintain a healthy environment for walking pets. Pavement also gets much warmer than grass or concrete, so adjusting your path can make a difference.

Know Your Pet – Pets with different kinds of fur react to heat differently, so do some research on your particular pet’s breed and heat tolerance. Additionally, if your pet has any health conditions or is very young or very old, they might be at higher risk for heat issues.

Hydrate – Bring water on walks and offer it as you go. One unique idea to boost overall hydration is adding chicken broth ice cubes to their dry food. Dogs will also enjoy fruits like watermelon, which has high water content.

Overall, many of the steps that prevent humans from overheating will also work for pets! Hydration, shade, and knowing your personal tolerance can help everyone make the most of the summer!

Health and Wellbeing

August 25, 2022

Joan Vaughn

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Written by Joan Vaughn

I’m Joan, and I know home care from the inside out. I’ve navigated my daughter through 24/7 home care nursing and managed her PCA’s. I’ve helped my parents move into (and out of) assisted living, Medicare episodes, skilled nurse visits, home health aids, and PCAs. Sandwiched in all of that, I’ve helped coordinate home care equipment and supplies, physical therapists, occupational therapists, county workers, and medications (oh, the medications). I know emergency departments, children’s hospitals, cancer wards, cardiac floors, and specialty units. I can recite health insurance policies (and call their bluff). I know a lot of other things in life too, like Shakespeare, where to sit to see a great sunset over a lake, how to keep myself healthy, how to read a profit/loss statement and state statutes, when to use a comma, and that gratitude is one of the keys to success. So I’m going to have this blog and write about home care from time to time. I’ll include topics like current legislation, professional boundaries in a tricky environment, and being a caregiver. I’ll also post some guest blogs from clients and nurses. Join me in the conversation.

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