Protect Your Pointer from the Summer Heat

ByMike

Pointers are tough, but it doesn’t take long for heat to get to any dog. We all need to be careful during the hot summer months.

Dehydration can quickly become life-threatening, so making sure your dog always has plenty of fresh water is extremely important. But, there are several other things you should also do (and not do) to protect your Pointer from the summer heat. For example, if you leave him outside for more than a few minutes, make sure he has a nice shady spot to stay cool in. You can also time his daily runs or walks so they’re early in the morning or late in the evening, when the temperature is a bit cooler than mid-afternoon.

But above all, there’s one very important thing you should not do. Never, ever, leave your Pointer – or any other dog, for that matter – alone in your car for even a few minutes. When it’s hot, it doesn’t matter whether you leave the windows cracked open or not. Within five minutes the temperature in your car will start soaring, reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit much faster than you think. On a hot summer day, if you leave your Pointer inside for more than ten minutes, he’ll probably be in distress (if not dead) by the time you come back.

That’s a strong statement, but the point it makes is valid and very important. And even if you’re only away from your car for five minutes and your dog is just fine, in many jurisdictions you can be charged with animal abuse for leaving your dog alone in your car during the summer. It’s far safer to leave him home during the hot summer months.

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