Gimme something cool!

Summer time will soon be upon us bringing very hot and dry weather with it.  One of the lessons we all know is to stay hydrated and one of the things we love are cool treats in the summer.  Right?  Frozen yogurt or ice cream, cool refreshing drinks.  Well humans aren’t the only ones who can dig on cool treats, doggies love them too!

Dogs can only pant to help cool themselves and it’s really not all that effective.  Just like people, some dogs handle hot weather better than others.  I have a boxer and their squishy faces makes it harder for them to breath during extreme heat.  They are also more susceptible to heat stroke.  Because of this I make sure Rocky gets his outdoor exercise early in the morning and after the sun has gone down in the evenings.  I also make sure to have plenty of cool treats for him in the summer.

One of his favorite things is yogurt.  Plain yogurt (dogs don’t need the extra sugar of flavored yogurts) and just like with humans, yogurt helps keep our dog’s digestive tract healthy and in order.  In the summer, I take regular ice cube trays and fill them with plain yogurt and place in the freezer.  Once the yogurt is frozen, I dump the cubes out into a freezer bag and store in the freezer.  Rocky will get a yogurt cube after playing  or when we get back from a walk.  It’s a healthy treat and also cool on a hot day. For smaller dogs, I suggest not filling the individual cubes all the way, which will result in smaller cubes for your smaller kids.

Frozen fruit can also be given and provides a nice healthy snack as well.  At the OHC HQ we have frozen pineapple, peaches, raspberries, and blueberries as treats.  Rocky loves them and again they provide a nice cool little treat on a hot day.  Stay away from grapes because grapes and raisins can be toxic to doggies.  Pits and seeds of any kind should also not be fed.

Don’t forget about your doggie family members this summer, and give them some cool treats as well!