Aly Cohen, D.V.M. Cornell  Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center

Summer heat safety tips for dogs Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with our dogs. While many of us love soaking up the sun, we need to be mindful of making sure our canine friends do not overheat. Overheating can result in a life-threatening emergency called heatstroke, caused by prolonged exposure to hot or humid environments, and it occurs more often during the summer months.  
What is heatstroke? Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that is caused by a marked elevation in body temperature after prolonged exposure to hot or humid temperatures, or strenuous exercise.
Dogs most commonly get heatstroke when they are left alone in a hot car, left outside in hot and humid weather without shade, and when exercising in hot and humid conditions.  
Who is most at risk for heatstroke?  While some dogs are at higher risk, it's important to note that all dogs are susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs only have sweat glands on their paws so their primary method of dissipating heat to cool themselves is through panting.
Brachycephalic breeds (short-muzzle breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, etc.) cannot pant as efficiently and have a harder time keeping themselves cool, putting them at a higher risk in hot or humid weather.  
Extra precaution should also be taken with overweight, elderly dogs, those with underlying heart or breathing conditions, and those with thick or dark colored coats since they are at a higher risk for heatstroke.  
What are the signs of heatstroke?  Heavy panting, seeking shade, whining, reluctance to play and drooling may be early signs that your dog is overheating.
Bring them into cool air conditioning with access to water immediately. You can also wet them with cool water and place them in front of a fan. Be sure that double-coated breeds (e.g. Siberian Huskies, Pomeranians, Great Pyrenees, etc.) are wet down to the skin.  
If your dog continues to excessively pant and drool, or they begin to have difficulty breathing, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or collapse, then they should be taken to a veterinary hospital immediately — these are signs of heatstroke which is a life-threatening medical emergency.  
How can I prevent my dog from developing heatstroke and other heat-related injuries? The following strategies should be used to keep your dogs cool during warmer weather: 

• Limit activity to the cooler times of the day  
  • While the most direct sunlight occurs around noon, the day will be the hottest towards late afternoon, around 3-5 p.m. Plan for walks in the early morning or evening hours to avoid the hottest times of the day.  
    
• Provide access to shady areas  
  • Staying in the shade will help avoid excessive heat from direct sunlight.  
• Avoid strenuous exercise 
  • Strenuous exercise should be especially avoided during the hottest parts of the day, very humid  days and during the early summer when pets may not yet be acclimated to the higher temperatures.  
• Keep indoors when there are extreme temperatures 
  • In extreme temperatures, high humidity or on days when there is a dramatic temperature change, it may be best to keep pets cool indoors, ideally with air conditioning or fans. 
• Offer frequent water breaks 
  • Always be sure to bring water and a collapsible bowl with you when you take your dog out and about, and remember to provide frequent opportunities for your dog to have a drink of water. Swimming pools or sprinklers are also effective tools to keep pups cool. 
• Use caution on hot asphalt and pavement 
  • Blacktop retains a lot of heat and can be much hotter than the ambient temperatures. While the pads on dogs’ paw are a lot tougher than our skin, they can still suffer burns from walking on hot pavement. If you cannot put your own hand or stand barefoot on the pavement for about 10 seconds, then it is likely too hot for your dog to walk on too.  
• Never leave your dog in a car unattended 
  • Cracking the windows is not an effective way to keep the car cool. For example, even if it is only 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside of the car can increase by 40 degrees in an hour. This can happen even more quickly, since the majority of the temperature increase occurs during the first 15-30 minutes. While you may be tempted to leave them in a running, air-conditioned car, it is unsafe to leave dogs unattended in running cars.

Do-It-Yourself Pet-Safe Cleaner Ingredients
These are the ingredients you’ll need to mix your own dog-safe cleaners for almost every part of your home.

Vinegar
The acetic acid content of vinegar makes it a powerful cleanser. This household staple is an effective agent in killing bacteria and microbes. Vinegar also has anti-fungal properties that make it useful for tackling mold. You can use either white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar (ACV), both of which are edible and completely non-toxic. Your pup might not appreciate the smell but don’t worry—the strong vinegar scent fades once it dries.

Baking Soda
Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is great at absorbing and neutralizing odors. It’s also mildly abrasive, making it a safe but effective scrubbing agent for sinks and countertops. Baking soda has alkaline properties, which is the opposite of acidic, making it a good companion to vinegar and boosting its effectiveness at cutting through grease and unclogging drains.

Lemon Juice
While the citric acid in lemon juice is not quite as strong as the acetic acid contained in vinegar, lemon juice is nevertheless a powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal agent. Combined with vinegar, the boosted acid content is great for tackling lime and calcium deposits and eliminating soap scum.
Lemon juice on its own is also effective at removing coffee and tea stains. Don’t have any lemons? Lime juice works just as well.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild, oxygen-based bleach with antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It’s excellent for removing tough stains as well as killing mold. The oxygen in peroxide can also help break down odor-causing compounds in urine stains. Although peroxide is a bleaching agent, as it breaks down, it turns into water and oxygen, leaving behind no residual toxins that might harm your pup.

Dog-Safe Cleaner Recipes
All-Purpose Cleaner
This DIY solution is great for sinks, countertops, cabinet doors, the inside of your microwave, and the outside of your toilet bowl, as well as for mopping floors. In a spray bottle, combine equal parts water and vinegar (either distilled white vinegar or ACV) and shake to blend. For best results, use filtered or distilled water that won’t leave behind mineral deposits, especially if you have hard tap water.

For a more powerful cleaner, add a small amount of lemon juice and/or hydrogen peroxide. But keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide breaks down and loses its effectiveness when exposed to light, so if you’re using a clear bottle, wait to add it until you’re ready to use it.

Toilet Bowl and Drain Cleaner
Pour half a cup of baking soda into your toilet bowl or down your drain. Follow with one cup of vinegar and then stand back and enjoy the volcano effect. Let it sit for ten minutes to break down dirt, grime, and odors before following up with a scrub brush. For drains, follow your drain volcano with a tea kettle full of boiling water to rinse away any residual grease that might cause clogs.

Glass Cleaner
For windows, mirrors, and other glass or shiny surfaces, a solution of water mixed with equal parts vinegar or lemon juice in a spray bottle will do the trick. Hydrogen peroxide on its own is also effective at cleaning and shining glass and metal. Wipe with newspaper or an old T-shirt to prevent streaks and lint residue.

Stain Remover
Make a thick paste of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon juice or vinegar. Using an old toothbrush or a cotton cloth, apply the paste to the stained surface. For tough stains, let it sit for five to ten minutes before scrubbing. Wipe away the residue with a damp cloth.

Carpet Stain and Odor Remover
Add one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to the all-purpose cleaner recipe above. Spray directly on the stain and blot it up with an old T-shirt or paper towel. For pet urine stains, let it sit for a few minutes before blotting. This allows the hydrogen peroxide time to work on the odor-causing compounds. Repeat this process until the stain is gone. To combat any residual odor, allow the spot to dry and then sprinkle it with baking soda. Leave it there for 10 to 20 minutes (so the odor is absorbed) before you vacuum.
However, although mild and pet-safe, hydrogen peroxide is not a color-safe bleach. Do a spot test on a portion of the carpet that’s hidden from view before using it to treat carpet stains.

Scented Products
If you’d like to add scent to your homemade cleaning solutions, steep orange or lemon peel in vinegar for at least 24 hours and strain it before adding it to your spray bottle. Avoid adding essential oils, which can be harmful to pets if not used properly.

Weed Control Without the Worry: Discover 5 Pet-Safe Homemade Weed Killers
By Danielle Letenyei

Weeds can be annoying when they show up uninvited in your garden. You may pull out the weed killer in your frustration to eliminate the weeds. But commercial weed killers can harm more than those dandelions — they're dangerous for humans, too! Even more upsetting, commercial weed killers are very dangerous for your pets.

Nibbling on a plant with commercial weed killers can make your dog or cat seriously ill. In a worst-case scenario, it can prove to be fatal. You can use homemade weed killers to eradicate the weeds without worrying about your favorite furry friend. Here are some alternative pet-friendly weed killers to try.

Vinegar
Everyone should have a jug of white vinegar in their home. It is a natural solution for cleaning your home, removing stains and softening your laundry. What you might not know is that vinegar is also an effective weed killer.
You can spray vinegar directly on weeds to kill them or combine it with salt to ensure the dead weed won’t grow back. Adding a little dishwasher soap to a mixture of one gallon of white vinegar and one cup of salt will help your homemade weed killer stick to weed.

Salt
You can combine salt with vinegar to kill weeds or use it alone. According to Gardening Know How, salt dehydrates the weeds and disrupts the internal water balance of plant cells, eventually killing them. Salt also provides effective weed control because no plants will grow in an area where you put salt on the soil. However, you should know if you put salt on an area, nothing will grow there, even the plants you want.

Clove oil
Clove oil is a good option if you want something to kill the weeds without hurting your flowering plants. It can also be used to keep the squirrels out of your garden and away from your bird feeders. To make a pet-safe weed killer with clove oil, add ten drops of the oil to two cups of boiling water. After the mixture has cooled, put it in a spray bottle and spray the target weeds once a day. If it doesn’t seem to be working, you can add more clove oil to the spray bottle.

Lemon oil
Try lemon oil for those tough weeds that don’t seem to wilt from other pet-safe weed killers. To make a lemon oil weed killer, mix ten drops of the oil with one cup of vinegar and one cup of water. Shake the mixture well enough to ensure the lemon oil isn’t floating at the top. However, lemon oil creates a powerful weed killer that harms the plants around it, so be careful when using it.
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Cornmeal
You can stop weeds in their tracks before they even have a chance to grow by adding cornmeal to the area you want to be weed-free, reports Gardening Know How. It works by preventing the weed’s seed from germinating. Therefore, you need to apply it to the target area before weeds can grow. It won’t kill perennial weeds like dandelions that are already rooted, but it will kill the seeds those weeds disperse

Since the temperatures have been getting and staying below freezing, How do we keep the dogs and cats warm outside. 
Any dog that is just going outside for a short bathroom break does not need a coat. However there are some breeds that may need a coat for longer exposure to the cold. Dogs with short or thin hair coats or thin body frames will feel the cold sooner then the double thick coated or heavier body framed dogs. Also the shorter legged dogs may get colder faster just being closer to the ice and snow. these dogs may need a coat/sweater and/or booties.
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How Cold Is Too Cold for Dogs To Be Outside?
A temperature that feels comfortable to one dog might make another dog shiver. There are a few variables that affect how dogs respond to the cold and how cold is too cold for a pup.

Dog Coat Type
Dogs with thick, double-layered coats tend to be the most cold-tolerant (think Siberian Huskies, Newfoundlands, and Samoyeds). Many of these breeds originated in northern climates and have attributes that allow them to thrive when temperatures drop.

However, dogs with exceptionally thin coats, like the Basenji and Xoloitzcuintli, may suffer in the cold and tend to do better when it’s warmer outside. If your dog has a very thin coat, you will want to consider bundling them up before heading outside.

Dog Coat Color 
On a clear day, black, brown, or other dark-coated dogs can absorb significant amounts of heat from sunlight, keeping them warmer in comparison to dogs with light-colored coats.

Dog Size 
Dogs lose most of their heat through their skin. Small dogs have a larger surface area to volume ratio compared to big dogs, which means, they have a bigger surface to lose heat through and a smaller area "inside" to hold on to heat. Therefore, small dogs get colder faster than large dogs, all other things being equal.

Dog Weight 
Body fat is a good insulator, so thin dogs become cold quickly. However, the health risks of being overweight far outweigh any benefits, so don’t let your dog pack on the pounds in preparation for winter.

Dog Conditioning 
We’ve all experienced this one. After the heat of summer, 55 F can feel frigid, but after a long, cold winter, the same temperature can make us break out a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Dogs that are used to the cold handle it much better than those that aren’t used to cooler temperatures.

Dog Age and Health 
Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with underlying health problems cannot regulate their body temperatures as well as healthy dogs in the prime of their lives.

For example, dogs that are sick and senior dogs may not be able to increase their metabolic rate to generate extra heat as well they used to. Additionally, puppies may have less body fat to act as insulation, and their relatively smaller size works against their ability to stay warm.

Be sure to protect vulnerable dogs from the cold with proper accessories, like dog sweaters or coats, and to keep their walks short.

The temperature on a thermometer isn’t the only environmental factor that affects how dogs feel the cold. Other factors to consider when wondering how cold is too cold for your dog include:

Wind chill 
A brisk breeze can cut through a dog’s coat, greatly decreasing its ability to insulate and protect against the cold.

Dampness 
Rain, snow, heavy fog, going for a swim—any form of dampness that soaks through the fur can quickly chill a dog even if the air temperature is mild.

Cloud cover 
Cloudy days tend to feel colder than sunny days, since dogs can’t soak up the sun and warm themselves.

Activity 
If dogs are going to be very active while outside, they may generate enough extra body heat to keep them comfortable even if the temperature is quite low.
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How Cold Is Too Cold for a Dog Walk?
While broad generalizations are difficult, cold should not become a problem for most dogs until the temperature falls below 45 F, at which point some cold-averse dogs might begin to feel uncomfortable.

When temperatures drop under 32 F, small breed dogs, dogs with thin coats, or very young, old, or sick dogs could be in danger if they spend too much time outdoors.

Once temperatures drop under 20 F, all pet parents need to be aware that their dogs could develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia or frostbite when outside for extended periods of time.

Of course, most dogs still need to go outside to pee and poop when it’s cold. Usually, they will quickly take care of business so they can get back inside where it’s warm. If the snow is deep, shovel an area close to your door so they don’t have to fight through the snow.

Don’t leave your dog unsupervised outdoors when conditions are extreme. The best way to monitor your dog is to keep a close eye on their behavior. If you notice your dog shivering, acting anxious, whining, slowing down, searching out warm locations, or holding up one or more paws, it’s time to head inside and warm up.

Call your veterinarian if you notice any signs of frostbite or hypothermia, including sluggishness, confusion, severe shivering (which may stop as hypothermia progresses), and parts of the body that appear pale and are cool to the touch

How To Keep Dogs Warm in the Cold
Dog Coats and Sweaters
Most dogs don’t need help staying warm indoors or when it’s warmer outside. However, a cute dog sweater or dog hoodie, can help dogs with very thin coats stay warm when there’s a slight chill in the air.
Keep in mind, dog sweaters and fleeces won’t provide enough protection when weather conditions become more extreme.
For colder temperatures, bundle your pup in an insulated, windproof, and water-resistant dog coat instead.
Dog Booties
Paws need protection too. Cold temperatures, snow that accumulates between pads, ice, and chemicals used to treat roads and sidewalks all pose a risk to dog paws in the winter.

Look for dog booties that are waterproof, provide traction, and are tough enough to last

Like people, pets can have seasonal allergies caused by allergens in the air, such as pollen, mold and dust.

Several treatment options are available, including medications, shampoos and allergy shots. Ask your vet about the  best course of treatment. 

Here are some ways you may be able to limit allergen exposure in your home for you and your pet.

• Wash your dog's bedding weekly in hot, soapy water and dry on a hot dryer cycle to kill dust mites.
• Vacuum soft surfaces, such as carpeting and couches, often/weekly.
• If possible use hardwood of linoleum flooring and washable area rugs.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency air filter
• If possible use air conditioning rather than open windows during pollen season.
• Give your dog hard, washable chew toys rather than plush toys.
• If plush toys are the favorite, wash them weekly in hot and soapy water. Rinse and dry well.
• Use dehumidifiers to prevent mold in damp spots such as bathrooms and kitchens.