Autumn may be just a month away, but there’s still plenty of summer left for your dog to enjoy: lakes and rivers to swim, trails to walk, lazy butterflies and errant squirrels to chase and warm hours to snooze away under the dappled shade of a big friendly tree. I’d wager that even the glummest, crankiest canine would probably agree.
Summertime means eating outdoors, so why not get out of the kitchen and take advantage of the many restaurants in our area that have dog-friendly outdoor dining?
Before you go, however, make sure the restaurant actually allows dogs in their outdoor areas: just because a restaurant has patio dining doesn’t automatically guarantee it’s dog-welcoming. And it goes without saying that your dog needs to be fully socialized and knows how to behave in public before you take her with you.
Speaking of eating, here’s an easy, tasty dog-friendly frozen treat: just fill a Kong with your pup’s favorite food like peanut butter, yogurt, or mashed fruit, and pop it in the freezer.
Another idea is to mix together peanut butter and either bananas or cooked sweet potatoes in a blender with unsweetened yogurt, pour the mixture into ice-cube trays and freeze. Or just freeze cubes of watermelon or any other fruit or berries your dog loves. Just remember that as much as we humans love frozen grapes, you should NEVER feed grapes to your dog, as they can cause sudden and severe kidney failure in dogs. (I have a grape arbor that Frankie loves to nose around under, and I just finished putting fencing around it to keep her safely out.)
If you and your dog enjoy going for walks and hikes, aim for early morning when it’s cooler: as we all know, late summer can still bring plenty of hot weather. Equip both of you with cooling neck wraps if you’re going to be outside for a while, and be sure to bring plenty of water. Remember too that hot asphalt can severely burn a dog’s paws (think about walking on it with your own bare feet!), so if you’ll be walking on roads or parking lots, you might want to equip those paws with outdoor dog booties. They can also be a great addition on icy winter walks, so you can use them year-round.
As much as the this part of summer can mean tons of fun, it also has dangers.
Even late in the season, high temps can cause heat exhaustion in dogs, so watch your pup for trouble signs: heavy panting, thick drool, wooziness, vomiting or diarrhea. If you notice any of these signs, move your dog into the shade, cover her with a damp towel, and get her to the vet as soon as possible. Heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to heat stroke, which can be deadly. Be especially cautious if you have a flat-faced breed like a bulldog, pug, Boston terrier or Pekingese, since these types of dogs are more susceptible to overheating because their short noses prevents them from panting efficiently.
Keep your eyes open for ticks once you get home from a walk if you’ve been in tall grass or the woods. Ticks are a year-round pest in this part of California and can carry serious diseases like Lyme and ehrlichiosis. Finally, beware the foxtail! This time of year they’re dried out and ready to bury themselves in your dog’s ears, nose or toes.
If you suspect your pooch has an embedded foxtail, it’s time for a vet visit to have it safely removed.
Enjoy these last days of summer!
Joan Merriam lives in Nevada County with her golden retriever Joey, her Maine coon cat Indy, and the abiding spirit of her beloved golden retriever Casey in whose memory this column is named. She is a member of Dog Writers of America. You can reach Joan at joan@joanmerriam.com. And for those looking for a golden, be sure to check out Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.
