Too hot to trot - take extra care of your dog in the summer months

Summer time in the UAE can be tough on all of us, but it's also tough on our furry friends. Year after year many people seem to forget, while blissfully walking their dogs, how hot the pavements, roads and sand can get. You won't walk around barefoot on it, so don't expect your dog too either. Walkies timings become super early mornings and late evenings, but sometimes they just have to go out in the day time and with many places lacking in greenery close by, concrete and sand are the only options.

Already vets have reported several cases of dogs being brought in with burnt paws. Animals that have been left out in the heat - a BIG no no or walked on surfaces too hot for them and this sadly is the result:

Horrific isn't it?! Imagine how painful that is?!

So, what can we do to help our dogs go for a walk and avoid this horrible outcome. Well a few people have suggested using baby socks with the non-slip bottoms, fastened with elastic bands. You could have lots of fun with different colours and patterns and I'm sure your fur baby would lvoe you for it or not as the case may be :-)

But there are specialised solutions. I got some Ruffwear dog boots for my boy Toby. They're hard wearing with grip pads on the bottom and fasten with a simple velcro strap. I was amazed that he didn't try to chew them off in about ten seconds, instead standing and staring at me as if to say 'What the hell are these things now?'. Watching Toby walk in them for the first time was pretty hysterical, as he over exaggerated the movements, but once outside all was forgotten in about thirty seconds and he went about his walk as usual.

I got these booties from City Vet on Al Wasl road, Dubai and they have some great advice for all dog owners.

So, please take care of your dog during the summer months. If it's too hot for you outside, it's too hot for them. If you need to wear shoes to walk on the ground, so do they.