Sunny summer days seem to incite all sorts of fun activities with your Toy Breed Dog: As temperatures soar, the hot weather also brings with it very specific hazards such as sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The good news is these threats to your pooch are preventable. In this article I will give you a few tips of how to keep your toy breed dog cool and safe during hot summer days.

Protecting Your Toy Breed Dog from Sunburn

Toy Breed Dogs can receive sunburn much like humans. The nose, tips of the ears and around the lip area are especially susceptible to the burning rays of the sun. Use common sense when outdoors in the summertime with your Toy Breed Dog. Keep your Toy Breed Dog in the shade during the hours of the day when the sun's rays are most intense. This is usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, if you need to be outside during these times, it's okay to apply sun-block to your dog's nose and the exposed skin on the ears. It's a little risky to apply sun-block around the lips. Your Toy Breed Dog would probably lick off the sun-block product which could present another health hazard. So avoid the lip area when using sun block on your Toy Breed Dog. If you notice the area around your Toy Breed Dog's lips becoming pink or red, contact your vet to find out an appropriate treatment for this area.

Protecting Your Toy Breed Dog from Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke

Leaving a Toy Breed Dog in a parked car during summer weather is the leading cause of heat stroke. Toy Breed Dogs can also suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke if they exercise too heavily on a hot, humid day or, if they live outdoors and don't have shelter from the sun. Toy Breed Dogs are also more susceptible to heat stroke if they are overweight or suffer from lung or heart ailments. Older Toy Breed Dogs are less tolerant of heat and may succumb to heat strokes more readily than younger Toy Breed Dogs.

Here are a few tips to help keep your Toy Breed Dog safe from heat stroke:

• Do not take your Toy Breed Dog with you on errands if you need to leave the dog in the car.
• If you are traveling with your Toy Breed Dog and must make a stop, even for the shortest period of time, leave the air conditioner on.
• If you take your Toy Breed Dog with you for walking, jogging or cycling exercise, do not push the Toy Breed Dog on exceptionally hot days. Always take plenty of fresh, cool water. Watch your Toy Breed Dog for signs that the dog needs a break.
• Most Toy Breed Dog owners do allow their dogs to live indoors. If for some reason, your Toy Breed Dog needs to live outside, be sure you provide an "all-day shade" area such as a ventilated doghouse, large beach umbrella or overhang to block the heat of the sun during summertime months.
• Keep older Toy Breed Dogs and those with lung or heart conditions inside your home on hot days. If you do not have air conditioning, keep a fan running.
• Avoid situations that force your Toy Breed Dog to stand on sun-baked surfaces such as cement sidewalks, a truck bed or beach sand. The extreme heat can cause blisters on the Toy Breed Dog's pads.
• If you must walk your Toy Breed Dog in the heat of the day, walk on grassy areas as much as possible.
• Of much importance is to provide your Toy Breed Dog with an unlimited access to cool, clean refreshing drinking water.

If you will follow the above tips during hot summertime weather your Toy Breed Dog should be safe from experiencing heat stroke.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit us online at: http://www.abouttoydogs.com We are an article and resource directory all about Toy Dogs. Our mission is helping you decide which Toy Dog is right for you and/or your family. We provide you with helpful, educational articles and dog training resources.

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