Yikes! It’s hot-hot-hot here in Texas. We’ve hit triple digits already. Shadow-Pup is NOT happy. He misses his ZOOMIES in the back garden, but I’m afraid to let him overdo too much. It’s time for hot weather games for pets and keeping cats and dogs cool in hot weather. This year, I’ve invested in more indoor fun for Karma-Kat and Shadow-pup, some with the help of pet products companies sharing neato-torpedo products. Here are some of my favorite pet hot weather games. You can also learn more about hot weather safety here.
Shadow-Pup appears to be following in Magic’s paw steps. He loves playing with stuffies. He inherited one of the Tearribles from Magic–and then Bravo had his turn playing with it, and now Shadow gets to rip it apart (Velcro, y’all!) and begs for me to put it back together. I bought the extra-large size back when the company launched, and despite needing to repair a bit where Velcro has pulled away, this toy stands up to the dog-induced trauma for years. It’s machine washable, too, although I’ve never had occasion to wash it. Highly recommended! Oh, you will need to put it out of reach after a play period, or dogs probably will chew up the small pieces they’ve pulled off.
Hide-A-Squirrel
Did I mention Shadow loves to tear things apart? Many dogs do this, and his fav style toy include the toy-within-a-toy products like this Hide-A-Squirrel. It comes in small, medium, large, and extra-large, with individual squeaky squirrels that nest inside the “house.” I bought Shadow the XL size, and also got an extra set of squirrels–because he destroys those over time. Karma occassionally swipes a squirrel and bunny-kicks it ito submission, too. There are lots of similar hide-a-toy products out there that can help keep bored dogs engaged when they can’t get out in the heat. Learn the signs and first aid for heatstroke here.
Flirt Pole
For cats, we’d call this a “fishing-pole lure toy.” Karma-Kat has a bunch of them, and loves to stalk, chase, pounce, and bite the feather lure at the end of the string. We have to close the door to keep Shadow-Pup out because he wants in on the fun–and his bigger teeth and strength destroys the cat wand toys. Also, dogs tend to eat these smaller lures, a danger when they swallow inedible objects.
Years ago, I learned about flirt poles (aka flirt sticks), a heavy-duty version of this toy, used to help condition dogs for endurance competitions like schutzhund, agility, or lure coursing. And with temperatures skyrocketing, it seemed the perfect time to purchase one and find out if it appealed to Shadow.
Turns out, he ADORES this toy! Begs to play each evening, and we have to shut it in the pantry in between times to keep him from destroying it. I got this Outward Hound Tail Teaser Wand that comes with two fuzzy lures that squeak and rattle. You can get replacements when your dog ultimately disembowels the squeaky/rattle sound in the fuzzy toy. The wand portion reminds me of a riding crop, heavy-duty and flexible. Oh, and equal time—Karma now chases Shadow’s flirt toy, too, so we still need to separate the pair during this game! This isn’t designed for a tug toy, but rather to hold overhead or along the ground for your dog to chase. Let him catch it now and again to reward the game. A great indoor option for small sighthounds, terriers, or any dog that loves to chase.
LifePro Paw Runner Dog Treadmill
I have a desk treadmill so that I can exercise while checking email, and don’t have to put up with outside heat, mosquitoes, or icy weather in winter. So when a representative of LifePro reached out to me and offered to send me the LifePro Paw Runner Dog Treadmill, I welcomed the opportunity to test it with Shadow-Pup.
I’ve delayed writing about it because, well, it didn’t work for him. That doesn’t mean a dog treadmill won’t work for other pet parents, though. I really liked that the designers addressed the dog’s sensitive hearing with a low-noise motor. And just like my human treadmill, there’s a safety key and an emergency off-switch if the dog falls off the track.
It works great for small to medium-size dogs–it won’t accommodate the big guys—and is ideal for conditioning performance canines or rehabbing for dogs after surgery or injury. Be aware that it comes in a gi-normous box (see that picture with Shadow–he’s 45 pounds). The actual treadmill measures 48 x 22.8 x 41.75 inches, but the box with padding barely fit in the back seat of my car. My postal guy insisted on schlepping it out to my car when it arrived, or I couldn’t have got it home! This great product ain’t cheap but ranks as a wonderful investment for the right pet lover.
Cats also would enjoy the treadmill, with a bit of a learning curve (Bengal cats, anyone?!). I donated the Paw Runner Dog Treadmill to a friend needing to exercise her diabetes=alert dog during hot weather. Her dog appreciates the ability to run while avoiding the high outdoor temps!
Hot Weather Games for Cats
Seren-kitty used to chase the Ping-Pong ball in the (empty and dry!) bathtub…that kept me from having to fish it out from under the furniture. For indoor games, though, we have bubble-chasing games that the dog and Karma-Kat enjoy. Some bubbles purport to smell like catnip.
While dogs may dive into the pool, cats like to turn throw rugs into dry land slip-and-slides. Karma loves to “towel surf” with me dragging a towel or blanket across the floor for him to pounce and ride. These days, Karma’s enjoying tag games with the Shadow-Pup, too. Review these tips on how cats play so you know the signs if fun turns into danger.
At our house, we have two lovely cat trees in the downstairs living room area, a fantastic cat tunnel in the master bedroom, and another great cat tree at the top of the stairs overlooking the whole area. Karma lords it over the dog from these second story elevations. But then I got an email from a new-cat-on-the-blog offering a look at their modular kitty habitat.
Keeping Cats & Dogs Cool in Hot Weather
What kind of cat toys float your kitty’s boat? Do your pets enjoy water fountains? Would your hot dog relish a cooling bed, or a wading pool? I offer some more hot weather games and tips in the ASK AMY video, below.
And for a flash from the past, enjoy the Magical-Dawg video (below) of some water fun. I need to get that doggy tub out this year and see if Shadow might indulge.
How do your dogs deal with the weather? Please share your tips for keeping hot dogs cool customers!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
Cat and dog dehydration refers to the excessive loss of body water. Pets are prone to dehydration when the weather gets very hot, and they don’t have access to enough water. As a result, they can develop heatstroke. More often, though, dog and cat dehydration happens from vomiting and diarrhea.
Here in Texas, we’ve had weeks of triple-digit temperatures. I worry about the outside pets, but even indoor cats and dogs can suffer from dehydration. Normal water loss occurs in the pet’s bathroom deposits, through moisture exhaled with the breath, and through sweat. These fluids get replaced when the cat and dog eat and drink.
Any illness may prompt pets to stop eating and drinking, and prolonged fever increases the loss of body fluid. Specific disease conditions or injuries like diabetes or kidney disease may cause excessive urination that also causes of dehydration.
Cats evolved as desert creatures and have an amazing ability to conserve water, but cat dehydration can still kill. Even though cats seem to prefer to drink water in the weirdest places (the sink? your glass? the TOILET?!) they most often just don’t drink enough water. Here’s what you need to know.
Do you know how perform Pet Rescue Breathing and pet CPR? You can save your dog or cat’s life by knowing how to do pet CPR and how to perform rescue breathing. Pets suffer brain injury and death if oxygen is cut off for only a few minutes. When minutes count, rescue breathing can save your pet’s life.
July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month. More pets disappear over the July 4th holiday than any other time, because they get so scared about the noise. But pets get lost all the time. Both Karma-Kat and Shadow appeared as lost babies. Please bookmark this site for tips how to find lost pets.
Do you have a scaredy cat? Working with fearful and scared cats can be a challenge. Does Sheba hiss at strangers? Does Tom dive under the bed when the doorbell rings? Do your kitties attack other pets (or humans)? What can you do to stop bad behavior if even a mild correction sends the cat into fearful meltdown? Here’s help.
Does your dog fear fireworks? What can you do for a cat or dog scared of fireworks? What about earplugs for dogs? Cats aren’t immune so New Year’s celebrations, Memorial Day (or graduation hijinks), July 4th fireworks, and thunderstorms can turn pets into shivery bundles of fur when BOOMS, bright lights, or even wind and rain noise fill the sky. Pets can be scared of all kinds of loud noises, and I get asked for advice all the time.
I share this information twice a year in time for July 4 fireworks, and the New Year fireworks. No matter the time of year, always pay attention to pet safety. . .
Swimming comes naturally to most animals, but pet drowning happens just as easily. Many puppies leap before they look, or simply fall into the swimming pool, hot tub or break through ice on the lake and can’t get out. Dog paddling may be instinctive, but they can still drown if they can’t climb out and get too tired to float. Learn how to treat dog drowning and save pet drowning victims…
Long sunny days can bring misery for people—and their pets. You can keep them safe with these tips. Yes, pet sunburn is real, and can not only cause painful nasal dermatoses in cats and dogs, but sometimes leads to skin cancer. ..
Parvovirus, a highly contagious and often lethal virus, affects dogs of any age, but puppies are the most susceptible. There are about 330,000 cases of canine parvovirus annually in the U.S. with a 91% mortality rate with no supportive care provided. The highest incidence of parvo occurs in kennels, pet stores, shelters, and poor-quality breeding facilities. Until recently, we had no parvovirus cure.
But now, all that’s changed. Learn how veterinarians can now successfully treat canine parvovirus.
New World screwworm, or Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic blow fly. As an adult, the fly causes little harm but becomes a hazard because it lays eggs in open wounds. The eggs develop into screw-shaped larvae (maggots). Unlike more common species of maggots that eat dead material, screwworm larvae eat living tissue. They cause a devastating impact on livestock when the blow fly lays eggs in open wounds. It gets its name from the habit of burrowing (or screwing itself) into the wound. Read on to learn more…
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