How to take care of your dog during summer

Abu Dhabi: Dog owners in the capital are going the extra mile to protect their pets from the heat as mercury levels rise. From adopting a summer fitness programme and special diet to using a cooling vest, dog owners are pulling out all the stops to ensure the summer heat doesn’t take a toll on their best friend.

Instagram fitness

Shahnaz Bazliel Monsignori, an Italian homemaker, has a large mixed breed called Blu. The dog has a special fitness regime during summer which includes getting her runs earlier in the mornings and later in the evenings.

“We walk her on the grass as much as possible to avoid overheating her sensitive paws. She still suns herself, to compensate for the air conditioning. A large bowl of fresh water is always at her disposal,” says Monsignori.

Since Blu has a sensitive stomach (especially during summer), Monsignori keeps her on a strict diet of dry food, boiled rice, chicken and pumpkin. Blu has her own instagram page ‘Blu_monsi’ where Monsignori shares grooming tips. These include how an occasional large raw bone can get the dog’s teeth in shape or how daily grooming with brushes and wet wipes are vital to keep off parasites, especially in the hotter months.

Vegetarian options

Furby the German Shepherd is breaking the myth that dogs are hard core carnivores. His summer special menu is a mash-up of yogurt, rice, lentils and vegetables all boiled together. His owner Aparna Malhotra has trained him to be a strict vegetarian like her family. This is the first summer in Abu Dhabi for Malhotra and Furby, as they have just moved here from Singapore.

She says a vegetable diet needs less water for digestion. “You can mix any two vegetables from the following: pumpkin, beans, carrot, spinach, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), zucchini, sweet potatoes, broccoli, bottle guard etc. Not all veggies can be given to a dog, so please google before you want to try something new,” she says

Cooling vests

Pranjal Kulkarni has a saluki named Ben whom she rescued from the streets. Ben’s summer diet includes raw meat, plenty of water and an ice lolly once in a while.

“His big off-leash run is at 4.45am and leash-walk is at about 7.30pm.” says Kulkarni. “He has access to plenty of cool water through the day, wears his cooling vest for runs, and has limited time sunning himself in the middle of the day,”

Five tips to keep your dog healthy this summer

(By Dr. Jennifer Paugh Associate Veterinarian of American Veterinary Clinic)

The writer is an Abu Dhabi-based freelancer