June 11, 2024 - by Sarah Fuller With the sweltering dog days of summer fast approaching, Texas A&M AgriLife experts encourage Texans to incorporate precautions to protect pets from heat stress. “Much of the advice we give pet owners is common sense, but there are definitely special considerations depending on the animal’s age and breed, as well as the activity you are engaged in,” said Catherine Campbell, DVM, veterinary diagnostician with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory , Bryan-College Station. Proper hydration is vital for animal health, but it is just one component of ensuring proper thermoregulation.
“Access to cool, clean water is critical, but it is also imperative that they are given shade with adequate airflow,” Campbell said. “This can be provided by trees or a structure like a patio, but I don’t recommend a confined doghouse as that environment can become stagnant.” The same principles also apply to livestock animals that may be confined to a structure, such as backyard chickens.
“I’ve actually assembled a water misting system in my chicken run that comes on during the hottest parts of the day,” Campbell said. “It significantly drops the temperature, and the chickens love it.” Another backyard-friendly option is to use the shallow, hard plastic children’s pools sold at retail stores.
Campbell said these are a great option for dogs as long as they can safely exit the water. Frozen plastic jugs of water that an animal.
