Summer months bring hot weather and also holidays. What sort of nutrition do animals require during this period? Is it necessary to change their diet on hot days? And what is most important during hot temperatures? We have discussed this topic with the nutritionist Martin Kváš.
Let's start with dogs. Is it necessary to change their feeding routine during the summer months?
A change in feeding rituals is not only unnecessary, it could even have a negative effect on the dog. Dogs prefer unchanging rituals, therefore the dish, feeding time, etc. should stay the same even on holiday.
Can dogs be cooled down during hot days using a specific diet?
A diet can't cool dogs down in any way. Make sure that on hot days the dog has plenty of shade and a place to rest. It is not ideal to organise a long walk with your dog on hot days. Having your dog clipped is certainly a very bad idea. The coat is a significant factor of thermal regulation. Even though we humans don't believe it much, a long thick coat can protect dogs from overheating. Short-haired breeds should be protected with clothes.
Should there be something different included in the summer diet?
Changing the diet completely in the summer is not necessary. If the dog retains at least a little appetite, he can have his regular food even during the summer.
How to ensure that dogs drink enough water and aren't dehydrated?
Dogs must have constant access to water and the water should be fresh. During a walk, dogs should be allowed to drink regularly. If they don't drink every time, it's not a problem. Not drinking doesn't mean that they are not thirsty. They could get distracted by something more important and drinking isn't on their list of things to do at that time. The interval for the next drink should therefore be shorter.
How can I tell that a dog is too hot and needs cooling down?
When a dog is in danger of overheating, when he's really hot, he starts to "vent" in a specific way. Usually, the dog pulls the corners of his mouth back, in order to enlarge the air passage for cooling down. Very often, the dog lets his tongue hang loose in one corner of his mouth, enlarging the area for the moisture to evaporate, which cools him down. In this situation, the owner of the dog should quickly find some shade and allow the dog to cool down a bit. Misconceptions, such as that water will cool the dog down, should be avoided. It is partly true, but it's only effective for a short time. The wet coat represents a large surface for evaporation, which cools the dog down and the body starts reacting like in winter, by producing heat and the dog can, in fact, overheat. After a swim, the owner should dry the dog or at least leave him in the shade.
Do cats require a diet change in warmer weather?
Due to their origin, cats cope with heat very well. We've all seen pictures of cats enjoying the scorching sun. It is important to ensure that cats have constant access to water.
Is there anything that should be increased in their summer diet?
It is definitely important to ensure that the animal is drinking enough. Water is a decisive factor in their thermal regulation and if their body doesn't receive a sufficient amount, it can have very unpleasant consequences.
What should we concentrate on the most in terms of a summer diet?
Especially with cooked food, it is important to ensure a sufficient supply of electrolytes, which evaporate from the body in hot temperatures. Dogs, in particular, lose a large amount of water due to evaporation. Those who have had a dog in their car in the summer know, how they can steam up the windows even in direct sunlight.
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...