Don’t Shave Your Dog . . .

As we enjoy another very hot week in Northwest Ohio, here’s another reminder that we need to look out for each other, including man’s best friend. “Dr. Dolittle Kahuna” is making a house call . . . even though you might be tempted, don’t SHAVE your dog. Dogs don’t sweat like we do, so they can get heatstroke really fast. But there’s an easy way to figure out if it’s too hot for them to run around outside, just take the temperature and the humidity, and add the two numbers together. If the total is more than 150, that means it’s too hot, so they should probably stay indoors. Here are few more quick summer safety tips If you’re a dog owner . . .

1) Watch out for signs of heatstroke: Like heavy panting and loss of energy. If you’re on a walk and they start acting weird, find some shade, and give them water. Or if they’re really bad, spray them with a hose and call your vet.

2) Don’t burn their paws on the sidewalk: Just test the ground with your hand, if it hurts to keep your hand on there for more than a few seconds, don’t walk them on the sidewalk, find a place with grass instead.

3) It’s okay to give them a haircut, but don’t shave them. But some dogs have an extra layer of hair that actually helps keep them COOL in the summer, so they suggest checking with your vet first. But don’t shave them like a crew cut because they CAN get sunburned, and they’re also more likely to get bitten by bugs if they don’t have any hair.