Summer Solstice is also known as the “First day of Summer.” Today, in the Northern Hemisphere, is the longest day of the year and the official start of Summer Fun!
To celebrate, we are having a unique and very stylish dog bandana giveaway from Jazal Color on our Golden Woofs Instagram account.
What fun ways are you celebrating Summer Solstice?
It’s Summer! Pawfect time to spend time outdoors and be adventurous with your dog. Sugar and I came up with 10 Summer Fun Things to do With Your Dog.
This post is sponsored by Sleepypod®. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Sleepypod products, but Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.
1. Beat the Summer! Take your dog to the BEACH. Check your city for dog friendly beaches. SUGAR loves the beach. She loves being off leash, run, swim, play fetch and roll on the sand. Blissful Golden FUN!
2. Set-up your Backyard for FUN Water Play. Provide your dog a wading pool or turn on the sprinkler for some water games of chase and fetch. Last 2013, SUGAR had lots of Golden FUN when our friend built a Giant Sprinkle.
3. Does your dog love to Play FETCH and tennis balls? It’s SUGAR’s all time favorite game. If your dog loves fetching balls, our pals from PetSafe created Ball Launcher.
3. Take an adventure Road Trip with your dog. For safety, keep your windows up and buckle up your dog. SUGAR wears Sleepypod‘s Clickit Sport, which earned a five-star vehicle crash test rating from the Center for Pet Safety.
4. Enjoy Dog friendly Accommodations. Treat yourself and your dog stays at a dog friendly luxury hotel. As an SPG member, SUGAR had an opportunity to stay at two luxury dog friendly Sheraton Grand hotels.
5. Take your dog to a Baseball Game. Check your city for Major League Baseball Bark in the Park or Pup Night. In San Diego, you can watch the Padres with your dog at Petco Park’s “The Backyard”. In Phoenix, SUGAR watched the Diamondbacks at Chase Field’s PetSmart Patio.
6. Go CAMPING with your Dog! As much as we enjoy the outdoors, we are not much of the camping type. Our blog pal, Oz the Terrier loves camping around Florida.
7. HIKING with dogs is a great way to spend time in nature. It takes lots of endurance to go hiking with your dog. Make sure your dog is in good health. We took SUGAR hiking at one of the most popular hiking trails in Orange County – Top Of The World Trails.
Life’s a Climb … Woofs I made it to the top! ❤️ #topoftheworld hike #lagunabeach ????
A photo posted by goldenwoofs (@goldenwoofs) on
8. Change the scenery of your walking route and venture to a New Park. On our drive to the dog beach, we discovered Huntington Beach Central Park – largest city-owned park in Orange County covering over 350 acres of land.
9. Take your dog SHOPPING. Many malls and retailers are now dog friendly. We go mall walking at Fashion Island and often shop with SUGAR at Nordstrom.
10. Strike A Pose! Create memories on all your Summer FUN with your dog.
A photo posted by goldenwoofs (@goldenwoofs) on
What Summer FUN things do you plan to do to with your dog?
It’s Finally Summer! Many predict it’s going to be a HOT Summer.
It is important to keep your dog’s paw safe from hot pavements. Avoid getting your dog’s paws burned. Be mindful of the pavement temperature. Before you take your dog for a walk, feel the pavement. If the pavement is extremely hot to the touch, it will be extremely hot on your dog’s paw pads.
SUGAR has been wearing PAWZ dog boots to protect her Golden Paws. PAWZ dog boots are manufactured in the USA and made with natural rubber. PAWZ is the world’s only disposal and reusable water-proof dog boot. It is fashionably designed to fit your dog’s paw like a sock and allows full paw motion and maximum comfort. PAWZ also provides extra paw protection for dog’s that suffer from allergies.
1. Use two fingers on each hand to stretch the top of the boot.
2. Grab a leg of your dog with three fingers and guide paw into the boot.
3. Adjust the PAWZ boot on the leg so it fits like a sock, making sure the nails are not snagged.
Here’s an instructional video from PAWZ dog boots.
If this is your first time putting on PAWZ, make sure your dog is relaxed and lying down.
For me, it works well when SUGAR is standing between my legs.
Here’s an alternative way to put on PAWZ dog boots.
HOT Pavements occur during peak Summer months, between 10am – 5pm, and can cause a second-degree burn on your dog’s paws within 35 seconds. Protect your dog’s paws with PAWZ.
While many pet owners are relaxing and having some fun in the sun, the summer season is no vacation for pets. According to Petplan pet insurance, pets are 6% more likely to visit the vet unexpectedly during the summer compared to the rest of the year!
This is a guest post by By Dr. Kim Smyth, Petplan pet insurance Veterinarian. Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. This post contains an affiliate link. Find simple, affordable Dog Insurance at Petplan.com
There are a number of common summertime pet health hazards, which could put a serious damper on your getaway fund and turn a trip to the beach into a trip to the vet. When you’re heading outdoors with your furry friend, be especially mindful of these top Five Reasons Pets Visit the Vet in the Summer:
the heat is on
Watch out for heat-related conditions like heat stroke, dehydration and heat rash – especially in brachycephalic (or snub-nosed) breeds like Boxers, Bulldogs and Pugs. These pups are twice as likely to visit the vet for heat-related conditions than non-brachycephalic breeds. Signs of trouble include heavy panting, lethargy and a staggering gait. Keep pets cool by providing plenty of fresh water and shade when romping outside, and never leave them in a parked car.
beware the buzz
Pets are twice as likely to suffer an insect sting during the summer compared to the rest of the year, and bees are to blame for 25% of these incidents. Stings can cause mild symptoms like redness and swelling, or more serious reactions like anaphylaxis (allergic shock), which requires immediate veterinary attention. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing and vomiting.
skin deep
The risk of skin infection is 16% higher during summer months, and can be caused by a number of things such as allergies, extra moisture from swimming or humidity and pests like fleas. Look for itchy, irritated skin or lesions, and keep an eye out for extra scratching or licking that could indicate an issue.
grapes of wrath
Vet visits for grape and raisin toxicity are 40% higher during the summer. The average cost to treat grape and raisin poisoning is $756, but one Petplan-protected pup faced a hair-raising vet bill of $3,035! These fruits can cause acute kidney failure if ingested, and signs include vomiting, increased thirst, and diarrhea. If you suspect your pet ate a grape or anything grape-related, such as wine or oatmeal raisin cookies, call the vet right away. Customize a pet insurance policy to fit your budget at Petplan.com!
gobbling cobs
Corn cob ingestions are seven times more likely in the summer, and 70% of all corn cob ingestions occur between June and August. Corn cobs can get lodged in a dog’s intestines or stomach if eaten, which sometimes requires surgery to remove it. Clear plates at the end of dinner and keep trash bags contained so they don’t tempt the resident chow hound.
Even during the dog days of summer, pay attention to how your pet acts and feels and know what’s normal for them. If they show signs of anything unusual, take a trip to your vet. You’ll both be back to lounging poolside in no time!
Have a Safe and Fun-Filled Summer!
These Tips to Keep Pets Happy and Safe During the Summer Months are brought to you by Petco, celebrating 50 years of service to pet parents. Petco is a major specialty retailer that focuses on nurturing powerful connections between people and pets; The Power of Together.
According to 2015-2016 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey, 79.7 million U.S. households who own a pet will be gearing up to make the most of every moment.
Petco is reminding every pet parent to keep their pets happy and safe these Summer Months. To support these tips, we visit Unleashed by Petco; where they “provide the same knowledge and know-how offered by Petco in a unique, smaller package”.
Hot Temperatures: Beware of the temperature. When it’s extremely hot and humid, limit your dog’s time outdoors. Make sure your pet has access to shade, shelter, and fresh water.
At Unleashed by Petco, you can find Chillz Comfort Cooling Gel Pet Pads. These gel mats will keep your pet cool and comfortable during warm and sweltering Summer days. These are available in different sizes and can be use for indoors or outdoors.
Hydrate: Keep your dog hydrated by having fresh water available at all times. A good rule is to pack the same amount of cool water for a pet as yourself when you’re taking part in outdoor activities. It is important to invest in a good portable or collapsible dog bowl that is easy to clean and stores flat for easy packing. If you’re out in nature, don’t allow your dog to drink lake or river water as that may contain bacteria or parasites like Giardia.
Road Trip: If you plan to travel with your dog this summer, ensure a fun trip for the whole family by pet-proofing the car with seat covers to minimize scratches and pet hair. Additionally, keep your pet safe and secure in a crate, booster seat or dog-specific harness that connects to your car’s seatbelt.
At Unleashed by Petco, Good2Go brand offers a variety of on-the-go travel accessories like collapsible pet travel bowls and booster dog car seat. Good2Go outdoor travel pet products are also available at a Petco store.
ID Tags: During Summer months, many dogs spend a lot of time outdoors and potentially get lost. If your pet is sensitive to loud noises, keep them inside, and always keep your dog’s ID tags up to date.
At Unleashed by Petco, you can instantly personalize a dog id tag. Fi.d.o. tags and fi.d.o engraving machine is available on site. Fi.d.o is also available at a Petco store.
Hiking: Summer Hiking is a favorite activity for many pet parents. However, it can be harmful if dogs overheat in the hot summer sun. Look for signs of a dog overheating – their tongue hangs from the side of the mouth and is weighted at the end, they are panting excessively and have trouble focusing their gaze on something. If a pet begins to overheat, place them in the shade immediately and pour cool water onto the pads of their feet first and then continue over other parts of their body. Placing booties on their paws will also help keep them safe on the rough terrain and prevent their paw pads from burning.
Both Petco and Unleashed by Petco offers a variety of collars, harnesses and non-retractable leashes. It is important you use the “right” kind to keep your dog safe.
Beware of Rattlesnakes: Warm Summer weather calls both snakes and people out of hibernation. Outdoor enthusiasts may find themselves face to face with a less than welcome rattlesnake. However, unlike people, dogs may not have the know-how to avoid this venomous creature. While outside, especially in rural areas, keep dogs on a non-retractable leash, close by so they can be supervised. If a rattlesnake is spotted, calmly and slowly back away from the snake until you are no longer within striking distance and until the snake stops rattling. Then carefully leave the area.
At Petco, you will find Sugar’s favorite dog boots; PawZ. PawZ is an all season dog boots that provides traction control and protects your dog from hot pavements.
HOT Car: Never leave your dog in the car. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. A pet left in a hot car can sustain brain damage or even die in as little as 15 minutes. Cracking a window does little to relieve the heat on a hot summer day.
Don’t forget to TREAT your dog with healthy treats from Zukes and food from Merrick. Now available at Petco, Merrick’s Backcountry Grain Free Raw Infused Dog Food. Also available is Merrick’s Seasonal Recipe: Summer Lovin’ Stew.
Petco wants to start off your fun Summer with your pets by providing $50 Gift Card. Follow the giveaway tool to join.
This giveaway is sponsored by Petco.
Keep Your Pets Happy! Have a PAWsome and Safe Summer with Your Pets!
