Summer can be tough to get through – not only for us humans but also for our beagles.
Our 3 beagles have been quite affected by the often hot weather we have had for periods throughout the summer.
Charlie was probably the one who coped best. Oscar was hit hard as he had a thicker coat and therefore needed daily brushing – to remove the loose hair. Darwin was good at cooling off by lying completely flat. All 3 beagles felt best indoors – but had access to the garden, where they could run around under our shady trees.
Indoors, lying by the fans was a hit, which all the beagles liked.
I kept an eye on them the whole time and made sure they were as comfortable as possible.
Here is my recipe for keeping a beagle comfortable.
1) fresh cool water both outside and inside (this means the water needs to be changed often)
2) Never walk your beagle in the worst heat – i.e. from late morning to late evening – depending on when the heat sets in/off. And only air it out for a short time – i.e. a trip to the toilet.
3) BE CAREFUL with hot pavements/asphalt – it gets very hot and your beagle can burn its paws badly. If it is 30 degrees Celsius, for example – then you should consider that the pavement and asphalt will be up to 60 degrees Celsius sometimes more.
4) Lubricate your beagle’s paws with paw oil – it protects against the worst heat – but preferably air it out in a place where there is grass – as it is cooler.
5) Brush your beagle regularly – so that loose hair and any undercoat are removed – this makes the fur cooler.
6) Get a cooling mat
7) Food: Give your beagle light meals – preferably a good wet food or preferably homemade food like our beagles got – it helps with better digestibility and provides extra fluids. Add if necessary bone broth (for dogs) – or let them drink it as extra fluid.
8) Watch their noses – they can actually get sunburned – apply sun cream intended for dogs
9) If your beagle likes to bathe – you can have a small basin for them to soak in.
10) If your beagle starts to pant, drool, shows weakness, has vomiting – then react quickly – as it is then overheated. You can put a cool towel over the dog – it must not be ice cold 15-20 degrees. Replace it with a new towel if necessary – if it does not get better, it is off to the vet.
11) Last but not least: NEVER LEAVE YOUR BEAGLE IN A HOT CAR – not even to get 1 liter of milk.
Summer can be tough, for our beagles – so take good care.
