PRESS RELEASE
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG HYDRATED THIS SUMMER
Part of PetSafe®Brand Pet Hydration Consumer Awareness
Campaign
December, 2017: In a recent survey by PetSafe®Brand Australia it was found that39%[1] of Australian’s are unaware of what the signs of heat exhaustion or dehydration is for their beloved fur baby; yet it can be one of the most deadly conditions through the Australian summer.
International pet product expert PetSafe®have partnered with NSW Veterinarian Dr. Claire Stevens to release 7 simple steps on how to keep your pet cool and hydrated this summer.
This summer is predicted to be one of the worst on record for Australia so being Hydration Wise is vital to the health and wellbeing of your pet.
“It is a timely message for pet owners, as dehydration can indicate a serious underlying problem. Often, however, the signs of dehydration are not obvious, so I suggest getting to the vet as soon as you can”, comments Dr. Stevens.
- MORE WATER MORE OFTEN
41% of those that were surveyed commented that they leave only one full bowl of water a day for their dog when they are out. Which in most cases is simply not enough.
Most pet owners are unaware that animals actually need more water than we do. Dogs {for example} are made up of 80% water where humans are only 60%. Therefore in the heat of summer your dog requires more water, more often. A general rule of thumb is a dog needs 70mls of water per kilogram of body weight, so a 4.5kg dog needs 2 bowls a day, and a35kg dog needs 10.
“You can prevent dehydration by providing clean water at all times, and change it frequently to ensure freshness. Also, don’t forget to wash your pet’s water bowl every day to prevent bacteria from forming. I tend to put a few bowls down to be sure they have enough”, says Dr. Stevens.
The easiest way to encourage your pet to constantly rehydrate is with a pet drinking fountain. These provide fresh, filtered water to your pet and the multiple streams of free falling water entice your pet to drink more.
- PROVIDE SHADE – ALL DAY
98% of Australians will leave their dog for a long period of time during the day (from1-10hours) with 49% of pet owners leaving their dogs in the backyard.
“People might not realize but there is possibly long periods during the day your backyard might simply not provide anywhere cool and shady – it might be shady but is cool?” says Dr. Stevens.
Providing your pet with adequate alternative shade is important. You can do this by investing in a new shade cloth, outdoor umbrella or canopy, but remember not all dog houses are ‘heat proof’ so make sure you give them an all-dayshady option.
- KEEP THAT HAIR SHORT
Just like you would prepare your home for bush fire season; you need to prepare your pet for summer! The shorter the hair the cooler they will stay so if you have a dog with a long or shaggy coat give it a nice short shave. This will keep them cool.
- EXERCISE AT DUSK OR DAWN
All pets need some exercise; however if you take them out for walks inthe summer time change your routine to dawn or dusk walks.
This makes it cooler for you and your pet and is also less harsh on their paws. They can feel the heat of the sand or bitumen just like you!
- LET THEM DIG
Believe it or not dogs don’t just dig from boredom. It can be to hide food, toys and to keep cool! Just remember a little bit of digging wont hurt.
- FREEZE SOME DOGGIE ICY POLES
Dogs love a frozen treat in the summer and it cools them down. Pet icy poles are easy to make and can keep them busy. Just add their favorite treats to water and freeze! Easy!
- GIVE THEM A BATH
Shallow pools are a great way for your pet to cool down! Buy a child’s sand pit and fill it with shallow water and watch them splash!
- DON’T CHAIN THEM UP
Some people will tie up their dogs in the back yard when they head out for the day; but this can prevent them from finding cool shade or respite from the heat of the day
“Avoid chaining a dog outside or keeping them in a hot back yard as this can preventing him from accessing his water bowl”, continues Dr. Stevens.
Dehydration in pets can be very serious and even deadly, being Hydration Aware could be the difference between life and death for our pet over the summer.
“Just remember, make sure you monitor your dog’s water intakeevery day. If your dog is not drinking an adequate amount of water, seek veterinary advice”.
The PetSafe®Brand Pet Hydration Awareness Campaign infographic can be downloaded from:
PetSafe® Australia will be releasing further results from the pet hydration survey over the month of December.
-ENDS-
For more information about PetSafe® Brand products visit: contact Amanda Kuhn, Missy Mischief PR ( / 0410 570 993)
Download high res images from:
Contacts:
Media and CommunicationAmanda Kuhn, Missy Mischief PR
+61 (0)410 570 993 / Marketing
Zarqa Ali, Radio Systems Australia
+61(0)7 5556 3804
About PetSafe® Brand
PetSafe® Brand is a global pet product expert with its headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wide-ranging innovative products are available across the PetSafe® Brand product portfolio including training, containment, and lifestyle and wellbeing product solutions. Visit for further details or connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Dr. Claire Stevens
Dr. Claire Stevens BVSc. (Hons) Cert. VPH is a Veterinarian, Business Mentor & Communications Skills Trainer based in NSW. Dr. Stevens endeavours to shares her knowledge with both Pet Owners and Veterinarians. With a particular interest in people skills, Claire has developed a formula on the importance of identifying communication skills as a pillar in the success of any practice and has since developed an online course for Veterinarians, this course is recommended and endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association.
I @drclairestevens
[1]PetSafe® ‘Dog in the Home’ Survey was conducted from the 11.11.17 to 17.11.17 across 201 participants across Australia. Survey results were accumulated via Survey Monkey, Facebook and Street responses.