summer, Summer, SUMMERTIME
Not sure how it happened, but this morning this song popped in my head…Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Maybe it was on a commercial although I don’t remember hearing it; I was humming the song and then realized, HEY IT’S JUNE, I NEED TO WRITE A BLOG ABOUT SUMMERTIME! And here we are.
This year has gone by incredibly fast and weather has been a little different than normal. While it’s normal for June Gloom it’s also been a bit breezy, which is very welcome since we normally don’t get a breeze. I’m hoping for a milder summer here but so far, the 45-day forecast is all in the high 80’s and low 90’s so it looks like it’s time to clean out the dog pool and break out the canopies.
Mabel and Hannah are total sun lovers and will both lay in the sun until they come in the house panting like crazy. Nåeither of these dogs are diabetic but Lucy our diabetic dog was the same way. I of course quickly learned that sunbathing affected her blood glucose levels so I had to limit her time laying in the sun.
Below are some tips for ensuring that you and your four-legged babes have a great summer!
Diabetic dogs who enjoy sunbathing should have their time in the sun limited, as too much heat can affect blood glucose levels and cause dehydration. When it was hot, I kept Lucy’s sunbathing to ten minutes or less.
Exercise your dog during cooler parts of the day, such as morning or evening. Check blood glucose before exercise and again about fifteen minutes in to monitor how heat affects their levels. Remember the 7-seconds rule and make sure the ground is not too hot for your dog’s paws!
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are both medical emergencies that demand immediate attention. Diabetic dogs often struggle to regulate their body temperature effectively so extra care needs to be given. The chart below outlines the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, along with recommended first aid measures.
Make sure you always have plenty of fresh water available. To encourage water consumption you can add a little bone broth to their water to entice them to drink.
Frozen carb-free treats throughout the day are easy to make and dogs love them, especially dogs that like chewing. Below are a couple recipes for diabetic friendly frozen treats.
Until next time stay cool and comfy; don’t stress and you got this!
Michelle Miller-Matlock
AAHA Certified Diabetes Educator
Founder/Administrator of DDO: Diabetic Dog Owners University
Administrator of Diabetic Dog Owners on Facebook
Want to learn all you can in a simple and easy to follow format? Please join DDO-U: Diabetic Dog Owners University, graciously sponsored by PetTest.
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Do you need a blood glucose meter kit for your diabetes arsenal? There are two meters you can choose from, the PetTest Classic and the PetLink+ meter that has wireless technology and works seamlessly with the Digital Companion App.
USA links:
PetTest Classic Meter Kit: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-meter-kit/
PetLink+ Meter Kit: https://shoppettest.com/petlink-plus-meter-kit-includes-25-test-strips/
PetTest link: https://shoppettest.com/
Canada links:
PetTest Classic Meter Kit: https://pettest.ca/pettest-meter-kit/
PetLink+ Meter Kit: https://pettest.ca/pettest-petlink-meter-kit-includes-25-test-strips/
PetTest link: https://pettest.ca/
UK links:
PetTest Classic Meter Kit: https://pettest.uk/pettest-meter-kit-includes-25-test-strips/
PetLink+ Meter Kit: https://pettest.uk/pettest-petlink-meter-kit-includes-25-test-strips/
PetTest link: https://pettest.uk
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