During the summer we use sun protection, glasses and avoid the central hours in places with a lot of heat. Well we must also take action with our pets, which are also affected by the sun in summer. We must protect the dog's skin and its organism from the sun during the hottest season to avoid problems or diseases.
We all know that for us and for dogs, the vitamin D provided by the sun is beneficial for the body and defenses. A little bit of sun is fine, but a lot can be bad for everyone in many ways. Also, dogs cannot protect themselves in the same way, so we have to take much more care of them.
One of the things that we should not do is shave the dog. Although we think that the fur can give it heat, especially in the case of Nordic dogs, it has a layer that insulates the skin, and that is totally necessary. Doing so leaves them exposed to sunburn and an increase in their body temperature that can lead to heat stroke.
All the foot pads of dogs also suffer, so we must remember that they go barefoot. Avoid hot surfaces to walk on, such as asphalt or tiles in full sun, as they can burn and damage them. Imagine if we have to walk barefoot on the ground, because the same thing happens to them.
On the other hand, it is better avoid the hottest hours. They can damage the eyes if they are very light, and they can also suffer from heat strokes and burns to the paws. On those days, the best thing is to take them for a walk in the morning and at night, when they can enjoy without having a bad time, or take them to bathe in a beach for dogs.