Cherokee Animal Hospital

The outdoor heat doesn’t mean your dog has to stay bored indoors! With a little creativity, you can keep your pup cool, safe, and entertained even when temperatures climb.
Here are some easy ways to have fun with your dog in the heat:

💦 Set Up a Backyard Splash Zone
A kiddie pool, sprinkler, or hose can turn your backyard into a doggy water park. Many dogs love splashing around, chasing water streams, or just cooling their paws.

🧊 Make Frozen Treats
Freeze dog-safe snacks like peanut butter, bananas, blueberries, or broth into ice cube trays or lick mats. It keeps your dog mentally stimulated while helping them cool down.

🌅 Walk Early or Late
Skip the midday heat and head out during sunrise or after sunset. The pavement is cooler, the air is easier to breathe, and your dog will enjoy the walk much more.

🐾 Try Indoor Games
Hide treats around the house, practice new tricks, or create a mini obstacle course indoors. Mental exercise can tire dogs out just as much as physical activity.

The lepto vaccine helps protect dogs against leptospirosis, a serious disease spread through contaminated water, soil, and wildlife urine. Lepto can lead to severe kidney and liver damage and may also be passed to humans.

Schedule a visit with one of our doctors to chat about whether the lepto vaccine is right for your dog based on their lifestyle and risk factors. You can also find more information here: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/leptospirosis