Right now B.C. is in the middle of a heat wave, it's so hot we're expected to break temperature records! I've been doing my best to keep Boone cool, giving him cool showers/baths, constant supply of cold water, etc. I think that he may be drinking more than he's eating, because he had diarrhea this morning.
What else can I do to keep him cool and energetic? And any suggestions on what to do if he starts to eat less due to the heat? Presently, he eats the majority of his food at night and I've been waking up earlier to feed him.

I sweat bullets at night because I've given him my fan lol

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You can freeze milk jugs with water or other large plastic containers with lids. Leave a couple inches at the top for expansion in the freezer. Then you can lay them in his crate or around his bed. The fan will blow the cool evaporated air on him, or he can lick the condensation off them or even lay next to them if he wants.

Keep the house dark. Close all the blinds so no sun comes in. That helps keeps the house cooler.

Fans are good. You can give him pieces of ice to lick/play with.

If he gets overheated or is panting alot, cool him off with a cool (not cold) washcloth to his neck, armpits, and stomach and groin. Just sponge him off in those areas. You can also sponge off his paws.

It's hot here too and humid. I feel your pain! Luckily we have air conditioning and keep the house pretty cool but it's torture to go outside.

Brodysmom

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"Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way.....
but you can never say again that you did not know." William Wilberforce 1759-1833

lol yea i pretty much do all of that !

mine have a fan i turn on durning the day when they want to come in, Mine like to stay out side so i freeze a water dish and then put it out side for them and add water.

They lay under the tables when they are outside to keep cool but they stay out till i make them come in.

Korbin and Bleu can only stay out about 10-20mins and i went them down before i let them out so they can be cool then run around and dry off.

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Ask your vet about giving him a sports drink along with his water. It should help him recover better from the heat. Also, I have seen beds called Coolbeds. They are a gel filled cushion for the dog to lay on. You fill it with cold water and it helps keep the dog cool, kind of like a water bottle. In fact, I'd try a water bottle, or some of those instant cold packs used for first aid. Just wrap them with a layer or two of fabric so they aren't too cold. Remember, cool air goes down so if you are using blocks of frozen ice, a good place to set them is at the top of their kennel or whereever they are sleeping.

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A big thank you to the very talented Terri for my new siggy. They look great in purple.

I hate the heat, which is ironic seeing as how I live in a state where summer lasts 9 months out of the year. Luckily, we have air conditioning...not really an option here. I second the frozen milk jug suggestion. Maybe even add the fan to it to create your own little "air conditioner."

My chis love the heat, but I've noticed the girls (with their coloring) have a lower tolerance for it than Boo. Even petting them, I notice that Boo, with his light tan color, barely registers as warm whereas the girls (black and brown) get very hot after just a little while in the sun.

Another thing that might work is if you put a small sheet or blanket in the freezer and then place it either in the bed or in the bed with a light sheet over it so it won't be too cold.

Is there anyway you could get a window unit? I don't know how reasonable that would be...if this weather is just a fluke for you or if this is a yearly thing, but I once had a window unit when my central went down for the count, and it was nice to have at least a room to retreat to when the heat got unbearable.

The girls have had diarrhea from the heat before, and I've also noticed that whenever we go outside, after about five min. they're hopping from one shaded spot to the next. Tilly just runs straight for our outdoor carport and sits. LOL

Sympathy and Empathy from South Georgia.

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Thank you all for your suggestions, they really helped during the heat! I'm happy to say that the heat wave has passed . And that Boone isn't afraid of ice anymore! LOL

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So what did you find that seemed to work the best for you? This summer I've really not had any days to worry about, but I was wondering how the sheet in the freezer worked.

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A big thank you to the very talented Terri for my new siggy. They look great in purple.

Go buy a couple pieces of marble tile, sure they aren't cheap.. but see if they have broken ones in the back. Put them in the freezer over night, and then lay them around the house for him! The marble holds the cool SO WELL! We have two that we alternate when it's way too hot out.

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Kelly - Betty, Goose & Oona (foster)

Thanks Sugarbaby!