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Water - - Don't Leave Home Without It

Prevent Dehydration & Heatstroke While on the Road

By , About.com Guide

I love seeing people out with their dogs in the nice weather. One pet peeve of mine, however, is seeing people out with their dogs on a warm day with no portable water! It is easy to forget; I forget to bring water for myself sometimes. But I know when I am thirsty and can usually pick up some water fairly easily. Dogs can't always do this. The Quick Tip for this article is to have a travel pet bowl stashed along with your "emergency" supply of fresh water to ensure that your pet has something to comfortably drink from.

With sudden changes in temperature, you may find your dog panting more than usual as s/he acclimates and not think "thirsty" at first. Dogs cannot shed layers quickly like humans can, and, if walking on surfaces such as blacktop pavement, may be experiencing hotter temperatures than you are several feet from the pavement.

As summer nears, I am extra careful to store several bottles of water in the back of the car for those times when I am in need of a quick drink of water -- both for people and pets! I should really have water available year round, but it is especially important in summer as the days are longer and activities are many.

Dogs, especially elderly and short-nosed ones, are sensitive to heat and may be more prone to heatstroke. Having fresh cool water available on demand is one way to reduce the risk of heat stroke. Here are some travel and collapsible pet bowl choices to fit your busy lifestyle. Have fun and stay cool this summer with your pets!

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