{"id":39159,"date":"2025-07-08T09:12:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T08:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/?p=39159"},"modified":"2026-02-05T10:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:36:16","slug":"summer-hydration-guide-for-dogs-and-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/summer-hydration-guide-for-dogs-and-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Hydration Guide for Dogs and Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Why is hydration so important for dogs and cats in summer?<\/strong> Summer brings high temperatures, long days and greater sun exposure. Just like humans, pets need to drink more and stay cool. Hydration isn\u2019t a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a vital need. Dogs and cats regulate their body temperature differently from humans. Dogs pant to release heat, while cats look for cool spots to rest. Both rely heavily on water to stay thermally balanced. We\u2019re not just talking about a water bowl\u2014we\u2019re talking about habits, routines and daily actions that can make the difference between a hot day and a veterinary emergency due to dehydration or heatstroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is your pet well hydrated?<\/strong> Here are some simple methods you can use at home to check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Skin pinch test<\/strong>: Gently lift the skin between the shoulder blades. If it snaps back quickly, they\u2019re hydrated. If not, it may signal dehydration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Moist gums<\/strong>: Healthy gums should be pink and moist. Dry or sticky gums are a warning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Behavior<\/strong>: A pet that\u2019s lethargic, less playful or avoids movement may be dehydrated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Urination frequency<\/strong>: Less frequent urination or dark-colored urine may signal insufficient hydration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Warning signs of dehydration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Excessive panting or thick saliva<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dry tongue or gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunken eyes or dull expression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of appetite<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weakness or lethargy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mild fever (in some cases)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Practical tips to keep your pet hydrated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always offer fresh, clean water and replace it often<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place multiple water stations around the house and garden<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use large, accessible bowls so your pet drinks comfortably<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add ice cubes\u2014they\u2019re refreshing and many pets enjoy licking them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mist gently with water to cool them down without a full bath<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fresh, accessible, and appealing water<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid metallic bowls in direct sun\u2014they heat up quickly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use ceramic or stainless steel bowls to keep water cooler<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t place the bowl near dry food if the area gets too hot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring a portable bowl when traveling\u2014foldable options are ideal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How much water do they need?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dogs: 50\u201370 ml per kg of weight per day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cats: 40\u201360 ml per kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pets that eat dry food need even more water. Wet food can help, like Picart\u2019s Select wet food range, but <strong>access to fresh water must always be available<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Preventing heatstroke<\/strong> Heatstroke is a serious emergency. Watch for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rapid breathing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of coordination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vomiting or diarrhea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pale or bluish gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collapse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Prevent heatstroke with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No walks in peak sun hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Never leave pets in enclosed cars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide real shade and airflow<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use cooling mats or wet towels for resting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tips for hot regions and travel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bring water for journeys\u2014thermos bottles with bowls are ideal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shift outings to early morning or late evening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cool their paws and belly with water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take frequent breaks during long travel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid hot asphalt\u2014it can burn their paw pads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Picart solutions to boost hydration in summer<\/strong> In addition to fresh water, high-quality food plays a key role. Picart Petcare offers wet food options to help maintain hydration during hot periods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udc36<a href=\"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/product\/select-dog-adult-cans-400-g-copia\/\"> Select Dog Adult Wet \u2013 400 g<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udc31 <a href=\"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/product\/select-cat-wet-adult-latas-para-gatos\/\">Select Cat Wet Adult<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udc31 <a href=\"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/product\/select-cat-wet-food-kitten\/\">Select Cat Wet Kitten<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udc31 Select Cat Wet Sterilised<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hydration routine to protect their health<\/strong> Summer can be full of memorable moments\u2014but it also brings responsibility. Hydration is about safety, not just comfort. Pay close attention to their needs, adjust routines, and take small steps that make a big difference. Keep water cool, offer it frequently, and adapt your home and habits to the heat. This summer, care for them like never before. <strong>They deserve it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is hydration so important for dogs and cats in summer? Summer brings high temperatures, long days and greater sun exposure. Just like humans, pets need to drink more and stay cool. Hydration isn\u2019t a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a vital need. Dogs and cats regulate their body temperature differently from humans. Dogs pant to release heat, while [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categorizar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45116,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39159\/revisions\/45116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picartpetcare.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}