Dog Days of Summer

Ever wonder where the term “Dog Days of Summer” camefrom?  This came from the ancient Roman& Greek belief that Sirius aka “The Dogs Star” was the cause of hotweather.    Sirius is the brightest star inthe sky and is part of the constellation Canis Major.  It was thought that because it was so brightthat it must give off heat like the sun.  In Ancient Rome during the “Dog Days of Summer”, Sirius rose and set inthe sky with the sun so that assumption was that it was adding to the heat ofthe day.  This of course was is not thecase and in fact no longer coincides with the sun rising and setting.
A couple quick simple things to remember on those hot daysto keep your dog safe:
1.      Do NOT leave your dog in a hot car.  Temperatures rise quickly and are dangerousto your pup, if not deadly.  On an 85degree day it only takes 10 minutes for the temperature in your car to reach102 degrees.
2.      Keep your dog hydrated – make sure that there isfresh water available to your dog at all times and watch for signs ofdehydration.
3.      Watch for signs of dehydration
4.      Walk your dogs in the early morning or eveningafter the sun has gone down.  The hot asphaltcan burn the pads on their paws.  If itis too hot for you to walk barefoot – it is too hot for them!
5.      If your dog is outside – make sure that there isplenty of shade or shelter so that they can escape the sun.
6.      The heat is a great opportunity for your dog togoing swimming.  Always be sure toprovide supervision to prevent injury.




Credit: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Days
http://wilstar.com/dogdays.htmhttp://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/hot-weather-tips.aspx