ITV's Dr Scott Miller has shared a 60p sardine water hack that may help dogs stay hydrated and cool during hot weather. The UK has experienced heatwave conditions this summer, with temperatures reaching 37.7C so far this year.
Simple Tip to Encourage Drinking
Appearing on ITV, Dr Miller discussed a tip he discovered on Instagram from a user named Gaia, who posts under the handle DAFY (Dog Advice For You). He said: "This is a nutritionist called Gaia who's come through with a technique which is basically to try and encourage your pet to drink more water."
The hack involves adding a teaspoon of sardine water to a dog's water bowl or mixing it with water in a bottle before pouring it into the bowl. Dr Miller explained: "It's a great way to encourage your dog to then drink that little bit more. Because they cool by evaporative cooling, by panting, you need them to drink more because they're losing so much moisture at the moment."
Dehydration Concerns
Dr Miller noted: "I'm seeing a lot of dehydrated pets coming into the practice, particularly older animals, they're really struggling in this heat." He also shared his own version of the hack for his dog Mango, making ice cubes from chicken stock with a bit of electrolytes for taste.
Pavement Test for Safety
Earlier this year, Vets Now revealed a seven-second pavement test for owners to check if it's safe to walk their dogs. They advised placing the back of a hand on the pavement for seven seconds; if it's too hot to hold, it's too hot for a dog's paws.
