While humans often enjoy spending time in the sun, a heatwave can be dangerous for dogs, so it is important to ensure your pet is staying cool throughout the summer.
Man’s best friend can’t keep up with the hotter temperatures like we do, and overheating can lead to serious health problems for pups. This clever ice water bowl will keep your dog cool and hydrated during warm weather, and the TikTok-famous hack can be easily recreated in four simple steps.
Clever ice water bowl hack takes 4 simple steps
Water is essential in keeping your dog hydrated and to stop them from overheating.
Furry friends release heat from their bodies differently from their owners. Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin.
Instead, dogs rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and noses to regulate their body temperature. Blue Cross reports on the dangers of heatstroke for dogs, stating if dogs cannot cool down, they are at risk of quickly developing heatstroke.
A viral TikTok video shared by @angelinna.r shows a clever way to keep your canine cool by creating an ice water dog bowl.
Start by filling a regular dog bowl with your choice of ingredients. The TikTok creator used fresh fruit including strawberries and blueberries.
Make sure your fruits are dog-suitable. Remember that many parts of the cherry plant, including stems, leaves, and pit, contain toxic cyanide. Grapes (including raisins, sultanas, and currants) are some of the most dangerous fruits for dogs.
Alternatively, you can add pieces of treats or carrots, whatever types of food your dog loves that’s safe.
Next, place a regular-sized bowl into the dog bowl and fill the outside with more fruit. Now, fill the dog bowl with water and leave it in the freezer overnight. Once the water has frozen around the shape of the bowls, remove both of the bowls. You can either fill the bowl with water for your dog to drink or serve it as a treat for your pet to lick.
Extra tips for doggy treats during the summer
If your dog grows bored of treats fast, and you’re worried the ice water hack will melt super quickly and go to waste in the sun, pet owners have provided some extra tips.
In the comment section of the viral pet hack video, a user named @makenzie marine suggested that using chicken stock or bone broth instead of water helps prevent the dog from losing interest quickly.
Another user recommended putting the ice water bowl on a plate, so the dog can use both, this way it doesn’t matter if the bowl melts.
For those curious about possible concerns with dogs drinking cold water, there is no evidence that cold water, ice cubes, or ice water on their own are bad for dogs. In fact, the real issue isn’t about temperature at all. It’s about speed…
As stated by The Dog People on Rover, while the temperature of the water isn’t important, it can be dangerous for your dog to drink water too quickly. This is because rapid water intake can cause dogs to swallow a lot of air in the process. In turn, this could lead to bloating in your pet.
If you’re planning on walking dogs in hot weather, it’s generally safe in temperatures of up to 19°C (68°F) but be careful when the mercury rises above this. Even at temperatures as low as 20°C (70°F) dogs are at risk of heat stroke, according to Vets Now.
