Hot Dogs in the Summer Time. Send yours to chill at Camp Bow Wow® Charlotte Metro

June 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Hot Dogs in the Summer Time. Send yours to chill at Camp Bow Wow® Charlotte Metro

Charlotte, NC: With the first real summer heat wave upon us, many local puppy parents find themselves at odds about the best way to care for their dogs during the dog days of summer. Those in the know enroll their beloved companions at Camp Bow Wow, the nation’s Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camps®, with the assurance that their pups will have a cool and doggone good time at the upscale digs for dogs.

“The old saying ‘summertime and the livin’ is easy’ doesn’t really apply to dog and puppy parents,” said James Daniel, co-owner of the new Camp Bow Wow at 4900 Chastain Avenue. “Most of us know that leaving a dog in a car alone on a hot day can be life-threatening. The same can apply when leaving your dog at home for the day. You have to make sure the air-conditioning is on. Dogs can develop heatstroke fairly quickly – even those who usually spend most of their time outside. A good rule of thumb is to let them play outside in the cool of the morning before bringing him/her inside to relax for the rest of the day in an air-conditioned space. Prolonged exposure to the heat and sun makes dogs especially vulnerable to heatstroke and bad cases of sunburn.”

“During the hot summer months, dogs need to stay hydrated by drinking more water than usual. Clean, pure water is essential to their health, so water bowls should be placed inside and out of the heat. But when your dog is home alone,” continued Patti, Daniel’s wife and co-owner of the Camp, “it’s hard to monitor their intake. At Camp, we make sure our bowls have plenty of clean water throughout the day and stay cool in our climate-controlled play yards. We even have fun bone-shaped pup pools for our Campers to play in at their leisure. Our Certified Camp Counselors® are trained to watch for signs of dehydration that include excessive panting, a rapid heartbeat and lethargy.” Canine Campers at Camp Bow Wow Charlotte Metro are under the constant supervision of Top Dogs James and Patti Daniel and their well-trained team of Certified Camp Counselors.

“There are a number of other factors that make hot summer weather dangerous for dogs. For instance, dog food – wet and dry – will spoil much faster than usual,” said Patti. “To avoid that, it’s a good idea to feed your dog inside during warm weather, and to toss out anything left uneaten to prevent harmful bacteria from growing in the food.”

“Most of us don’t think much about it, but dogs, like humans, are very susceptible to sunburn, especially if they have a light coat,” continued James Daniel. “Animal sunburns are just as uncomfortable as human sunburns, and just as harmful. Skin cancer in pets is quite prevalent, so puppy parents should apply pet-friendly sunscreen to their furry companions, just as they’d do for their human children.” Places that are prone to burning include the inside of the nostrils, tip of the nose, around the lips and inside the ears of dogs with standup ears.

Even if your pet likes to stay in the shade, he/she can get sick quickly on hot days. Because of the possibilities, many dog parents experience a subtle rise in their own anxiety levels, worrying about the dogs they’ve left at home. To ease their anxieties, many pet owners enroll their furry companions in Camp Bow Wow’s Day Camp so they’ll get the attention, exercise and socialization they need to remain happy and healthy, in an environment designed for their comfort. To further put their parents at ease, every Camp Bow Wow broadcasts real-time footage from live Camper Cams® installed around the facility. Clients can check in on their pup’s antics from 30 or 3,000 miles away by logging on to the Camp Bow Wow Charlotte Metro website or the Camp Bow Wow iPhone® app.

The first day is always free for new Campers to go through our interview process and anyone can stop in for a free tour.  For more information about enrolling your dog in summer Camp at Charlotte Metro Camp Bow Wow Doggy Day and Overnight Camp, 4900 Chastain Avenue, please call 704-527-DOGS (3647) or visit campbowwow.com/charlottemetro.