Keep your pets nice and cool in the Yucatán heat

As temperatures begin to rise in Yucatán, we all know how to keep ourselves cool. But how about our pets?

Some easy tips:

• Make sure clean water is always available for your animals.

• Offer them a bottle of frozen water to rub up with.

• Place wet towels on the ground for your pet to lay on. This is especially important for elderly and very young dogs. 

• Ensure your pet has access to well-ventilated and shady areas of the house or garden. 

• Keep from feeding your pets or taking them out for walks during the hottest times of the day — usually from noon to 4 p.m.

• When going for a drive, make sure to bring some towels, water and ice cubes.

• If you have a sprinkler, let your dogs run through it for a while. If not, offer up a refreshing shower with your hose. You may also want to inflate a small paddling pool for them.

• On particularly hot days, especially during the dry season, leave out bowls of clean water on your sidewalk for others animals or strays. Your neighborhood birds will also likely appreciate this gesture.