For those of us with pets, we have to worry about both our furry friends and ourselves when it comes to fun in the sun. Overheating, dehydration and, yes, even sunburn can affect our furry friends in the warmer months. Here are just a few ways you can help keep your furever friends safe this summer: HYDRATION STATION Make sure your cat or dog has cool fresh water at all times. Add ice cubes to the water or even give them to your pets as a fun, cool treat on hot days or after a few minutes in the sun. If your pup is especially fond of crunching ice cubes, try freezing pet-friendly fruits and veggies in the cubes. Produce such as blueberries, apples, bananas, cucumbers and raspberries make great frozen treats for summer-loving pups. DON’T INVITE THEM TO THE BARBECUE Although most of us treat our pets like family, it’s best to leave them off the guestlist for any barbecues or cookouts you may host this summer. Most foods found in traditional cookout spreads are poisonous to dogs and cats, leading to an unpleasant end of the merriment. The following products are extremely poisonous to pets: raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, and sugar-free gum, candies and baked goods with the artificial sweetener Xylitol, also known as Birch Sugar.
Staying motivated and adhering to a regular fitness routine can become more challenging in the hot Florida summer months. Aside from lethargy and a lack of desire to exercise in steamy conditions, there are health concerns related to physical activity and heat. If you typically exercise or engage in physical activities outdoors, precautions should be taken to guard against the effects of the heat and humidity. Heat-related illness is no joke. Dehydration, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can cause a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to a downright medical emergency. According to an article by the Mayo Clinic, the skin, blood vessels and perspiration levels typically adjust to an increase in the body’s core temperature. However, these natural cooling systems can fail when exposed to high temperatures and humidity for a prolonged period, particularly if you are sweating heavily or if you don't drink enough fluids. Having taught aquatic fitness for the past 20 years on miserably hot pool decks, indoors and outdoors, I can attest to the serious side effects of getting overheated. Morning classes would pretty much take me out for the rest of the day due to headaches, fatigue and brain fog. Over the years, I learned
Lifestyles After 50 • June 2022 • 10
THE NEXT MEOWCHAEL PHELPS If your pet likes to swim (please take a picture and send it to us as a Cutest Pet entry!), be sure to closely monitor their pool time. Once they’re done swimming and out of the pool or lake, be sure to give them a thorough bath soon after. This ensures that pool chemicals such as chlorine won’t sit on their skin and provoke any rashlike conditions or infections. BUG OFF! Just like humans, pets hate insects for many reasons. Not only can bugs be annoying, but they can also cause harm to your furry friend. Heartworm disease is more commonly seen in warmer weather. Easily transmitted through insect bites and/or contact with another infected animal, this disease inhibits proper pumping and functioning of the heart muscle and may cause heart failure if not treated. Have your pet checked and administer heartworm preventative. During the summer, it is important to regularly apply flea and tick prevention. Fleas and ticks can cause anemia, carry other harmful parasites, as well as carry other diseases such as Lyme Disease. Ask your veterinarian which product addresses the specific needs of your pet given its individual environment. our vision isn’t bothering you, you may want to hold off and monitor it.
some hacks for dealing with excessive heat and humidity: mainly hydration, hydration and more hydration, as well as appropriate clothing and activity moderation. Before heading outdoors for exercise, be aware of the conditions. If it is too hot and humid, choose an alternative fitness activity. Pool workouts are ideal for staying in shape during the hot summer months. The cooler temperatures of the water help keep the body’s core temperature lower during vigorous exercise, limiting sweating and overheating. However, it is still important to drink plenty of fluids. Not sure what to do in the pool for exercise? There is an app for that! The Poolfit Water Exercise App has over 130 pool workouts for all fitness levels, including HIIT, deep water, yoga, muscle conditioning and more. If apps or streaming websites aren’t your thing, stay fit and cool in the pool with some water walking, jogging or basic calisthenics. Mark Grevelding is the founder of PoolFit.tv, a fitness app and streaming website that includes over 130 water fitness workouts that include a wide variety of formats for all fitness levels. All workouts are led by highly qualified training specialists.
