Grandma Poured a Cold Glass of Lemonade. Teddy Stationed Himself Right Below It.
It is a lazy afternoon on the wooden porch, and Dottie has wrapped herself in a soft moss-green cardigan, holding a tall glass of lemonade with a straw and taking a slow sip. Her eyes are lowered thoughtfully toward Teddy, who sits right in front of her chair, his fluffy face turned toward the viewer with a calm, slightly droopy-eyed look. Behind them, a patio chair holds a folded blanket, gardening gloves and pruning shears rest on a little table, and potted orange flowers brighten the deck. Leafy branches overhead keep the whole porch cool and shady.
Warm weather calls for extra care with short-nosed breeds like Shih Tzus. Their flat faces make it harder for them to cool themselves by panting, so they can overheat more quickly than dogs with longer muzzles. Shade, fresh cool water, and staying indoors during the hottest part of the day are simple ways to keep them comfortable. Signs of overheating include heavy panting, drooling, weakness, or seeming confused, and any of these is a reason to cool the dog down and call your vet. As for the lemonade, it is best kept for people. Citrus and added sugar are not good for dogs, and some drink mixes contain sweeteners like xylitol that are toxic to them.
Dottie has her lemonade and Teddy has the shade, which sounds like the perfect division of summer pleasures. Porch afternoons do not get much sweeter than this.
