Heat, humidity and sultry weather are constant companions in summer, but they are certainly not ideal conditions for our four-legged friends, especially if they are forced to live in the city, amid concrete and busy streets. Even from the perspective of daily nutrition, the summer months call for some reflection. A few essential adjustments will indeed be necessary to ensure the wellbeing and health of our household animals while they wait for autumn to arrive. Without forgetting that, sometimes, scorching heat can also help four-legged companions to start a diet and finally shed the extra kilos accumulated over winter.

Hydration is the first step in summer

In summer it is essential to ensure our animals are properly hydrated. "Water is the most important nutrient for animal life and maintaining correct hydration," explains Dr Barbara Tonini, a veterinary surgeon with a PhD in dog and cat nutrition. "It is fundamental for maintaining good health. Our four-legged companions' bodies are, just as with us humans, made up of approximately 60–80 per cent water, and this percentage varies depending on the species, body condition and age."

When it comes to dehydration in summer, there are also particularly at-risk categories. "These are puppies," Dr Tonini continues, "and elderly animals. Overweight dogs and cats can also have problems in this regard, as can those suffering from particular conditions or disorders that lead to increased fluid loss (diarrhoea, chronic kidney disease in cats, kidney and liver conditions)." But it should not be forgotten that in the summer period, when the ambient temperature becomes high, this list grows longer because all individuals who do not take in an adequate amount of water become "vulnerable".

How much water dogs and cats should drink: tips for keeping them well

How can we increase water intake in our four-legged friends during the summer period? "It is a good idea to always leave fresh water available (there are also very handy travel bowls and bottles); to use running-water fountains, especially for cats (felines, in fact, are not in the habit of drinking and are often at risk of dehydration in summer); to give wet food or dry food enriched with water or broth to at-risk individuals during summer," Tonini continues.

Another useful tip for keeping our four-legged friends hydrated in hot weather is to prepare a meat or fish broth so as to make the water in their bowl flavoured. This encourages water intake especially in those less inclined to drink. "My advice is to freeze some of the prepared broth in ice-cube trays: it is a practical, quick alternative to always have flavoured water on hand and to be able to persuade the household kitten or puppy to drink."

A natural supplement for the daily bowl

"In summer, to help dogs and cats cope with the heat and humidity," says Dr Laura Cutullo, a veterinary surgeon specialising in flower therapy, "you can add four drops of the following flowers to their daily food bowl or drinking-water bowl: the Californian Dill and the classic Bach flowers Beech and Olive, which help the body to overcome exhaustion and become more vital."

In her book Cure Naturali e Alimentazione per gli animali di casa, Cutullo also recommends a nettle decoction (noting that not all four-legged animals enjoy its aroma), using the fresh tips of the plant, which are capable of quickly replenishing the loss of mineral salts caused by the sultry heat.

"Another source of energy," Dr Cutullo continues, "is aloe. Because of the torrid climate, our four-legged friends often tend to eat little or, indeed, to skip meals altogether. Aloe is able to supply the precious substances that are lacking due to poor food intake. As well as having an immunostimulant action, it contains vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Unfortunately it does not taste good and animals do not like it. It should therefore be avoided in the food bowl, but this can be worked around by administering it with a dropper or a syringe directly into the mouth. The dosage is half a teaspoon for a cat or a small dog, rising to a tablespoon for a large dog."

Adding a little rosemary decoction to the evening bowl can instead help an elderly dog to regain vitality. "And the decoction also becomes an excellent tonic for a tired liver," adds Dr Maria Mayer, veterinary surgeon and homoeopath.

When summer rhymes with diet

Obesity, as in humans, is also the most common nutritional disorder in the pet world. "The prevalence is estimated at around 22 per cent of obese dogs," says Barbara Tonini, "rising to 45 per cent in cats. The health consequences of being overweight are numerous and, in addition to a reduction in life expectancy, there can also be a higher incidence of diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, pancreatitis and, not least, tumours."

With the heat and humidity, aided by a necessary reduction in physical activity and a reduced appetite, it is possible to try to help dogs and cats lose weight naturally. How? "First of all, in hot and sultry weather, let us cut out snacks, between-meal treats, or titbits coming directly from the human table entirely," Tonini continues.

We can very effectively replace them with fresh fruit (carrot cut into pieces, raw or cooked according to taste, apple, melon and other seasonal fruit). "I have found that a properly balanced home-cooked diet," the expert concludes, "with a higher protein concentration and high fibre content, satisfies without causing the frustration that leads many individuals to beg insistently or steal our food or that of other animals. Exactly as it is for us, losing weight is not always an epic undertaking but, with the right awareness, it is possible to achieve excellent results without great sacrifice or suffering. Moreover, this type of diet is practically perfect for the hottest months of the year."

Every cloud has a silver lining, one might say, if heat and humidity can help our small companions in life to achieve perfect shape ahead of autumn.