☀️ The Sun, the Potholes & the Pets

(Why this week’s newsletter is fashionably late… and fabulously useful.)

Yesterday was supposed to be a quick community mission — patch a few potholes, high-five the neighbours, head home before the sun noticed us.
But oh no.

The sun noticed.

By 11am it felt like we were standing on a stove plate waiting for someone to flip us like wors. Personalities were changing, tempers were simmering, and even the tar looked like it wanted to resign. Somewhere between “just one more pothole” and “please take me indoors,” we were reminded of something important:

If the heat can flatten us humans… what is it doing to our pets?

Because while we can gulp cold water, hide in the shade, or throw ourselves dramatically onto the couch, our animals often keep pushing until they’re in real trouble.

So today’s story — late but full of love — is all about helping your pets survive the kind of heat that almost cooked us yesterday.

🌿 What the Heat Does to Animals (in real life, not textbooks)

Heat doesn’t just make animals tired — it changes how their bodies work.
Dogs start panting like they’re practicing for a marathon they never entered.
Cats retreat under cars or behind furniture, annoyed that summer exists.
Horses stand in patches of shade so small they look like they’re hoping for a miracle.

In extreme heat, their bodies fight to stay cool, losing water and minerals faster than usual. That’s when dehydration sneaks in, skin irritation flares, hooves dry out, and insects suddenly think it’s their time to shine.

And because they can’t tell us, we have to notice the small things — the slower walk, the heavier breathing, the way a dog suddenly prefers lying on tiles instead of your lap.

🌿 Nature’s Helpers: Herbs & Oils for Hot Days

This is where our favourite thing comes in:
plants that rescue pets when the weather gets dramatic.

A few summer heroes:

Rooibos

Soft on the stomach, great for hydration, full of minerals. A splash in water bowls or troughs gives a gentle immune boost and helps pets stay balanced.

Chamomile

When the heat makes animals edgy or restless, chamomile is nature’s calm button. Perfect for sensitive horses and anxious pups.

Peppermint Essential Oil (diffused, never on skin!)

Cools the air, helps horses and pets breathe easier, and keeps flies guessing. A few drops in a stable or room diffuser is enough — animals are more sensitive than we are.

Lavender

Heat + irritation = unhappy animals. Lavender helps ease restlessness, supports calming, and softens heat-triggered discomfort.
It’s also the one scent that makes even the grumpiest afternoon heat feel gentler.

Aloe & Calendula (in salves or sprays)

For pets that get redness, hot spots, or irritated skin during hot weather, these two herbs are summer gold. They cool, soothe, and help skin recover from heat-stress irritation.

Turmeric

Heat inflammation? Turmeric has entered the chat. It helps support joints and reduces heat-triggered stiffness in older pets — horses especially.

🐾 Keeping Pets Cool

Heat safety isn’t about rules — it’s about noticing moments.
Like the dog that runs full speed after a ball… then suddenly slows down a little too quickly.
Or the horse that usually grazes happily but now chooses a shady corner and barely moves.
Or the cat that starts panting — something cats should never do unless they’re overwhelmed.

Those tiny signs?
That’s their silent way of saying, “Hey… it’s getting too hot for me.”

So offer the things that helped us yesterday:

Cool water — often.
A place to rest — preferably not in direct sunlight.
Ice treats (they think it’s a gift; we know it’s a hydration strategy).
A sprinkle of rooibos in the bowl for those needing an extra push.
A drop of lavender on a cloth near where they rest.
Cooling down hooves or paws with a gentle rinse when the ground starts burning.

Animals feel heat with more intensity than we realise. If tar can soften under our feet… imagine paws and frogs.

☀️ What Yesterday Taught Us

The potholes are patched.
The community showed up.
And the sun?
Well… it definitely showed up too.

But walking (stumbling) away from that heat reminded us exactly why we do these newsletters:

Because whether it’s people fixing roads or pets trying to survive summer, everyone needs a little support when the weather gets dramatic.

This week, let’s keep a closer eye on our animals.
Let’s use nature’s herbs and gentle oils to help them cope.
And let’s promise not to underestimate the sun again — it clearly has a personality of its own.

Stay cool, stay kind, and give your furkids an extra sip of water from us.
— Houndware 💚🐾