Beat the Texas Heat: Summer Animal Care Essentials

When you live in Texas, you know summers aren’t just hot — they’re Texas hot. It’s the kind of heat that makes you think twice before stepping out onto the porch after 10 a.m. And if it feels rough to us, imagine how our livestock, pets, and even the wildlife are handling it.

At Walker’s Feed & Farm Supply, we know how much you care about your animals. So we’ve put together some neighborly advice to help you get them through another long Texas summer safe, healthy, and as comfortable as can be.

Hydration is Life

It may sound obvious, but water is everything during the summer. Make sure you’re checking water troughs and buckets multiple times a day — not just to see if they’re full, but to make sure the water’s clean and cool. Metal troughs can heat up fast under the sun, so placing them in shaded areas makes a big difference.

For livestock, you might want to consider adding electrolytes to their water to replace what they lose when they’re sweating it out — yes, cows sweat too!

Find the Shade

Shade is about more than comfort; it’s survival. If you don’t have natural shade trees, think about setting up tarps, shade cloths, or even temporary lean-to shelters. Even a simple setup can lower the ambient temperature by 10–15 degrees — enough to help prevent heat stress in cattle, goats, horses, and chickens.

Know the Signs of Heat Stress

Animals don’t sweat and cool off the same way we do, and by the time they’re visibly struggling, it can get serious fast. Watch for signs like heavy panting, drooling, unsteady movement, or lack of appetite. If you see anything off, move the animal to a cooler, shaded area immediately, and offer cool (but not icy) water.

Summer Means More Pests

Hot weather doesn’t just make us uncomfortable — it stirs up all kinds of unwanted guests. Flies, mosquitoes, rodents, and even snakes are more active this time of year, looking for water, food, and shelter.

To help with rodent control, we carry Tomcat® Liquid Concentrate — a clever option because even when food is plentiful, rats and mice still need water. It’s easy to mix and place near known rodent hideouts.

As for snakes, Snake-A-Way® and Snake Stopper® are trusted by folks around here to help keep rattlers and other snakes at bay — and it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your family and animals.

Final Tip: Check on Them Often

Even if you’ve done everything right, nothing beats a quick daily walk through the barn, pasture, or coop to make sure your animals are holding up. Those few extra minutes might make all the difference on a 105° day.

If you need any supplies or just some good old-fashioned advice, come on by Walker’s Feed & Farm Supply. We’re happy to help you and your animals get through the summer safely — like good neighbors do.