10 Tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool in Summer
With the mercury rising during this current heatwave, staying cool can feel like an uphill battle! But we humans aren’t the only ones who need relief from the blazing sun: our dogs do, too. Read on to learn 10 tips to help keep your pup cool during the dog days of summer.
1.
Provide
constant
access
to
cool,
fresh
water.
Check
your
dog’s
bowl
regularly
throughout
the
day
and
promptly
fill
it
up
with
water
when
it
gets
low.
Add
some
ice
cubes
to
keep
it
cool
and
refreshing.
When
you
take
your
pup
outside
for
long
walks,
bring
enough
water
to
last
the
entire
trip
and
a
portable,
collapsible
water
dish
so
he
doesn’t
overheat.
NOTE: While you definitely want your dog to stay well-hydrated, don’t give him too much water at once. Doing so could cause stomach upset and make him feel bloated. Offer small amounts of water every 15-20 minutes during activity, about 4-8 ounces of water at a time for small-medium size dogs. This ensures that the water fully absorbs and gets out of his stomach between drinks.
2.
Give
your
dog
cold
snacks.
Keep
your
dog
cool
with
DIY
frozen
dog
treats,
or
“pupsicles.”
Our
favorite
recipes
here
at
UltiMutt
Inn
are
low-calorie
mint
yogurt
pupsicles
and
carrot
watermelon
pupsicles.
Both
recipes
have
five
or
less
ingredients,
are
simple
and
cheap
to
make,
and
are
full
of
nutrients.
See
the
recipes
here!
3.
Get
wet!
Try
to
plan
outdoor
activities
so
that
your
pooch
can
enjoy
some
water
play,
whether
it’s
swimming
in
a
pool,
diving
in
a
lake,
or
running
through
a
sprinkler.
Just
be
sure
to
dry
him
off
with
a
towel
after
he’s
done
playing.
NOTE: Test the temperature of bodies of water before your dog jumps in. Water that’s too cold can cause hypothermia.
4.
Maintain
good
air
circulation.
Hot,
stagnant
air
increases
the
chances
of
dehydration,
fatigue,
and
heatstroke.
Keep
the
air
conditioning
at
a
reasonable
temperature,
ideally
between
72°F
and
78°F.
If
you
don’t
have
central
air,
use
fans
to
boost
the
effectiveness
of
window
AC
units.
NOTE: Keep your dog out of conservatories, greenhouses, and even outdoor dog houses during the summer. These areas trap and magnify heat and lack cooling breezes or adequate airflow.
5.
NEVER
leave
your
dog
in
a
parked
car.
Even
on
milder
summer
days,
temperatures
inside
cars
can
rise
to
dangerous,
life-threatening
levels
within
just
15
minutes.
According
to
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention
(CDC),
“cars
parked
in
direct
sunlight
can
reach
internal
temperatures
up
to
131°F
to
172°F
when
it’s
80°F
to
100°F
outside.”
Leaving
the
windows
cracked
open
doesn’t
help
much,
either.
So
if
you
decide
to
take
your
dog
in
the
car,
avoid
long
journeys,
keep
the
AC
on,
bring
water,
and
take
regular
breaks
for
fresh
air.
Overheating
combined
with
anxiety
from
car
travel
can
be
enough
to
send
your
dog
over
the
edge.
6.
Provide
constant
access
to
shade.
Trees,
park
pavilions,
and
awnings
are
great
sources
of
shade.
If
there
are
no
naturally
occurring
shaded
spots
in
your
yard,
create
one
by
stringing
up
a
tarp,
cloth,
or
piece
of
cardboard
over
an
area
to
block
sunlight.
Use
shade
screens
in
your
windows
or
insulating
drapes
to
help
keep
the
inside
of
your
house
cool
on
especially
toasty
days.
7.
Avoid
midday
heat.
Contrary
to
popular
belief,
12pm
is
not
the
hottest
part
of
the
day.
Temperatures
tend
to
peak
in
the
late
afternoon,
between
3pm
and
4:30pm.
A
mild,
overcast
day
with
low
humidity
might
be
okay
for
midday
physical
activity
with
your
pup.
But
if
it’s
sunny,
80°F,
and
humid,
then
it’s
best
to
limit
exercise
to
early-mid
morning
or
in
the
evening
after
about
5pm.
8.
Prevent
sunburn.
Dogs
have
a
layer
of
fur
to
protect
their
skin,
so
they
can’t
get
sunburnt
like
humans,
right?
Wrong!
Dogs
are
still
susceptible
to
sunburn,
especially
those
with
white
fur.
Sunburn
can
cause
painful
sores
and
blisters
and
long-term
exposure
to
harmful
rays
can
even
lead
to
skin
cancers.
Prevent
your
dog
from
suffering
sunburn
by
applying
pet
sunscreen
to
hairless
areas
like
his
nose
and
the
tips
of
his
ears.
It’s
also
wise
to
keep
white-faced
dogs
indoors
during
the
midday
heat.
9.
Resist
the
urge
to
shave
your
dog.
If
your
furry
friend
has
a
thick,
fluffy
coat—like
mastiffs,
huskies,
or
terrier
breeds—you
might
be
tempted
to
give
him
a
serious
buzz
cut
in
an
effort
to
help
keep
him
cool.
But
before
you
break
out
the
grooming
tools,
you
should
know
that
your
dog’s
fur
coat
provides
him
with
natural
insulation
and
sun
protection.
Shaving
your
dog’s
fur
robs
him
of
this
natural
cooling
system
and
exposes
his
skin
to
damaging
rays,
which
can
lead
to
discomfort,
overheating,
and
sunburn—the
exact
opposite
of
what
you’re
trying
to
accomplish!
And
because
the
longer
guard
hairs
grow
at
a
different
rate
than
the
inner
insulation
hairs,
it
can
take
years
for
some
dogs
to
regain
their
natural
appearance
after
being
shaved.
While it’s okay to give your long-haired dog a “summer trim” to make his coat more manageable, it’s best to leave the haircutting to a professional dog groomer. Never shave down to the skin or try to cut the hair yourself with scissors!
NOTE: Keep in mind that dogs with thick fur naturally shed to have lighter coats in the summer, so make sure you regularly brush your pup’s fur and bathe him frequently to remove loose fluff.
10.
Check
the
pavement.
If
the
weather
is
blistering
hot,
chances
are
the
pavement
is
too.
In
direct
sun,
asphalt
and
tarmac
can
get
extremely
hot.
While
we
humans
can
wear
shoes
to
protect
our
feet,
dogs’
foot
pads
are
exposed
while
walking
and
are
more
sensitive
to
hot
surfaces.
So
check
the
temperature
of
the
pavement
before
you
take
your
dog
outside
by
placing
your
hand
on
the
surface.
If
it’s
too
hot
for
your
hand,
it’s
too
hot
for
your
dog’s
feet.
In
that
case,
stick
to
dirt
trails
and
grass
to
avoid
burning
your
pup’s
foot
pads.
NOTE: Another option is to consider putting booties on your dog’s feet to insulate their foot pads against the hot pavement. However, if the booties get hot as well, then it will just cause a problem anyway.
Know Your Dog’s Sensitivity to Heat
Overall, most dogs can tolerate the hot summer months just fine with proper hydration, sun protection, and frequent breaks from the heat throughout the day. But it’s important to know that not all breeds can handle the same amount of heat or humidity.
Dogs with thin, short coats—such as beagles, Chihuahuas, and Dalmatians—do best in the heat. Some breeds, such as basenjis, originate from hot climates and are born ready to face hot weather. High-speed hounds like greyhounds and whippets have long snouts that cool the air they inhale and large lungs and hearts that distribute oxygen through their bodies more efficiently.
Dogs that have thick coats and short noses, on the other hand, are not built to withstand a heatwave or high humidity. Snub-nosed dogs with broad, short skulls—such as bulldogs, pugs, and Boston terriers—have a more difficult time regulating their body temperature because of their shorter nasal passages. You should also take special care if your dog is a giant breed, elderly, obese, or diabetic.
Know the Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs
Heatstroke can be life-threatening or even fatal if gone unnoticed and left untreated. Below are some signs that indicate your dog is overheated.
- Raised temperature (over 104°F)
- Rapid breathing and panting
- Excessive salivating and thickened saliva
- Drooping ears and tail
- Fatigue
- Muscle tremors
- Staggering and disorientation
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Seizures
If you notice any of these symptoms in your pup, get him into a cooler environment as soon as possible. Wrap him in cold, wet towels or spray him with cold water on his chest, underarm, belly, and groin areas. Make sure he has cool, fresh water available but don’t force him to drink. Rinse his mouth with water to wash away thickened saliva and aid his internal cooling system to work more efficiently. You can also use fans to assist the cooling process.
Check your dog’s temperature every five minutes and stop the cooling treatment once his temperature is down to 103°F. Cooling your dog too rapidly can cause him to go into shock. If your dog’s temperature stays elevated and the symptoms of heatstroke don’t subside despite your efforts to cool him down, contact your vet immediately for further instructions. Your vet may need to push IV fluids if your dog is dehydrated.
Many signs of heatstroke may not appear for several days, so be on the lookout even while your dog is resting inside. Prompt veterinary intervention can prevent or treat some of the complications of heatstroke and help your pup recover more quickly.
Helpful Products Designed to Keep your Dog Cool
For even more ways to cool down your pup, here’s a list of some great products to try!
- Cooling dog bowl
- Cooling dog vest
- Dog pool float
- Freezable dog toys
- Dog water fountain
- Cooling dog bed or crate pad
- Dog swimming pool
We hope you find these tips and tricks helpful in keeping your dog cool, healthy, and happy this summer!