How do you keep your dog cool as the temperatures rise?
Whewf! It’s hot here at Queens Of The Bone Age HQ and it looks as though the sunshine is here to stay! Here are some tips on keeping your favourite furry friend cool as the temperatures rise and what to do if you suspect your pup is overheating
As the hot weather continues, it is important to know that dogs are not able to cope with the heat as well as humans can. Even when the weather is just warm dogs can become overheated. This is especially true if they are exercising and running around.
Tips on keeping your doggo cool in hot weather:
- Ensure you pup has constant access to fresh drinking water
- Make sure they have access to a cool shady spot where they can chill out
- Instead of walking your dog in the heat of the day, take your dog on gentle walks early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler. Take regular breaks in the shade
- Spray your dog with cool water to help them cool down
- Restrict exercise on hot days
- Never leave your dog in a car, hot room or sun trap as this can be very dangerous. A lot of people think it's safe to leave a dog in the car if the windows are open or it is parked in the shade, but a car traps heat and sun and will quickly turn into an inferno for fluffy animals
As we know ourselves at Queens Of The Bone Age, some dogs are very high energy and require a LOT of stimulation. Restricting walks can feel cruel when your pup is climbing the walls. We recommend trying to use up your pup’s energy with other activities. For example you could hide their favourite treats for them to find. Use brain training activities to keep them mentally stimulated. Or use treats to encourage them to spend time in cool areas and shady spots in your garden.
What to do if you think your pup is getting too hot:
Your pooch’s regular body temperature should be around 38.5 degrees. In this hot weather even a small increase of 2 degrees to your dog’s body temperature can lead to heatstroke kicking in and at 43 degrees a dog’s organs begin to fail. Heatstroke occurs in dogs when they are unable to regulate their body temperature and in some cases this can be fatal.
Here are the signs of heatstroke in dogs, what you should do to avoid them and what you should do if you think your dog has heatstroke.
Signs of heatstroke in dogs:
- Eyes glassy eyes or a fearful expression
- Mouth heavy panting, excessive drooling, red or purple gums or tongue
- Legs collapsing or staggering
- Brain seizures
- Heart racing heart
- Body high body temperature, lethargy
Steps to take if you think your dog has heatstroke:
- Contact your vet straight away
- Move them somewhere cool
- If you can, place them on a cool, wet towel or cooling mat
- Offer small amounts of tepid water
- Gradually move cool water over their coat. Don’t use cold water as this can cause shock
- Place your pup in the breeze of a fan.
Other things to watch out for:
In the heat road surfaces, especially tarmac can become too hot for your dog’s paws. Walking on such hot surfaces could be very uncomfortable for your pet and even burn them. If the tarmac feels too hot for your hand, then chances are it is too hot for your pup’s paws too. Instead of walking on tarmac, take your dog for walks on shaded, grassy areas.
We hope you have found these tips helpful and feel confident to enjoy the summer safely with your favourite furry friend!