What to be aware of and tips to help your dog stay cool in the summer heat.
We often speak about the dangers each season brings to your dog, and summer is no different! As the weather changes, we need to think about how this can affect our dogs and what we need to do to keep them safe. We associate summer with sunbathing, spending time with friends and family, swimming and going on holiday. It’s a time of year we all look forward to and our dogs get to enjoy it with us, but of course, as pet parents, we want to keep them safe and healthy during this time.
There's no need to worry; we've got you and your dog covered! Keep reading to find out what you should be aware of this summer.
How to tell if your dog is overheating
It's critical to recognise the signs of your dog overheating, as this can lead to heat stroke, which is the last thing you want this Summer! If you know what to look for, you can help your dog cool down before it suffers from heat stroke.
Signs of heat stroke:
Panting excessively
Drooling excessively
Drowsy or uncoordinated
Vomiting
Collapsing
What to do:
If your dog is suffering from heat stroke, you must lower their body temperature immediately, but you must do so gradually or they will go into shock. If your dog ever collapses in the Summer, call a vet immediately.
If not, this is what you can do:
Firstly, move your dog out of the sun and into a cool area with a breeze or, if possible, in front of a fan. Your dog needs to cool down, but how you do so is critical because you don't want them to go into shock. The temperature must be gradually reduced. I would recommend sprinkling them with small amounts of room temperature water. Continue doing this until their breathing returns to normal. Take care not to overdo it. You don't want them to get so cold that they start shivering.
Paw pads and hot surfaces
It's important to remember that the sun heats up surfaces and pavements, causing them to become hot and even burn your dog's paw pads. To avoid burnt paw pads, place your hand on the pavement you want to walk your dog on for five seconds. If your hand begins to burn or feels overheated, it is too hot for your dog's paws! If you are concerned that your dog's paws may have been burned while out walking, here are some warning signs to look out for.
Signs of burnt paw pads:
Limping or refusing to walk
Licking/chewing feet
Pads are a darker colour
Blisters or redness
Swimming
Letting your dog get in the water is a great way to help them stay cool in the summer. However, make sure you are doing this safely. If your dog is swimming in the sea, be careful of tides and waves, swimming can be hard work, so don’t let your dog overdo it. Always keep an eye on your dog if they are swimming in a pool. A dog can easily get into a pool but find it difficult to get out. If you and your dog are near a pool, keep a close eye on them because you don't want them swimming unsupervised.
You should also consider getting your dog a life vest! This will provide you with some extra peace of mind while your dog is swimming. These are a great investment in my opinion, especially if you have a small dog who gets tired easily when swimming.
Travelling with your dog in the summer
This cannot be stressed enough. IN THE SUMMER, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOGS IN A CAR. Cars can get extremely hot, and leaving your dog in one is not only cruel but can be fatal. If you ever see a dog being left in a car in hot weather, call the police. Doing this to an animal is an animal welfare emergency.
If you live in London, you know how hot and busy the tube can get. It’s a good idea to re-think long journeys on public transport with a dog. A long time underground in hot weather with loads of people around might be a bit intense for your dog. So it’s best to stick to short journeys or find a mode of transport that will be cooler for your dog.
If you want to go on holiday with your dog, we have written a couple of blog posts on how you can do this! Explore our blogs and give them a read!
Tips to stay cool
There are some things you can do to help your dog stay cool on these hot summer days! They are just simple things, but they will make a lot of difference in helping your dog stay cool throughout the day.
The first tip I have is to put some ice cubes in your dog's water bowl. This will keep the water nice and cool throughout the day and your dog might even eat the ice cubes to cool down.
You might also consider buying some pet-safe sun cream. Putting sun cream on the exposed parts of your dog’s skin (tips of ears, nose) will help your dog stay protected from the sun. This is especially important if your dog has white or light-coloured fur, as they are more likely to get burnt in the sun..
The next tip is a very important one - groom regularly! Brushing your dog regularly at home will help to remove the dead or excess hair they are shedding, which will leave your dog with a less dense coat, helping them to stay cool. You might also want to consider a different grooming style for the summer. Perhaps one that is shorter so your dog doesn’t get hot so easily.
Finally, I would suggest taking your dog for walks in the early morning or the early evening as the temperature will be lower. Remember when we spoke about hot surfaces that can burn your dog’s paws? Walking your dog at these times will help you to avoid these hot surfaces.
I hope this blog post helps you and your dog stay cool in this hot weather and has given you some useful tips! Happy Summer 🌞
