Skip to main content

Tips For Keeping Your Dog Cool In The Summer

Summer can mean lots of fun outside with your dog. As the temperatures rise, your dog will get hot and can overheat. Whether you're taking him for a ride, to the park, or out in the yard to play, here are some tips for keeping your dog cool this Summer.


  • Never leave your dog in the car - This is a given, right? And no, not even for a few minutes. Temperatures can soar inside of a car. On an 85 degree day, the temperature can reach 102 F within 10 minutes. Cracking windows and leaving water for your dog will not keep them from overheating in a parked car. Would you really want to risk your dog's life for just a "quick trip" in the store? Leave your dog at home or wait to go places where he can come with you.
  • Keep your house cool - Close the drapes and crank up the AC on super hot days. You can even use a cooling mat to help your dog cool down inside or out
  • Offer an ice pack or wet towel to lay on, or add ice cubes to the water dish. 
  • Make your dog some homemade frozen treats to keep them cool! (Frozen Dog Treat Recipes or Dog Ice Cream)
  • Get a kiddie pool and fill it with cool water for your dog to wade or lay in, or better yet take your dog for a swim (watch out for water toxicity or harmful chemicals in some pools)
  • Let your dog dig - (Unless they dig to escape!) Dogs dig their dens to find food, hide, give birth, or keep cool.
  • Watch when you exercise - Not only do pavements get dangerously hot and can burn your dog's paw pads, but you should try to take your pet out for exercise during the cooler parts of the day. Don't forget to carry enough water for you both! 
  • Keep an eye on humidity because when the air is full of moisture, your dog may not be able to pant enough to cool himself off. Especially if you have a snub-nosed pet like pug or bulldog. Their smaller airways make it harder for them to release heat when they pant. It's also easier for older and overweight dogs to have a heatstroke.
  • Don't leave your dog outside alone for extended periods of time - and when he/she is outside, don't forget to ensure there is plenty of shade and water
  • Groom your pet - If your dog has long hair, get rid of any mats and tangles. Dogs will struggle to keep cool when they are covered in hair and matts. Be sure though to talk to your groomer first because some dog breeds have coats that keep them cool and are dangerous to shave down.
  • Watch for signs of overheating - Heavy panting, heavy drooling, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, dark or red gums or tongue, dizziness, weakness, agitation. 
  • Watch for signs of dehydration - Sunken eyes, lethargy, dry mouth, depression - not all signs of dehydration are easy to detect.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What To Consider Before Gifting A Dog For The Holidays

With Christmas being right around the corner, it's not uncommon for families to get puppies as a gift for their family member or themselves over the holidays. As wonderful as a gift dogs and puppies are, unfortunately, often times they are soon surrendered for adoption because not enough research was done to ensure the dog you are getting is a good fit for you and your family. Often times, important things to consider prior such as dog's breed, dog's energy levels, dog's temperament, dog's grooming and health needs, the time, attention, and training required, etc. are overlooked before bringing a dog home. For example, if you are interested in a low maintenance dog, a golden doodle, though adorable, may not be the best choice because they require daily brushing and regular grooming every 6-8 weeks to avoid matted hair (see blog post on matting ). Dogs are not objects, dogs are living, breathing creatures and most importantly, they are family. We encourage everyone ...
2 comments
Read more

What Are You Feeding Your Pup?

Like people, dogs are what they eat. 40% of dogs are obese, 46% of dogs die of cancer, and heart, kidney, and liver disease are an epidemic. A lot people don't know about the foods their dog is eating, simply because the labels that say "organic, gourmet, high quality, complete and balanced", etc. are often misleading and don't mean much at all. Dog food may legally contain "4-D" meat: meat from dead, dying, diseased, and disabled animals. You may not think that what your dog eats can directly correlate with their health, but it can and it does! Ingredients in Dog Food to Avoid: Find a full list of ingredients to avoid here:  Ingredients To Avoid Ethoxyquin  - used as a preservative which is also found in herbicides. Vets have noticed that this ingredient is associated with development of kidney and liver damage, cancer, immune deficiency syndrome, blindness, and leukemia Propylene Glycol  - Also found in anti-freeze, it's placed in dog food to...
Post a Comment
Read more

What To Do In The Event of Natural Disasters

As our beloved dogs and cats are a part of our family, it's always best to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster so they do not get left behind. Here are a few tips to prepare for in case disaster strikes: Upload all of your pet/vet records/identification records to a safe place (in the event that the paper copies get lost or destroyed) either to an email, phone, or hard drive. Also it's best to have a Rescue Alert Sticker that lets first responders know there are pets inside your home that need to be saved. Blizzards: Since we are in the middle of this year's winter weather, we will start with tips on how to keep your pup safe during blizzards. Keep your pet indoors as much as possible and limit outdoor time to bathroom breaks. It's very important that you do not leave your pets outdoors during frigid temperatures. If you are cold, that's a good indication that they are cold as well. When they do go outside, make sure you are prepared. Keep the...
Post a Comment
Read more