The spring and summer months bring even more opportunities to get active outside. I love the outdoor life, so every year I look forward to those longer days and the warmer weather. Sadly, my dog does not enjoy those hot-weather days at all. Particularly as he is getting older, I know I need to take extra precautions to make him comfortable during those heat-filled months. Here are 9 tips to help your dog keep cool and enjoy the dog days of summer.
Let the water flow
Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water regularly throughout the day. Keep extra dishes of water around your home, to tempt your pup to drink.
Adjust your exercise routine
Change the time of day you go for walks with your dog. The coolest times tend to be either early morning or later at night. Make sure that your dog still gets exercise, but you may have to reduce the length and speed of the walks if the temperatures are too high. Take extra care if walking on pavements, as the temperature of the tarmac can burn a dog’s paws and the heat radiating off tarmac or cement can be unbearable. Where possible stick to walking on grass, which will be much cooler for your dog and for you too.
Keep your home cool
If your dog is home alone while you are at work, keep your home as cool as possible during the day. Keep blinds and curtains closed and set ceiling fans to run anti-clockwise at a slightly higher speed than normal. Tiled floors can provide some cool relief so your dog may prefer to lie down on tile rather than in his usual favourite area in the house. If you don’t have tile, using a wet towel that he can lie on can give a similar effect.
Don’t leave your dog in the car
Temperatures inside a vehicle can soar in a matter of minutes. Never leave a dog unattended in a car! To transport your dog comfortably, use a vehicle-specific boot liner such as the Travall Liner instead of blankets.
Limit time outside
When your dog goes out to the garden, ensure there are shaded areas and that there is access to plenty of water. Providing some umbrellas for shade is a good option to protect from sunburn and from heat to help your dog keep cool. If your area is experiencing high temperatures and high humidity, keep your dog inside. Humidity will stop a hot dog from being able to cool himself off sufficiently when he pants.
Provide cold treats to help your dog keep cool
Your dog can enjoy some cooling ice treats too. Chicken broth frozen into ice cubes goes down really well with some dogs. Even if you just add ice cubes made from water to the drinking bowl, your dog will appreciate it.
Brush up on your dog grooming skills
For double-coated dogs, the top layer of hair can protect from heat and sunburn, while the hair underneath can act as the dog’s cooling system. Make sure to brush regularly as matted dog hair will interfere with this cooling process. Talk to a groomer about whether trimming your dog’s fur can help make your dog more comfortable – it doesn’t work for all breeds but may be appropriate for your dog’s breed.
Get in the swim of things
Not all dogs like to get wet, but if yours does, providing a little puppy paddling pool in the backyard when you are there to supervise can be a fun way to help your dog keep cool.
Pay closer attention to all dogs in warm weather, but especially if your dog is very old or very young. If he is panting excessively and drooling more than usual, or if you notice that he is urinating less frequently or not at all, has a red tongue and red gums, and is vomiting blood or has black, tarry stools, these may be signs of heat stroke. Try to gradually reduce the dog’s temperature using cool (but not cold) water and contact your vet’s surgery immediately for further advice.
Information given in this article is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. Please consult your vet for advice specific to your dog.
