It’s important to take extra care with your pets during the heat of summer. Just like humans, pets can suffer from heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Here are some tips from Walking Home Together to help keep your pets safe.
One Approach Does Not Work for All Dogs
Some breeds have thick double coats. This makes it difficult for them to regulate their temperature during hot weather.
Is your dog a pug, French bulldog, or Pekinese? These breeds with “flat faces” tend to have trouble breathing “normally.” This affects their ability to cool themselves down, since panting is a dog’s primary way of regulating their temperature.
Breed of dog and age also play a role. Generally, smaller and younger dogs have more tolerance to heat. Bigger and senior dogs can become uncomfortable much more quickly.
Here’s a simple rule of thumb: between 50-68 degrees F is fine for most dogs. 70-82 degrees F there is potential for it become unsafe for some dogs, and 84+ degrees F is dangerous for most dogs.
Time of Day is Important
Time of day matters when you’re planning on walking or playing with your dog. When the sun is at its peak, noon to 4 pm, is when your dog is most likely to be uncomfortable. Morning or evening hours are safer during the summer months.
ALWAYS be ware of hot pavement and asphalt. If it’s too hot for you to walk on with bare feet, then it’s too hot for your dog to be walking on it. To test the safety of pavement or asphalt, place your hand on the pavement for a few seconds. If your hand is uncomfortable after a few seconds, then it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Choose the Right Activity
Dogs don’t innately have the best understanding of their limits. So, it’s up to us to do that for them. Throwing a ball or a frisbee for hours in the heat of summer can easily tire your dog much faster than it would during cooler weather. Keeping them cool in a pool or at the beach is always a good way to offset the heat. If you don’t have access to a pool or a beach, set up a kiddie pool in your backyard and let your dog splash around.
Hiking is a great option for exercising your dog but take some precautions in hot summer months. Find a trail that has some shade so that both you and your dog can take breaks in cooler temperatures.
Try Frozen Treats
At the end of your hike or play session, sit with your dog in the shade and give him/her a frozen treat. You can buy them at the store or make your own. Fill an ice cube tray with chicken broth, or canned pumpkin and freeze. It’s a guarantee that your dog will love it.
Signs Your Dog Is Overheated
Even with the best of care and precautions, it’s still important to know the signs that your dog is getting too hot.
- Excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Restlessness or agitation
- Pacing back & forth
- Unwillingness to move
- Glazed eyes
- General weakness
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, take immediate action and take them to a cool or shady spot and give them plenty of water to drink. If you don’t see improvement, call your veterinarian immediately.
If you are ever unsure of how your dog is doing, it’s important to err on the side of caution. Always keep an eye out for signs of heatstroke.
Most Important
NEVER leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.