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How to Keep Dogs Cool in the Summer

author2023.04.12

Summer is a great time to go outside and enjoy the weather with your pet. However, when the temperatures soar, it’s necessary to protect your pup from overheating. Whether you’re outside playing, going for a long walk, or simply letting him out to enjoy the sun, the heat can be hard on him. Here are several different ways to keep your best pup cool in the summer:

How to Cool Down A Dog:

  • Lay out a wet towel to lay on: Your dog will naturally seek out cooler places to lay down, but sometimes there are no good options. To help, lay out a wet towel for them to cool off on.
  • Add ice cubes to their water dish: A simple and easy way to keep your dog cool during the hot summer days is just adding ice cubes to their water dish.
  • Offer a dog pool with shallow cool water: Not only do people love spending the summer in a pool, but so do dogs! Keep out a small dog pool with shallow cool water for them to lay and play around in.
  • Give them access to shade: In case your home provides no natural shade, you could always string up a tarp, cloth, or shade screen for your pup to cool off under.
  • Bring a collapsible water dish on walks: Collapsible water dishes are an amazing mobile way of making certain your pup stays cool and hydrated on those hot summer walks.
  • Replace a portion of their regular diet with canned food: An easy method to ensure your pup stays hydrated and cool is to introduce some canned food in their diet.
  • Provide booties or avoid walking on hot pavement: People wear shoes to avoid burning their feet on hot pavement. So, it makes sense to provide similar relief for your pup. If you aren’t sure this purchase is worth it, make it a practice to place your hand on the pavement before an outing to make sure the sidewalk isn’t too hot for your dog.
  • Exercise or walk in the early morning or evening: A great plan to avoid overheating your dog is to walk them during the cooler parts of the day.
  • Don’t leave your pup in a hot car: Ever step into your car and the heat is unbearable? It’s even worse for your pup. Take the utmost care not to leave them in the car, especially on hot summer days.
  • Keep your home cool: Keeping your home cool is an effortless plan to ensure your dog won’t overheat or be uncomfortable during hot days.
  • Groom: Furrier dogs weren’t meant for such intense heat. That’s why grooming becomes even more important in keeping dogs cool throughout the summer.
  • Keep an eye on humidity: Humidity affects dogs in the same way it affects humans, However, dogs don’t have access to weather reporting. So be sure to check the humidity levels before going out for extended periods of time with your pet.

Signs of Overheating in Dogs:

It’s vital that when the heat is soaring to keep your dog happy and hydrated. If you aren’t sure how to tell if your dog is dehydrated, get familiar with the following signs:

  • Heavy panting: Panting for dogs is a normal thing, whether they’re hot or excited. It’s critical to understand how much and how heavy they’re panting. They might be overheating.
  • Heavy/thick drooling: Notice how much and how thick your dog’s drooling is. If it seems to be more excessive than normal, they could be too hot.
  • Trouble breathing: If you notice your pup is having trouble breathing, cool them down as soon as possible before further complications.
  • Rapid heartbeat: Is your dog’s heart racing? They could be too hot, so make sure they’re cool and hydrated.
  • Dark or red gums and tongue: Check the color of your dog’s gums and tongue if you’re worried that they might be overheating.
  • Dizziness: Dizziness in your dog, especially during summer days, could mean they’re too hot and are overheating.
  • Weakness: If your pup is having trouble moving, or picking itself up, they could be overheating. Grab them a nice cold dish of water to help combat the effects.
  • Agitation: A common sign of your dog’s discomfort is if they become suddenly agitated. Is it a particularly hot day out? They’re probably overheated.

Summer is a great time to go out and have some fun with your pup. The harsh heat however, can affect your pup in a number of ways. So, it’s crucial to keep them cool and happy through those intense summer days. If none of these tips seem to help your dog, be sure to check out these symptoms of sickness in dogs, in case it’s something more extreme than overheating.

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