Dogs don’t deal with the heat the same way we humans do. For example, did you know that dogs don’t sweat as much? They only produce sweat in areas not covered by fur, like their paws and their bellies. Still, they can do well in the heat. The way they do it is by panting. That’s why you see them usually panting a lot when they are tired, or the weather is too hot.
There are indeed a lot of methods to do help your dog with the head, though. For example, there are jackets that you can use along with icepacks to keep them cooled down. That is a really good option if you go out with your dog for a walk, or your dog is constantly outside your house. Outdoors can get hot sometimes, and having a cooling jacket is great if you can’t pay attention to your dog because of shores or work.
Pools are also a great alternative. It’s a great way to let them play and get cooled down during a hot day. They are small and pretty safe, too, so you won’t have to worry about their safety. You can click here for a list of dog pools if you are interested!
Another thing to consider when going for a walk on a hot day is not to walk in the pavement. It gets really hot if the sun is too strong, and it can hurt your dog’s paws if you are not careful. It’s also really uncomfortable. Imagine walking on the street on a sunny day without any shoes. That’d be awful!
Still, some breeds deal with the heat better than others. If you think your dog may be suffering from overheating, you should consider these options.
Most dogs can tolerate summer, however. Even more, if they are properly hydrated and you let them inside your house. You should be especially careful with dogs with a snub-nose, like pugs, bulldogs, and Boston terriers.
Signs Your Dog is Overheating
You should check your dog’s temperature if you find these signs:
- Panting and rapid breathing
- Too much thick saliva
- Fatigue, tiredness or depression
- Staggering
- Weakness
If the temperature of your dog is over 101.5°, now you know your dog is overheating. The best thing to do in this case is to let them inside your house and cover them with a slightly cold wet towel. You don’t want to use water that is too cold because you can harm them if you change their body temperature too fast. Try to get them to drink some water, if possible, but don’t make them drink if you don’t see them drinking any.
If the symptoms pass, you shouldn’t worry about calling the vet, but if they persist, get the help of a professional.
Some other symptoms you might encounter include:
- Lethargy
- Dry mouth
- Sunken eyes
There’s a good way to know if your dog is dehydrated. It works for humans, too. Try pinching the back of your dog’s neck. If it’s slow to snap back to its place, that’s a sign of dehydration. In the case of humans, you do it differently. If you pinch the back of your hand, and it takes time to snap back, you know what it means. There’s more information about it over here: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-checkups-preventive-care/8-tips-cool-your-dog-a-hot-summer-day
Don’t Shave Your Dog!
Panting is about 80% of a dog’s cooling power. Most of the time, this enough for them to deal with the heat, but in case it is not, you should try the alternatives we already provided. Shaving your dog’s fur is not a wise thing to do. Since they don’t have the same amount of sweat glands as we do, this will not be as effective as you might think.
Also, shaving your dog’s fur may cause some nasty side effects. For example, fur protects your dog from sunburns. Believe it or not, it results in a greater risk of a heat stroke. It also increases the chances of your dog suffering from skin cancer.
In most cases, a fur coat takes a lot of time to recover, and this will leave your dog more sensible for a long time.
Canned Food Instead of Standard Dry Dog Food
Overall, canned food is better than dry food because it contains more proteins, fats, and carbs. But that’s not all. Dry dog food is also known for making your dog’s stomach hotter, thus making it harder for him to deal with a hot day.
There are other things to consider when it comes to dry dog food, but the most important one is that it can get damaged easily in comparison to canned food. And this can bring a lot of health problems for your dog.
Canned food, on the other hand, is extremely nutritive for them and doesn’t cause this problem at all. You should consider mixing some canned food in your dog’s diet if you want to help them deal with a hot day.
