Hot Dog Tips

Though we could be headed for a cooling off period, one cannot soon easily forget the sweltering 30+ temps we recently experienced heading into August. But bad enough as it was for us humans, I can’t begin to imagine the discomfort felt by our four-legged friends. It blew my mind on one exceptionally hot day to see a dog caged up in a car with hardly any relief coming from the window openings.

There are a few little known and often overlooked facts I found about dogs and the heat that I felt like sharing…

· During the summer, it’s recommended that dogs be walked early in the morning or later in the evening after the sun has gone down. Aside from the heat of the sun, this also has to do with the sidewalk pavement temperature, which can actually burn doggie paws. If it’s too hot for you and I to walk barefoot on, the same applies to dogs.

· Further to summer dog walking, these strolls should be brief and treated as light exercise. Avoid making it a run. Bring water and make frequent stops.

· Dogs pant to cool themselves. However, when panting doesn’t cool down a dog’s body temp, heat exhaustion can occur. Quick breathing, heavy panting, a tendency to salivate and fatigue are symptoms to watch out for. If heat exhaustion is occurring, take the dog to a shady spot, use wet towels to try and cool the body, give water in small amounts, and be sure to call a vet right away.

· It may sound strange, but dogs get sunburned too. This is especially true of shorthaired dogs. Keep their exposure to the sun minimal.

· Snub-nosed dogs such as boxers, bulldogs and pugs do not cope as well in the heat. Instead of leaving them to lie in the yard all day, keep them inside where it’s air-conditioned. Dogs with heavy coats can be trimmed but not shaved (which will put them more at risk of being sun burned).

· Dogs that stay outside for long periods during the day need more than just a shady tree to stay cool. A ventilated doghouse or covered patio where the dog can rest under is essential. There must always be a good supply of clean water. Consider 2 dishes in case one gets knocked over.

· Though some of us like to put the dog in the back of the pick-up truck, this is generally not a good idea. Like the pavement example above, if the standing surface is metal, this can be scorching. Test the surface on a hot day first.

· As for traveling with the dog in the car, it’s simply best to avoid this practice altogether during the hotter months. If taking the dog cannot be avoided, make sure the A/C is on at all times. This includes when s/he is sitting and waiting for you while the car is parked. Even if the windows are slightly open, the car can heat up so quickly on a sweltering day that brain damage or even death can happen in minutes.