Keeping a dog indoors in hot weather is a good way to avoid overheating, but not all dogs are privy to the same precautions. If you have a large, powerful dog that would benefit from using the outdoors, then this article is for you.
For most small dogs and cats, staying cool is mainly about avoiding exercise by reducing or eliminating playtimes and socialization routines. This is also important for your dog as they can lose control of their body temperature if they are hungry or excited.
Dogs generally do not need to be cautioned about this as they are only potentially cool for an hour or two before they get tired of being cold. However, if your dog does need to be warned then here are some tips on how to prevent them from getting cold.
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Give them ice cubes to eat
If your dog is very exercise oriented, give them some ice or something cold to eat before you get out of the house. This is a good idea if it is hot out, as dogs love water and might enjoy being treated to this.
Many dogs enjoy keeping their cool by eating ice or by being allowed to run and play. If your dog does not like water, then eating ice will help keep their paws cool.
If your dog gets hot fast, use a fan to help slow down the temperature rise. If you do not have a fan, give your dog something cold to eat or run up and down with to cool off.
Avoid putting any kind of clothing or blankets because they may absorb some of the water that runs off of them and prevent them from being cooled.
Run a fan near them
This prevents the dog from getting heatstroke or a fever when they are outdoors in hot weather. Wash any cuts or bruises with cool water also.
Dogs that are athletic or dogs that like to run may need to be restricted when the temperature is high. A limited dog may be useful if not necessary for owners to go out too.
Owner can use a t-shirt and a hat to protect their dog from the heatstroke and overheating that comes with it. If possible, owners can use one day of freedom per week to give them this benefit of freedom.
Cool water is also helpful when dogs are stressed out or if they have a temp. This helps keep them hydrated and in control.
Sit them next to a cool surface
If your dog is wearing a collar or if they have a tag on, put them on right away. If not, then lay a soft cloth over their back and let the heat from you do the rest.
Or if you have a leash, put it on right away to prevent it from getting wet while trying to keep your dog moving. Or if you have a tag, remove it immediately to prevent it from getting stuck in something.
Put as much distance between your dog and anything that could burn as possible. If you need to walk your dog, find an area with few trees and minimal lawns or housing. The shade would help minimize heatstroke and cooling off, too.
If you need to go outside, keep an open window if possible to reduce humidity level in the house, so that more air can get out. When dogs are this hot, they will also try prying themselves out of water to cool off.
Wash their legs and belly with cool water
This helps reduce heat stress on the dog as well as you. Dampening their legs and belly will also help prevent heat stroke or overheating.
Dogs who are more prone to overheating may be better off with a little more water than others to drink and more frequent drinking to keep hydration up.
If your dog is not a water puppy or if you are training them for conformation, then they may be better off with solid food instead of wet food. Wet food can sometimes continue to cool the dog down more quickly than solid food can.
Keeping a cooled box or crate available makes life a little easier on all parties, including the dog. If your puppy is not yet housetrained, then keeping a cool place or a locked room away is important too.
Make sure they have access to air conditioning
If your dog is not in need of a lot of cooling, do the following:
If you have a dogs heat tolerance,then do not let them go outside unless there is shade. If they must be outside, make sure they have access to air conditioning and that they are properly dressed and sheltered.
In fact, dogs probably do less cool weather traveling than people realize. Most dogs enjoy the summer heat more if they can skip the jacket or t-shirt and just go with shorts!
If you need to provide some relief from the heat, consider having one of your dogs help create some relief by doing some fun or recreational dog activities. This may be especially helpful if you do not feel like yourself due to the heat condition.
Or consider giving them water or ice chips to satify their thirst.
Do not overfeed them
do not overfeed them. This is the most important rule for keep dogs cool in hot weather.parency
Overfeeding can lead to overheating and overstimulation which can cause them to lose their cool or suffer from overheating. This is extremely critical as they will be poohpoo’s unless you get into the habit of only feeding them during warm weather, or if you are blessed with a very cool day.
If you have to feed your dog in hot weather, use cold water or ice to preserve the temperature of your dog. You can also put a heavy blanket or sweatshirt on them to retain heat if necessary.
Do not let your dog nap in hot weather because this will just end up causing them to heat up and sleep too long which will not help them preserve their cool.
Check for signs of heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is one of the most common dog medical conditions caused by hot weather. It’s more important now than ever to check your dog for signs of it.
To be aware of heat exhaustion, a dog must be showing any of the following: increased appetite/drinkage, reduced activity/appetite, poor hydration, labored breathing, and a drop in vital signs.
To prevent it, check for it early and often! Dogs who are running or sitting in warm places should get out as soon as they feel any sign of discomfort.
Checking within an hour of a heat crisis is because you want to be sure the dog has not been overheating due to not being able to get out or further cooling off. You do not want to miss an opportunity to treat this as a problem so your vet can fix it.
Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion in dogs
Heat exhaustion is a condition where your dog becomes overbreathing and panting extensively, becomes restless, and shows other signs of stress.
This happens for a few different reasons. Some dogs are more vulnerable to overheating due to certain kinks in their body systems, like dogs with diabetes or low blood sugar levels. Others are more sensitive to temperatures, like diabetics dogs who need heatstroke prevention.
Either way, when it happens, you need to take action! It is very important that you know the signs of heatstroke in dogs because if you know they are showing signs of heatstroke, you can take action sooner.
A quick note on how to prevent cool down periods in diabetics’ dogs is best done by sending them out into the water until they feel better. This helps them regulate their temperature and keeps them warm through the process.