Dogs Can Suffer From Heatstroke, and Some Other Things to Know About Keeping Your Pet Cool in Summer
When they choke, wander in search of shade, and finally lie down and refuse to walk, your dog is telling you something and you probably don’t need a dog handler to figure it out: your dog friend is hot and speaks adorable as soon as dogs …
While you can’t control the humidity or tame the unforgiving brutality of the summer sun, you can take proactive steps to make your furry friend more comfortable during the hottest months of the year. Since dressing them is not really an option – more on the benefits of a summer haircut in a moment – most of the advice includes helping them avoid risky situations and recognizing warning signs that your puppy is overheated.
How to keep your dog from overheating
This probably goes without saying, but what is true for humans also applies to dogs: when it’s hot, staying hydrated is key. Dogs love to run and fraternize with their furry friends, and they can do it even if it’s terribly hot outside, but they can’t exactly ask you for a drink. So when you and your dog are heading out on a hot day, bring cold water with you and bring a collapsible bowl or something else that they can easily sip from. Water intake will depend on your dog’s size and level of activity, but you should allow him to drink frequently. How often? Pet Health Network recommends doing this every 15-20 minutes .
How much water should your dog drink?
Oddly enough, your dog may also drink too much water in one go, so you should beware of over-watering it (in rare cases, water intoxication is a risk ). Arlie Reynolds, senior nutritionist and veterinarian at Purina pet food company, offers several guidelines for calculating water to weight ratios:
Don’t let a forty-five to fifty-five pound dog drink more than four to eight ounces of water at a time. After they have had time to absorb it and take it out of the stomach, give them another ten or fifteen minutes later.
Limit your dog’s activity on hot days
The heat also means that you have to put restrictions on your dog because he cannot cool off like humans and is unlikely to naturally escape from overexertion. American Society of Animal Protection recommends to conduct an active way of life with the dog in the morning and evening hours, which are usually the coolest parts of the day, and limit their outdoor activity in the midday heat.
If you cut your dog in the summer, it will not cut it.
Seeing your long-haired dog panting in the heat can make you flinch (imagine the discomfort in a fur coat in summer!), But don’t worry about shaving it off to cut (no pun intended) the chances of them being overcooked. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , longer coat actually helps dogs regulate their internal temperature in hot weather. You may be doing them more harm than good, as dogs can also get sunburn , especially in areas with less coat.
Never keep your dog in a parked car
This is common sense, and it applies to any living thing that cannot cool down by lowering the windows or turning the air conditioner. Your parked car turns into an oven when it gets hot enough (in some regions it can happen all year long ), even when the temperatures seem pleasant and pleasant when driving or walking outside.
Don’t Think It’s Enough to Break a Window: The American Veterinary Medical Association points to two studies , both of which have shown that the temperature inside cars parked on hot days increases almost exponentially, even when the windows are down. One study “found that temperatures in a dark sedan, as well as a light gray minivan parked on a hot but partly cloudy day, exceeded [125 degrees Fahrenheit] within 20 minutes,” writes AVMA.
It’s also not a selective grouping of data: 28 states currently have laws criminalizing leaving dogs alone in parked cars.
Warning Signs of Heatstroke in a Dog
The worst possible outcome is that your dog will experience heatstroke, which is defined as “a rise in body temperature above 104 ° F, ” writes Today’s Veterinary Practice. According to the American Society for the Protection of Animals, symptoms of this life-threatening condition include “excessive shortness of breath, dark or bright red tongue and gums, lethargy, stumbling, seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.”
If you suspect your dog has heatstroke, contact your veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, there are many things you can do to calm and cool your dog when needed, including submerging it in cool water or rubbing it with a cold, damp towel or sponge. No matter what happens – and even if they seem to perk up after the heat wave – you should still take your dog to the vet, as organ failure is one of the unfortunate consequences of severe heatstroke.
While it’s nice to watch your dog frolic and frolic during the hotter months of the year, it’s up to you how their actions could potentially harm them. This will make you a better dog owner and will likely get more love from your furry buddies as a result.