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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 17 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 7,003 times.
When the hot season comes, we all want to go out and enjoy the sun. Of course, you’ll want to bring your dog along for your summer adventures, too. Be aware, however, that dogs’ bodies don’t respond to heat in the same way that we do, and it can be difficult for them to cool down after being outside in temperatures above 28°C. This article will teach you how to tell when your dog is overheating and how to keep them safe and comfortable all summer long.
Steps
Check for signs of overheating and dehydration
Watch for excessive panting, a runny nose, or thick, viscous drool. Those are all signs that your dog is overheating, and it could go into heat stroke if you don’t act quickly. If you see your dog showing these symptoms, you need to cool it down immediately. Even if you think your dog is just overheated, but not too hot, you should still call your vet and get their opinion. [1] X Research Source
- More severe overheating can lead to diarrhea, vomiting (sometimes vomiting blood), seizures, coma, cardiac arrest, and death. [2] X Research Source
Check the elasticity of the dog’s skin to see if it is dehydrated. Gently pinch the skin on the back of the dog’s nape. If there is enough water, the skin will immediately return to its original position. Conversely, if dehydrated, the dog’s skin will stick or wrinkle. [3] X Research Sources
- The longer the skin takes to return to its original position, the more severe the dehydration. [4] X Research Source Take your dog to the vet for intravenous fluids.
Check gums. Lift your dog’s tongue and check the color of the gums. If the gums are not pink but red, it could be a sign of heat stroke. You can use your fingertips to feel if the dog’s gums are moist and smooth, if so, it’s normal, if the gums are dry or sticky, the dog may be dehydrated. [5] X Research Sources
- If you suspect your dog is dehydrated, give him water immediately (if he doesn’t drink, try to wet his tongue or take him straight to the vet). Untreated dehydration can lead to organ failure and death. [6] X Research Sources
Observe the dog’s movements. If your dog is showing signs of fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or lethargy, it may be overheating and need medical attention. If your dog falls or convulses you need to take him to the veterinarian immediately. Call ahead so they can prepare treatment quickly. [7] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Fatigue is one of the earliest signs of dehydration. Don’t try to take your dog for a walk or ignore it when you see it start to lie down or keep running into the shade. Give your dog water to drink and take him somewhere cooler. [8] X Research Sources
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Check the dog’s temperature. Dogs have a higher body temperature than humans, and if it’s over 40°C, it’s overheated and you need to help it cool down as soon as possible or make an appointment with your veterinarian. [9] X Research Source
- Check your dog’s rectal temperature every 5 minutes to monitor progress.
- When your dog’s temperature drops to 39.4°C, stop all hypothermia, dry his coat, and cover the dog with a towel to prevent the temperature from falling further. [10] X Research Source
Assess whether the dog needs medical attention. Dehydration and overheating can be life-threatening. Observe your dog’s behavior and check for signs of severe heat and dehydration. If unsure, call your veterinarian or veterinary clinic and describe your dog’s symptoms. They may ask that you continue to monitor his health or bring him in for treatment.
Cool down for dogs
Give your dog plenty of clean, cool water. You need to make sure the water bowl is clean and doesn’t sit out all day–bacteria can grow in the bowl if you don’t rinse and change the water [11] X Research Source . Do not try to force or pour water into the dog’s mouth even if it refuses to drink to prevent it from inhaling water into its lungs and choking. [12] X Research Source
- If your dog refuses to drink water, try getting water to wet his tongue. You can use your hands or use a towel to squeeze the water on the dog’s tongue.
- Don’t give your dog ice water or ice to eat if you think it’s too hot. Doing so will cause the dog to cool down too quickly and lead to shock. [13] X Research Source
Take the dog away from the heat source. Get your dog into the house as quickly as possible. If you are outside, you can carry your dog in the car or indoors. If there is a pond or stream nearby, you can have your dog stand in the water to cool down the dog’s body temperature before bringing him inside. [14] X Research Source Or at least take it in the shade.
- Take the dog somewhere with air conditioning or a fan and point it toward the dog. [15] X Research Source
- Once you have removed your dog from the heat source, evaluate for symptoms and contact your veterinarian. You’ll probably need to take it to the ER.
Use a cool towel to quickly cool down your dog. You can place a cool, wet washcloth on your dog’s neck, under his front legs (armpits), and between his hind legs (around the groin). [16] X Research Source You should use a cool towel, not a cold one. Do not use ice or ice packs–remember to cool down your dog slowly. If the dog cools down too quickly or the temperature drops too low, the dog is in the same danger as overheating. [17] X Research Source
- If you don’t have a towel, you can cool your dog down by pouring room temperature water over him. [18] X Research Sources
- Wet the dog’s ears and paws. Many of a dog’s sweat glands are located in the legs, so cooling these areas will help the dog cool down. [19] X Research Source
- You can also try evaporative cooling by wiping your dog’s feet and groin with isopropyl alcohol. [20] X Research Source Evaporative cooling works the same way as sweating–when the alcohol evaporates, it takes the dog’s body heat with it. [21] X Research Source
Prevent your dog from overheating
Keep your dog in a cool and safe environment. Dogs should be indoors (with air conditioning or fans) as much as possible on peak heat days, and you shouldn’t leave your dog in the heat outside. [22] X Source of Research If your dog spends most of its time outdoors, make sure it has a shaded area to stay out of the sun, cool down, and plenty of clean water to drink. [23] X Research Sources
- Cars are by no means a good environment for dogs on warm sunny days–whether it’s not too hot, or you park in the shade or leave the windows open and only go for a while. The temperature in a parked car can quickly soar as high as 60°C. [24] X Research Source
- Garages, beaches with no shelter, or hot rooms with direct sunlight are also not suitable environments for dogs on warm days. [25] X Research Sources
- A sheltered, tree-lined place with a pond or shallow stream is the perfect environment to take your dog for a walk when it’s hot. Make sure the dog has plenty of water to drink, and watch for signs of fatigue and overheating. [26] X Research Sources
- Prepare water for your dog to soak in when outdoors. You can fill a basin of cool water and let your dog cool his paws by sitting, standing, or sometimes lying down in the water.
Do not give your dog excessive exercise. Especially when your dog is older or belongs to short muzzle breeds (such as pug, bull, Pekingese, and Boston terrier). Too much exercise on a hot day can cause your dog to overheat. Try not to take your dog for long walks or runs in the heat. If going outside, watch to see if the dog looks for shade and lies down. If so, it’s telling you “it’s too hot, we have to get out of here”. [27] X Research Source
- Dogs often don’t know their limits, especially dogs that like to run, hunt and play. Maybe they will try to run until they collapse and their lives are in danger. It is your responsibility to watch for signs of overheating and to hunt on cooler days. [28] X Research Sources
- Short muzzle dogs cannot effectively cool themselves down because they do not pant as well as other breeds. Panting is the main method of helping dogs cool down. So normal activities can also become overwhelming for these breeds on a hot day.
Take your dog for a walk during the coolest part of the day. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to take your dog for a walk–and letting your dog out in the afternoon is no different than finding your own trouble. Besides the hot rays of the sun, the air with high temperatures, the heat of asphalt, concrete, and sand can burn a dog’s paws and cause them to blister. [29] X Research Source If it’s too hot and you can’t walk barefoot, it’s definitely too hot for dogs.
- If you let your dog out between the hours before and after sunrise, you can find a suitable exercise for him during the day so he doesn’t get bored and destructive. [30] X Research Source
- Try to let your dog walk on the grass or alternately on the road and on the grass so that the dog’s paws don’t overheat. [31] X Research Source
Give your dog some cooling accessories. Cooling coats or collars can help keep your dog from overheating on hot days. Some cooling vests contain cooling pockets on the side, others simply dip into the water to evaporate the dog’s body heat. You should choose for your dog a light and suitable one. [32] X Research Source
- You can also buy your dog a cooling mat or bunk bed so it has a comfortable place to rest when it gets too hot. These products are usually very compact and use different cooling methods, from gel mats to evaporative cooling or water cooling. You have thousands of options for a product to suit your space and style. [33] X Research Sources
Trim the dog’s coat, but do not shave. Although you can imagine that the dog is miserable when he has to wear a fur coat that is approximately 38°C, in reality, this fur coat acts as an insulator and helps the dog to regulate his temperature. [34] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source The coat helps keep it warm in the winter and also helps it cool in the summer. [35] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- If your dog has long hair, you can trim it down a bit or cut it shorter in the summer. [36] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- Make sure your dog’s coat is clean and well-groomed for better air circulation. [37] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
- The dog’s coat also protects it from UV rays, which prevents the dog from sunburn and skin cancer. [38] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source
Make sure the dog drinks water and give him a frozen treat. Keeping your dog hydrated is just as important as keeping it from overheating. If your dog is dehydrated and his tongue is dry, his method of self-cooling (panting) will no longer be effective. If you are out with a prairie dog on a hot day, make sure he drinks water at least once an hour or more often. [39] X Research Sources
- If your dog isn’t overheated, you can give him some ice or a frozen treat to nibble on. Try making ice cream for your dog, but keep in mind that giving your dog ice or frozen food when it’s too hot (not just hot) can be extremely dangerous and can cause shock.
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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.
There are 17 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 7,003 times.
When the hot season comes, we all want to go out and enjoy the sun. Of course, you’ll want to bring your dog along for your summer adventures, too. Be aware, however, that dogs’ bodies don’t respond to heat in the same way that we do, and it can be difficult for them to cool down after being outside in temperatures above 28°C. This article will teach you how to tell when your dog is overheating and how to keep them safe and comfortable all summer long.
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