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August 6, 2019 by Terran Leave a Comment

Tips to Keep Your Dog Happy in Hot Summer Weather

Guest post written by Abi Pennavaria

Dogs can get overheated quickly in the summer, especially if they are a breed susceptible to the heat, overweight, elderly, or diabetic. Keep your dog happy in hot summer weather with these tips!

Know if Your Dog is Sensitive to Heat

Some dogs are more susceptible to the heat because of age, breed, or health issues. If your dog is a breed originating from a hot climate, such as a Basenji or Chihuahua, you have less to worry about.

Dog breeds sensitive to hot climates include sub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs, who have a hard time regulating their body temperature because of their short nasal passages, giant breeds, such as Great Danes, and dogs with double coats, like Chow Chows.

Other reasons your dog may be sensitive to hot weather include if they are overweight or obese, if they are very young or elderly, or if they have a health issue that raises their body temperature, like diabetes.

 

Keep Your Dog Cool

Whether or not you have a breed that is especially sensitive to the heat, keeping your dog cool in extreme heat can be a challenge. Because dogs don’t sweat, they can have trouble cooling off on their own. Some ways you can help your pup cool down are:

  • Set up a kiddie pool in your yard that they can have access to
  • If there is no shade in your yard, make some by hanging a tarp, curtain, or shade screen
  • Bring a cold water bottle and a collapsible dish for them on your walks
  • Put an ice pack or a damp towel out for them to lie on
  • Put ice cubes in their water, and refill it often
  • Make them frozen dog treats (like these!)
  • Keep them inside during the hottest parts of the day, and never walk your dog on hot pavement
  • Set up a sprinkler for them to play with outside
  • Get a self cooling pet pad or elevated pet bed

 

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a real danger in the summertime, and it can be easily overlooked. The signs of a heat stroke include:

  • Very rapid panting and breathing
  • Slowed movements or fatigue
  • Muscle tremors
  • Thick saliva, and increased drooling
  • Staggering
  • A temperature of 103°F or above (normal is 101.5°F)

If you notice your dog is showing signs of a heat stroke, get them into an air conditioned area as soon as possible and contact your veterinarian in case your dog needs IV fluids.

First aid for heat stroke involves cooling off your dog, which can be done by wrapping your dog in cold, wet towels or using ice packs wrapped in towels. You can also use a fan, but keep in mind that you do not want to cool them too rapidly if they are having a heat stroke, because it could send them into shock. Provide cool water and check your dog’s temperature often. You can stop the cooling treatment when your dogs temperature dips below 103°F.

 

Know the Signs of Dehydration

Like a heat stroke, signs of dehydration are easy to miss. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms in the summertime, and if you suspect your dog is dehydrated, get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. If you think your dog is not drinking enough water, offer them frozen treats or add ice, low sodium chicken broth, or fruit to their water to encourage drinking. Signs of dehydration include:

  • Lethargy or slow movements
  • An unusually dry mouth
  • Their eyes may appear “sunken in”
  • Their skin does not snap back quickly when gently pinched together at the top of the neck

 

Put the Clippers Down (Probably)

If you have a dog with a double coat, you may be tempted to give them a buzz cut in the summertime to keep them cool. But what you may not know is that their coat can actually keep them ​cooler​ by insulating them and protecting them from the sun. Their outer coat also doesn’t shed or molt like their undercoat, and it may take years to get back to their normal appearance.

If you think your dog may benefit from a cut, it is best to consult a professional groomer. They may be able to speed up the molting process, helping your dog cool off.

From heat exhaustion to heatstroke, there are many risks associated with your dog experiencing high summer temperatures. By taking measures to keep your dog cool, you and your dog can enjoy the sunshine all summer long. 


Abi Pennavaria is a dog mom, avid vet volunteer, and co-author of Saved By The Bark blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for dog owners of all breeds.

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I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Well, I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Well, maybe don't close them because then you'll stop reading. So, let's just *imagine.* OK, here we go... Imagine you're at the beach with your four-legged best friend just as the sun is coming up over the horizon. A warm summer breeze carries the scent of the salty ocean through the air, the sand is soft between your toes, and things couldn't be more perfect. And then your dog poops. 💩 I mean, that's always a good thing but when you're in this moment, a beach stroll with a bag of poo in your hands isn't exactly the dream. Thankfully, the dooloop exists so you can keep your hands free and keep the moment perfect. ​​​​​​​​
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I've been a fan of @dooloopdogs for years now and am so thrilled to have them as one of our trip sponsors! If you don't have one, you seriously need one. Seriously!
Want to know more about how we are traveling, wher Want to know more about how we are traveling, where we're going, or what it's like living in a small space with your significant other and pup? Where do we stay? Do we have hot showers? What are some of our best memories so far? If you're curious, ask below and your question may be featured in an upcoming post!
SWOOOOON! This gorgeous Florida evening with Jaspe SWOOOOON! This gorgeous Florida evening with Jasper and his mom was absolute magic!!! The sunlight sparkled over the grassy sand dunes alongside the warm Atlantic Ocean as it slowly sunk down into the western sky. Jasper was happy as a little clam as he was rewarded with treats, snuggles, and playtime for being the goodest boy!​​​​​​​​
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A big, huge thank you to @wellnesspetfood for joining us as a trip sponsor of our Great American Road Trip!
Welcome to the wild, wild Westway family, Sibbie!​​​​​​​​
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Named for the American Revolutionary War heroine, Sybil Ludington, we felt like the Airstream who was going to take us on our Great American Road Trip needed to have a very American name. Sybil Ludington and her horse, Star (can you guess the truck's name?), completed a midnight ride farther than Paul Revere's to announce to her father's fellow militia men that the British were coming. She was even thanked by George Washington!​​​​​​​​
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Sibbie is a 30-foot Airstream. She has a full size sofa, dinette with two bench seats, a surprisingly large shower and bathroom, and a great kitchen with a propane stove, oven, and three-in-one microwave + oven + air fryer. She also has an insane number of windows and skylights that make the entire space feel light and bright! 😍 Greg, Roxy, and I fit very well and feel like it's just the right amount of space for the three of us!​​​​​​​​
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Who else out there has an Airstream? Do you love yours? We certainly love ours!​​​​​​​​
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St. Augustine, FL​​​​​​​​
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A big, huge, monstrous THANK YOU to my very first A big, huge, monstrous THANK YOU to my very first models of our trip: Julie, Louie, Bella, and Brooklyn! These four totally rocked their photo shoot for our three trip sponsors: @wellnesspetfood, @dooloopdogs, and @petplaysf! ​​​​​​
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Julie and Louie are both incredible photographers so it was extra fun to work with them! I know them from San Diego but when I found out they were in Fort Myers — just 2.5 short hours south of where we were picking up the Airstream — I knew we had to go see them and do a photo shoot!​​​​​​​​
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Isabella and Brooklyn are two of the cutest dogs you'll ever meet. I was warned that Brooklyn would take a minute to warm up, which she did, but once she realized we were there to shower her with attention, we became BFFs.​​​​​​​​
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Thank you, again, Julie & Louie! You guys rock and we had a blast with you!
We are nearly one month in to our big adventure! I We are nearly one month in to our big adventure! It's hard to even believe it! We have seen new places, visited old friends, and photographed a bunch of puppers already! ​​​​​​​​
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The journey began in San Diego, CA and took us to Tampa, FL for about a week. We headed down to Fort Myers and then up to St. Augustine before leaving the sunshine state. After that, we spent a night on a beautiful pecan farm just outside Savannah, GA before making our way to Charleston, Wilmington, and Charlotte (where we spent a few glorious hours floating in Lake Norman). Today, we are headed to a friend's place just outside Asheville!​​​​​​​​
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I promise to introduce you to our new Airstream in some upcoming posts. I will just say here that she is beautiful and everything we hoped she would be!​​​​​​​​
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We'll be in the northeast in a few short weeks & I absolutely can't wait!!!
Nothing says Airstream + Florida quite as much as Nothing says Airstream + Florida quite as much as a pink flamingo... so it's only fitting that we photograph the @petplaysf pink flamingo float toy as we kick off our big six-month road trip adventure in the Sunshine State! Am I right or am I right???​​​​​​​​
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We couldn't be more thrilled that P.L.A.Y. has decided to join us on our journey as a trip sponsor. We are going to have soooo much fun playing with and photographing their amazing products all around the US this year! Thank you, P.L.A.Y.!​​​​​​​​
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Who else's dogs love P.L.A.Y. toys??? 🙋‍♀️
Do you ever find a product that makes you question Do you ever find a product that makes you question how you ever lived without it? For me, that was @dooloopdogs! It's a brilliantly simple leash accessory that holds your pooch's poo bag so you don't have to. We've been using them for years and they're truly something special!​​​​​​​​
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When we began to plan our big road trip, I knew I'd be taking a few dooloops along with me (different leashes call for different dooloops, duh!) and I dreamed of having the company come along as an official trip sponsor. Well, it happened!!! We'll be sharing the dooloop love all around the US, photographing dogs with dooloops, and showing others how a simple tool can improve their daily walks with their pups! Thank you, dooloop! We're so excited to have you along for the journey!
I have some incredibly special clients, let me tel I have some incredibly special clients, let me tell you. They're clients I love working with and who consistently put their trust in me to create photos for their advertising & marketing campaigns around the globe. When I told Wellness Pet about our big adventure, the response was swift and definitive: "count us in!" I'm so, so, so thrilled to have them as a trip sponsor for our journey and to create images for them all along the way. We have used their products for years — Sojos, WHIMZEES, and their WellBites treats — so this partnership couldn't feel more perfect and authentic! Thank you, Wellness!
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