THE warm weather is definitely hard on our dogs.
They have a terribly inefficient cooling system and are covered in fur. This makes for some hot dogs in this hot weather. Zumi, my German shepherd, is affected the most by the high temperatures.
With her thick, black double coat she can't seem to keep herself cool. Even Piper, my pointer, with his short coat is seeking the cool tiles of the kitchen floor. And poor Raider just doesn't know what to make of this weather. He restlessly moves from the shade on the back deck to the inside of the house and back again, just trying to find a cool place with a breeze.
Even though the hot weather is challenging for our dogs, we can certainly do a few things to help them stay comfortable, and even refreshed, during this current heat wave.
First and foremost, don't exercise your dog in the middle of the day. A dog out on his regular routine walk between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. is much more susceptible to heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Also, walking a dog on the sidewalk or roadside in the blazing sun leaves the pads of their feet vulnerable to blisters due to the heat of the pavement. Seek out shaded areas to walk your dog, bring water for your dog and, if you can walk your dog a bit earlier in the cool morning or later in the evening when temperatures have dropped, they will certainly appreciate it.
If your home is not cool or air-conditioned, provide your dog with open airflow of some sort. Moving air tends to be a few degrees cooler than stagnant air. This allows your dog to breathe in cool air, assisting in the cooling process. Placing an oscillating fan in the room can do this. Providing fresh cool drinking water is also very important. Dogs drink a lot in hot weather for a number of reasons. First, their panting tends to dehydrate them. Secondly, the cold water in their bellies helps keep them cool. A good suggestion is to freeze a water-filled yogurt container or Ziploc baggie, then place the large ice block (without the plastic) in the dog's water bowl. The large block of ice melts slower than ice cubes and keeps the water cooler longer. Avoid feeding your dog ice cubes. If it chews on the cube the ice may crack a tooth, or the dog may swallow the cube whole, possibly choking. Even if it swallows the ice safely, the cold cube against its stomach lining may cause the dog to vomit. Iced water is best.
Also, if possible, feed your dog later in the day. Having a full stomach during the midday heat can make it more challenging to keep cool.
Hosing down your dog with cool water before or after a walk is another great way to help it stay cool, since dogs do not sweat except for their feet and nose. As air passes over their wet bodies it helps keep them cool, acting like sweat.
Then there are our local waterways, which do not include kids' waterparks - those are off limits to dogs! As long as the rivers are not running fast and high, taking your dog for a dip in the river is a fun way to cool off. You may even be able to join them if you are brave enough. Just be advised that even if the water levels are low, the water is still very cold. Being covered in fur, your dog may be fine jumping in the cold river water, but you might get a hypothermic blast! Summer is a great time to enjoy your dog but remember they have a very inefficient cooling system so keep them safe by keeping them cool.
Joan has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com.
