18 Tips: How to Properly Cool Down Your Dog in the Heat
It's scorching outside and you want to cool down your dog? That's a great idea. To make sure you cool your dog down properly, here are 18 helpful tips you can put into practice straight away. Let's dive in.
Key Takeaways
- Never leave them in the car: Even at moderate outside temperatures, a car heats up to life-threatening temperatures quickly.
- Cool indoor space: Use fans or air conditioning at home and darken the room when leaving your dog alone.
- Adjust your walks: Move walks to the cooler morning or evening hours and always bring water.
- Shade and water: Always ensure access to cool shade and fresh water when outdoors.
- Breathing problems from humidity: Stay indoors during high humidity, as dogs can develop breathing difficulties.
Take Important Precautions in the Car
If you need to take your dog with you, never leave them in the car. Not even if you just want to pop into a shop for a few minutes. Even when it doesn't feel that hot outside, it can get unimaginably hot inside a closed car. From 20 degrees Celsius and above, caution is advised.
On a 30-degree day, the temperature inside a car can rise to 40 degrees within just 10 minutes, even with the window slightly open. After just 30 minutes, it can reach 50 degrees. So if you can't leave your dog at home for whatever reason, go somewhere dogs are welcome and you can bring them along. A cooling vest for your dog can also be very helpful on hot days.
Cool Rooms
Before you leave the house, make sure your dog is comfortable and can relax. If you have air conditioning, leave it on and darken the room with curtains or blinds. If you don't have air conditioning, get a good, powerful fan that circulates the air and keeps the room cool, and let air in through a window. A cooling vest or cooling mat for your dog will help them get through until you come home.
Avoid the Midday Heat
When it's hot and humid in summer, walks should be moved to the cooler morning or evening hours. It's important to bring enough water. Both you and your dog need plenty of fluids in high temperatures.
Before heading out, check the tarmac and pavement. If it's too hot for your hand, it's far too hot for your dog's paws, and you should stay home unless you have an alternative like grass to walk on. Definitely stay off the tarmac.
Shade and Plenty of Water
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors alone, provide cool shade and plenty of water. If they're allowed inside, don't leave them outdoors too long. If your dog isn't allowed inside, they should spend the day in the shade only.
Change the water several times a day — a few ice cubes in the water will keep it cool longer. Shade under trees is better for dogs than under a parasol. A poor spot is the supposed shade of a dog house, where the air becomes stagnant. Just like in a car, the air can't circulate and heats up to deadly levels.
High Humidity
When humidity is too high, you should stay indoors and bring your dog inside too, as they can develop breathing difficulties. When the air is too humid, dogs can't pant enough to cool down. This raises the dog's body temperature, which can lead to heatstroke. Stay indoors with your dog and limit their exercise. Particularly vulnerable dogs need your full attention. Be careful with flat-nosed breeds like Pugs or Bulldogs. They have shorter airways and struggle to release heat through panting.
The same applies to older and overweight dogs, as well as dogs with heart and respiratory conditions. They are all more susceptible to heatstroke.
Freeze Their Snacks
Freeze your dog's favourite treats in ice cube sizes to cool them down from the inside. Most dogs love frozen yoghurt cubes, cream cheese balls, or even liver paste. Some food-loving dogs also enjoy a frozen bread crust as a chewing activity.
Proper Summer Grooming
Grooming a long-haired dog in the summer heat is hard work. Remove all mats and get their coat in shape. But don't shave the coat yourself. The fur that protects your dog from the cold in winter can also keep their body cool in summer.
Visit the Vet
This is also part of keeping your dog comfortable during the summer months. Visit your vet in spring about parasites. As temperatures become warmer and more pleasant, your dog spends more time outdoors and in the water. The same goes for parasites, which are in peak season. Fleas, mosquitoes, worms, ticks, and also rabies are all things you need to protect your dog from now. Administer regular medication or treatments to keep these pests at bay.
Swimming in Summer with Your Dog
If you have a lake, river, or even the sea nearby, take your dog swimming. Bring small balls or other floating toys, and the time in the water won't be boring for either of you. If none of these swimming options are available, there might be a pond or stream nearby where your dog can splash around.
Spray Them with the Hose
If your dog doesn't mind being sprayed with the garden hose, this is a real treat on a hot summer day. When spraying, always start from the paws and work your way up, just as you would with a person. Have a water fight with your dog or let them catch water drops.
A Cool Forest Walk
If the forest isn't too far away and you don't have to drive long distances, it's a wonderfully cool place for your dog to relax in summer. Don't forget to keep your dog on a lead, as hunters won't appreciate dogs chasing wildlife. And once again: always bring enough water.
A Scoop of Ice Cream
If you fancy an ice cream, you can treat your dog to a scoop — vanilla is best — as a special exception. Just sit with them in the shade and enjoy the cool moment. Your dog will certainly enjoy it too. You should absolutely avoid chocolate ice cream. Chocolate or theobromine poisoning is caused by the purine alkaloid theobromine. Dogs (and cats) in particular can be poisoned by chocolate. The poisoning can be fatal.
Important note: Please be aware that ice cream — regardless of the flavour — also contains sugar and artificial flavourings that aren't really healthy for your dog. So use this sparingly and only as a last resort.
Freeze Dog Toys
Get a Kong made of natural rubber. Fill it with all sorts of treats for your dog and freeze it. In the summer heat, your dog can then keep busy with this cool toy.
Wet Their Legs and Belly
Simply wetting your dog's legs and belly repeatedly is enough to cool them down from the outside. Your dog should ideally lie on a cool tile or stone floor.
A damp mat is less suitable, as the moisture in the mat heats up again from the dog's own body warmth.
Reduce Food Portions
Dogs typically have more thirst and less appetite in the heat. However, some dogs never seem full and are always hungry.
In general, your dog's meals should be smaller on hot days. Instead of one large portion, feed several small portions (for adult dogs). This avoids putting too much strain on the cardiovascular system.
Paddling Pool or Sprinkler
If you have the space to set up a sturdy paddling pool or sprinkler on your balcony or in the garden, your furry friend will be delighted and happily take advantage of it.
Precautions — Beach Holidays
Test the sand on the beach with your hand before your dog steps on it. Otherwise, they could get blisters. Keep in mind that a dog who's been driven to the beach in a hot car or has walked to the beach in the sun will be very thirsty. They don't know that the water in front of them is salty and won't do them any good.
That's why, before letting your dog off the lead at the beach, you should have a large bowl of fresh water ready for them. They need to be able to drink plenty so they won't be tempted to drink seawater. Drinking saltwater doesn't necessarily make dogs ill, but it does empty their stomach. They'll vomit afterwards and may feel unwell. They'll also swallow some while swimming, but that's not a big deal. Give them enough fresh water after their swim and they'll love the sea.
Also be aware that seas have tides, and your dog shouldn't be walking on the seabed far out when the tide comes in. Many dog owners have been caught off guard by the tide and drowned trying to rescue their dog. Rinse your dog's coat well after a saltwater swim — it will also contain a lot of sand, which itches on a dog's skin. Together, salt and sand dry out the skin and can cause irritation.
Precautions — Fresh Water
When holidaying near fresh water, be aware that natural rivers and lakes can have dangerous currents. Still waters can harbour all sorts of dangers through heat, parasites in the water, and algae that can be toxic to your dog. If your dog swims in water contaminated with certain algae, head to the vet immediately!
Regardless of the type of water — a dog that can swim can still drown if they inhale water. If you want them to be safe, buy a long lead and swim with them on the lead. Some dogs have been used to this from a young age and feel safest when their owner is holding on to the lead.
This behaviour can be trained from an early age. Because sadly, many dog owners have lost their lives trying to rescue their dog from drowning.
Summary
During the summer months, you can have a lot of fun outdoors with your dog. But when temperatures rise, it's important to take the right precautions to protect your pet.
Whether you're walking your dog in the city, driving with them in the car, or simply playing in the garden, the heat can be very dangerous for them. Strenuous dog sports are definitely off-limits, as they can lead to cardiovascular problems. You should also know the signs of overheating so you can act quickly in an emergency. Your dog can't tell you when they're feeling unwell.
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, seek veterinary attention immediately, as it could be heatstroke: excessive panting, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, noticeable drooling, restlessness, weakness, dizziness, red or dark gums.
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