How to cool down your dog

When the hot season arrives, everyone feels the urge to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Of course, you'd want to bring your beloved dog along to enjoy those summer adventures. However, you need to understand that dogs' bodies don’t respond to heat the same way ours do, and they can struggle to cool down after being outside in temperatures above 28°C. This article will guide you on how to identify when your dog is overheating and how to keep them safe and comfortable throughout the long summer days.

Check the elasticity of your dog’s skin to see if it’s dehydrated. Gently pinch the skin at the back of your dog's neck. If it’s well-hydrated, the skin will immediately return to its original position. However, if dehydrated, the skin will stay pinched or become wrinkled.

• The longer it takes for the skin to return to normal, the more severe the dehydration. You should take your dog to the vet for intravenous fluids.

Examine the gums. Lift your dog’s tongue and check the color of its gums. If they’re not pink but red, this could be a sign of heatstroke. You can also touch the gums to check if they feel moist and slippery. If they’re dry or sticky, your dog may be dehydrated.

• If you suspect dehydration, give your dog water immediately (if it refuses, wet its tongue or take it directly to the vet). If left untreated, dehydration can lead to organ failure and death.

Observe your dog's movements. If your dog seems fatigued, weak, dizzy, or sluggish, it might be overheating and in need of medical attention. If your dog collapses or has a seizure, take it to the vet immediately. Call ahead so they can prepare for treatment.

• Fatigue is one of the earliest signs of dehydration. Don’t try to drag your dog for a walk or ignore it when it begins lying down or continuously running to the shade. Give your dog water and take it to a cooler place.

Check your dog's temperature. Dogs have a higher body temperature than humans, and if their temperature exceeds 40°C, they are overheated and need immediate cooling down or a vet appointment.

• Check your dog's rectal temperature every 5 minutes to monitor progress.
• Once your dog's temperature drops to 39.4°C, stop all cooling measures, dry the fur, and cover it with a towel to prevent the temperature from dropping too low.

Assess whether your dog needs medical care. Dehydration and overheating can be life-threatening. Observe your dog’s behavior and look for signs of severe overheating and dehydration. If unsure, call your vet or veterinary clinic and describe your dog’s symptoms. They may ask you to continue monitoring its health or bring your dog in for treatment.

Provide your dog with plenty of clean, cool water. Make sure the water bowl is kept clean and not left outside all day—bacteria can grow in the bowl if it’s not washed and refilled regularly. Never force or pour water into your dog’s mouth, even if it refuses to drink, to avoid it inhaling water into its lungs and choking.

• If your dog won’t drink water, try moistening its tongue with water. You can use your hands or a cloth to squeeze water onto its tongue.
• Avoid giving your dog ice-cold water or ice cubes if it’s overheating. Doing so will cool your dog down too quickly and can lead to shock.

Move your dog away from the heat source. Get your dog indoors as quickly as possible. If you're outside, you can carry the dog to the car or indoors. If there’s a pond or stream nearby, you can let your dog stand in the water to help lower its body temperature before bringing it indoors. At the very least, move your dog to a shaded area.

• Take your dog to a place with air conditioning or a fan blowing directly at it.
• Once you’ve moved your dog away from the heat, evaluate its symptoms and contact a vet. You may need to take it for emergency treatment.

Use a cool cloth to help lower your dog’s temperature quickly. You can place a damp, cool cloth on your dog’s neck, under its front legs (armpits), and around the hind legs (groin area). Be sure to use a cool cloth, not a cold one. Avoid using ice or ice packs—remember, you need to cool your dog down gradually. Cooling too quickly or lowering the temperature too much can be just as dangerous as overheating.

• If you don’t have a cloth, you can also pour room-temperature water over your dog’s body to cool it down.
• Wet your dog’s ears and paws. Dogs have many sweat glands in their paws, so cooling these areas will help reduce their body temperature.
• You can also try an evaporative cooling method by using isopropyl alcohol to wipe your dog’s paws and groin area. This method works similarly to sweating—when the alcohol evaporates, it draws heat away from your dog’s body.

Keep your dog in a cool and safe environment. Dogs should stay indoors (with air conditioning or fans) as much as possible during extreme heat. Avoid exposing them to high outdoor temperatures. If your dog spends a lot of time outside, make sure there is shaded space to escape the sun, cool down, and fresh water to drink.

• Cars are absolutely not safe for dogs during warm weather, even if the sun isn't too hot, or if the car is parked in the shade with windows cracked open for a short time. The temperature inside a parked car can quickly skyrocket to 60°C.
• Garages, beaches with no shade, or rooms that are hot with direct sunlight are also unsuitable environments for dogs during warmer days.
• Shady areas with trees, shelters, ponds, or shallow streams are great places to walk your dog when it's hot. Ensure your dog has access to fresh water, and be alert for signs of exhaustion or overheating.
• Provide a water bowl for your dog to cool off in while outside. You can fill a basin with cool water and let them soak their paws, either sitting, standing, or lying down in the water.

Don't let your dog exercise excessively. This is particularly important for older dogs or breeds with short muzzles (such as pugs, bulldogs, Pekinese, and Boston terriers). Overexertion on a hot day can cause your dog to overheat. Try not to walk or run with your dog for extended periods when it's hot. If you go outside, watch for signs that your dog is seeking shade or lying down. If they do, it's their way of saying, 'It's too hot, we need to leave.'

• Some dogs don't know their limits, especially breeds that love running, hunting, or playing. They might push themselves until they collapse, which can be dangerous. You need to monitor your dog for signs of overheating and schedule walks for cooler days.
• Short-muzzled breeds can't cool down as effectively since they can't pant as well as other breeds. Panting is the main way dogs regulate their body temperature, so even normal activities can be too strenuous for these dogs on hot days.

Walk your dog during the coolest times of the day. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to take your dog for a walk—taking them out in the midday heat is asking for trouble. Besides the scorching rays of the sun, the high air temperature and the heat from asphalt, concrete, and sand can burn your dog's paws and cause blisters. If the pavement is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it's definitely too hot for your dog.

• If you walk your dog before or after sunrise, you can find a suitable exercise routine during the day to keep them from getting bored and destructive.
• Try walking on grass or alternating between the road and grassy areas so your dog’s paws don’t get too hot.

Provide your dog with some cooling accessories. Cooling vests or collars can help your dog stay comfortable on hot days. Some vests have cooling packs attached, while others just need to be soaked in water to evaporate heat off your dog's body. Choose one that's light and suitable for your dog.

• You can also buy your dog a cooling mat or elevated bed so they have a comfortable resting place when it's too hot. These products are usually lightweight and use various cooling methods, from gel mats to evaporative cooling or water-based cooling. You’ll have many options to choose a product that suits your space and style.

Trim your dog's fur, but don’t shave it. While you might feel sorry for your dog wearing a fur coat in 38°C weather, the truth is that the fur coat provides insulation and helps regulate body temperature. Their coat keeps them warm in winter and cool in summer.

• If your dog has long fur, you can trim it a little or shorten it for the summer.
• Make sure your dog’s coat is always clean and well-groomed to allow better airflow.
• The coat also protects your dog from UV rays, helping prevent sunburn and skin cancer.

Make sure your dog stays hydrated and treat them with frozen rewards. Keeping your dog well-hydrated is just as crucial as preventing them from overheating. If your dog becomes dehydrated and its tongue is dry, its natural cooling method (panting) won’t work as effectively. When you’re out with your dog on a hot day, ensure they drink water at least once every hour or more often.

• If your dog isn’t too hot, you can offer them some ice cubes or frozen treats to enjoy. You could even make dog-friendly ice cream, but remember, giving your dog ice or frozen food when they are too hot (not just warm) can be dangerously risky and may lead to shock.