How to Keep Your Dog Cool

Beat the summer heat!

Summer is just around the corner and it can be a very dangerous season for dogs if their owners are not being responsible. That is why it’s important that everyone knows some basic things on how to keep your dog cool and beat the summer heat. High temperatures can provoke dehydration, sunburn, burned footpads, and even heat stroke. Also, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, and other insects are at their peak during the summer, so make sure that your dog is using appropriate protection.

For starters, organize your day so you are able to take your dog for a walk and light exercise early in the morning or late at night. This way your obligatory walks will be more comfortable for you and your dog.

If you can’t walk your dog during the early and later hours of the day, you can buy him doggie boots. Just like boots prevent the dog from absorbing the cold in the winter, they also isolate heat that dogs absorb while walking on hot surfaces (such as cement or asphalt). This way you can prevent burned footpads.

When it is too hot or too cold outside, some dogs don’t want to even go for a walk. Sometimes, they will just go outside, do their business and go back home – and that’s okay. If you see that your dog isn’t in the mood for a walk, don’t pressure it.

Don’t go anywhere without a bottle of fresh and cool water!

Dogs cool off by panting (because they cannot sweat), so an overheated dog will drool excessively. You need to watch for signs of dehydration. If your dog really is dehydrated, it will become lethargic and its eyes will be bloodshot. A little tip: lift your dog’s skin – if it is dehydrated, it will take longer than usual for the skin to fall back into place. This little trick will help you determine your dog’s condition and whether it's time to go see the vet. You can also feed your dog wet dog food during the summer to increase its fluid intake and decrease the risk of dehydration.

Spray your dog with water or use a wet towel and make your dog lay on it. The most important parts to spray and cool off are your dog’s paws and stomach because there is less fur and water that can reach your dog’s skin and won’t just stay on his coat. 

For owners, digging usually isn’t the favorite thing their dog could do. It is messy and if not learned otherwise, a dog can start scraping floors and carpets in the apartment. But, in the summer, dogs use digging to avoid the heat and to create a place to cool off, so let them dig.

Most important of all – don’t ever leave your dog in a parked car. The car retains more heat than an open area, even if it is in the shade. Besides heat problem, the dog may feel claustrophobic or overexcited because of the people passing by, which make dehydration more likely. Leaving a dog in a hot car is the most common reason for heatstroke which occurs when your dog’s body temperature rises dangerously high. On longer trips, make sure you have water for the dog and keep the AC running.

World Dog Finder team