How to keep your dog at the right temperature in summer

It's hot, you in the shade on a sun lounger, a cool drink next to you and the waves gently crashing on the shore. You feel happy. You've waited so long for summer and it's finally here. You take special care of yourself, don't you? Your beloved dog needs the same attention. In a nutshell, I will describe to you what to do to make him as happy and safe on these hot days.

To take care of your dog's temperature during hot weather, you should follow a few rules.

1. Ensure that your dog has ongoing access to water and shade.

2. Plan walks early in the morning or evening. Then the temperatures are less oppressive.

3. Protect your dog from strong sunlight. Some more sensitive breeds may need the support of using a special cream on the tips of the ears and on the nose.

4. If you are planning a longer walk with your pet, find a place with access to shade and a body of water so you can rest and cool off.

5. Plan less intensive training and games.

6. Observe your dog's behaviour and well-being.

7. Never leave your pet in the car.

What else can be done to avoid overheating.

Take the following with you on a journey, short or long, a folding bowl, which can also be strapped to a backpack and taken on a hike. As with humans, hydration is key in hot weather.
Plan your journey so that you do not keep your dog in a carrier or in a boot for too long. The temperature there is often much higher and dehydration or heat stroke can easily occur.

At home or in the shade, you can place a cooling mat for the dog. The gel ones, can maintain a temperature as much as 5 degrees cooler than ambient. They can also be put in the freezer for a few minutes and thus chill even more.

Give your pet frozen water on the  lick mats. In addition to cooling him down, this will provide him with additional hydration.

It will do your dog good to play with a garden hose, it will lower his temperature and provide fun . If there is a lake in the area, you can throw your dog special floating on the water frisbee. Dog beaches are appearing more and more frequently on Polish waters. So we encourage you to make such a fun experience enjoyable for us and our doggies.

In order to make our pet feel better, it is important to look after their fur. Grooming your dog will help to remove dead hair or stuck hair which will relieve stress on your dog and maintain healthy skin. All grooming will help your pet in the summer. We wrote more about this in our article, to which the link is   here.

The dog mainly regulates its temperature by panting, but has sweat glands on its paws. These are located between the fingertips. If your pet leaves wet marks without wetting them, it means he is overheated.

Imagine that during a long walk, our dog repeatedly steps on very hot pavement or asphalt. This can be very unpleasant. You can do a test and put your hand on the pavement for five seconds, if it is too hot for you, it will be too hot for your dog too. We came up with an idea on how to bring relief to your dog's paws. Do you remember our paw cleaner? Simply scoop some water into it from the city fountain or tap and rinse all the paws. We know from experience how wonderfully this cools the paws of our canine cuties.

How to recognise overheating of a dog.

Sometimes it is the case that our pet gives a strong indication that he is overheated. He or she is panting harder than usual, has heavy breathing, does not feel like eating or playing. These are the first signs of overheating and it is worth recognising them well in order to prevent a stroke. Although a dog's fur protects it from overheating, it can sometimes occur.

Factors that contribute to an increased risk of heat stroke include:

Obesity

Old age

Puppy age

Cardiovascular or respiratory diseases

Brachycephalic breeds (breeds with a short mouth)

Dog breeds with thick hair and dense undercoat (northern breeds)

Training too hard.

How do you recognise sunstroke in a dog and what should you do if it happens?

If you notice any of the following symptoms, it could be a stroke!

Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs:

1. intensive panting

2. excessive salivation

3. emerging lethargy, drowsiness or incoordination

4. vomiting

5. collapse

6. diarrhoea

Remember to react quickly and use the following methods to lower the temperature.

1. Move the dog to a shaded and cool area.

2. Place it next to a fan or in an air-conditioned room.

3. Give him water.

4. Start cooling him down by immersing his body in water.

5. Lay it on a cold wet towel or cooling mat. Do not cover it with a towel, as this could have the opposite effect.

If necessary, immediately transport the dog to the nearest veterinarian.

Remember to keep an eye on your pet, although heat stroke is relatively rare. And once you've taken care of the 'lounger' and a bowl of water for your canine baby so he doesn't get heatstroke, enjoy the summer and listen to the sound of the waves.

Rest safe dear friends!

Regards!

Niuh editors