diggiddy’s Tips for Avoiding Heat Stress in Dogs

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Matt Baker

January 31, 2014

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1. Watch out for the signs that your dog may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Signs include heavy panting, drooling, mild weakness and increased heart rate and in extreme cases: seizures, vomiting and diarrhea. Bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pugs and other short nosed breeds are more susceptible to heat exhaustion but it can effect all breeds.
2. Tiled floors provide dogs with a nice cool place to lie, if you can have the dogs in an air conditioned cooler room of the home. If this is not possible outside is fine, but make sure they have adequate shading and soak a towel in cold water and leave on the floor for them to lie on.
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, make sure plenty of water is about. Never leave your dog unattended with kiddy pools though, even the bigger dogs can drown if not supervised.
4. Brush your dog out regularly. Getting your dog clipped off will NOT help in the heat, as the long coat helps as an insulator to keep them cool. If you are going to have your dog clipped, ask for a trim of the top coat and to take the underneath nice and short.
5. Do not walk your dog in the middle of the day. Walks should be completed early morning and late evening. In this heat most dogs would rather stay at home in the cool, or be taken to the beach in the water for a swim.
6. Try and limit car trips for your dog, if you are popping out LEAVE them at home, and NEVER EVER leave your dog in the car – even for short periods with the windows open it is still too hot and is almost always fatal.

To summarize:

• Watch out for the warning signs of heat exhaustion
• Keep your dog/s well hydrated at all times
• Walks should be kept short and only completed early morning or late evening
• Leave wet towels down, and tiled floors are great for helping reduce your dog’s body temperature
• Try to avoid car trips with your dog, and NEVER leave your dog in the car
• Use your common sense, dogs cannot sweat like us, and they can burn their paws on hot pavement, provide adequate shading at all times.