A sizzling hot summer day is great for us humans but not always so great for our dogs! Dogs love basking in the sun, but they’re susceptible to heat exhaustion too. So, when it’s scorching outside, don’t forget to keep your dog cool and comfy! Learn the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs and how to cool a dog down fast.
Signs Your Dog is Too Hot
It’s important to recognize when your dog is getting too hot and might be starting to struggle with heat exhaustion. You must cool your dog down if you spot any of the following signs.
- Excessive Panting: Dogs pant to cool down, but heavy, rapid panting can indicate overheating.
- Drooling: Increased drooling can be a sign of heat stress.
- Lethargy: If your dog is unusually tired or sluggish, it might be overheated.
- Vomiting or Diarrhea: These can be symptoms of severe heat stress or heatstroke.
- Confusion or Uncoordinated Movements: Heat affects your dog’s central nervous system, leading to disorientation.
Why should I keep my dog cool?
Dogs are more prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke than humans. Panting is their main way to cool down, which isn’t the most efficient – so they can quickly overheat. If you have a short-nosed breed like a Pugs or French Bulldog, you must be extra careful in hot weather!
How To Cool Down A Dog
The best way to cool down a panting dog is not to expose them to extreme heat in the first place. But many dogs LOVE the sun and would bask in it all day if allowed, so you’ll need to know how to cool them down if they get hot!
Provide plenty of shade
If your dog is a sun worshipper, provide shade in the garden. For example, a raised dog bed with a canopy or under a parasol for a cool spot to lie in.
Make sure there’s fresh water available
Of course, we know you do this anyway, but something to think about is that the water might heat up quickly or even evaporate depending on the temperature.
Get your dog a paddling pool
Many dogs love to splash around in a pool on a hot day, and it keeps them nice and cool. If you have room in your yard, give it a go!
Make some popsicles
You’ll find many recipes online for homemade dog treats that can help cool your dog down. Pupsicles, using frozen yogurt and berries, are often a favorite with many dogs and are simple to make.
Avoid hot walks
Stay out of the sun during the middle part of the day, and stick to walks in the cooler early mornings and evenings when the sun has gone down. Still, be careful in the evening, as the sidewalk can get really hot throughout the day, and will retain a lot of that heat. No one wants burnt paws.
How to cool a dog down fast
If your dog HAS gotten too hot, maybe they’re panting, or showing other signs of heatstroke, or overheating… how will you cool them down fast? Here are our tips:
- Get them somewhere cool – air-conditioned ideally, or at least with a nice fan to get the air circulating.
- Place them on a cool mat – the cooling gel will help to lower their body temperature.
- Offer water – Get them to drink water to help cool their insides down
- Have wet towels on hand – you can use wet towels to try and cool a dog’s temperature down, but change them regularly as they heat up fast!
- Get them to relax – keep them still and calm, and prevent them from racing around to stop their temperature from rising again
- Check their temp – If you have a thermometer, you can take their temperature. A dog’s resting temperature should be between 38.3 to 39.2°C (101.0 to 102.5°F)
- Contact your veterinarian – if you’re at all worried about your dog being too hot, then call in. Heat stroke can happen fast, especially if you have a short-nosed dog like a Frenchie, Bulldog, or Pug, so don’t take the risk!
Keeping dogs cool when the weather heats up is important. Dogs and especially puppies, can’t regulate their temperature very well, so they need us to watch out for them and ensure they don’t get too hot.
