10 How To Cool Down A Dog Tips You Need To Learn Now

Dogs have no sweat glands and are inherently very afraid of heat, so in the summer, when the temperature is so high, your dog will be uncomfortable and afraid of heat. This article will teach you how to tell if your dog is too hot, how to cool him down, and how to keep him safe and comfortable throughout the summer.

How Dogs Regulate Their Body Temperature?

Dogs can sweat through their paws. As sweat is produced, it begins to evaporate, taking heat away from the dog's body and lowering its overall body temperature. Dogs also regulate their temperature by replacing their fur when they are allowed to. When the weather is hot, the dog will shed the fleece to cool down, and when the weather is cold, the dog will regrow the fur to keep warm. Therefore, it is not recommended to shave all fur, and you can trim it because the dog's hair effectively prevents ultraviolet burns and has a good insulation effect.

Signs That Your Dog is Too Hot

In the heat of summer, excessive panting is the first symptom. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a dangerously overheated dog may convulse, experience vomiting or diarrhea, and the gums or tongue may turn bright red.

Signs of Heatstroke Include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Salivation/excess salivation
  • Bright red gums
  • Weakness or confusion
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you notice that the dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms, it is important to take immediate action to cool him down. Dogs that are not treated promptly for heatstroke can quickly progress to seizures, coma, and even cardiac arrest. It is no exaggeration to say that this can even lead to death within minutes. This is no joke. In many dogs, heatstroke is a huge risk. Contact your local veterinarian immediately. Call your veterinarian ahead of time and let them know you are on your way, and they will instruct you on how best to control their temperature until you can get them to the clinic.
Some things can help lower their temperature gradually, but it is important to get your dog to a veterinarian. Heatstroke is life-threatening.

How to Prevent Overheated in Dogs?

1. Swimming

In hot weather, dogs also need to exercise every day, and you may want to take your dog to swim. You can bring some toys in the water, play, and training, get some small snacks, such as chicken jerky, chicken fries dry, etc., appropriate to reward the dog. To release the dog's energy and give the dog cool down, but after the dog, bath to pay attention to clean the body. Oh, avoid infection on the skin disease or conjunctivitis and other infectious diseases.

“It's always better to be safe than sorry!” It is recommended to use a dog's life jacket

dog swimming summer

2. Fan Or Air Conditioner

In the summertime, do not go out. At least in the hottest time of the day, do not go out. Let the dog stay in the coolest part of the house. Dogs that are too hot can selectively give the dog a fan or air conditioning to adequately lower the temperature. But not for a long time in the air conditioning inside, the temperature should not be too low, generally in about 26 degrees can be, to avoid the dog catching a cold.

3. Cut Short Dog Fur

Different breeds of dog hair length and thickness are distinct. In general, long hair, and the thick dog is more afraid of heat. Many owners may help dogs shave in the summertime, but I recommend not shaving all dog's fur, can be cut short, dog fur shaved more prone to skin diseases and easy to be sunburned.

4. Shade

Mainly for the dogs placed outdoors. If the owner sets up a kennel outdoors, please put the kennel transferred to the shade in the summertime, or you can buy a sunshade for the dog. It can avoid direct sunlight, prevent the dog from heatstroke.

5. Add a Cool Mat For The Dog

The owner can buy an ice mat for the dog in the summer. Most of them have a built-in jelly gel to dissipate heat for the dog. If you do not want to buy, give the dog a soaked towel to help dissipate heat. PDF

"Summer Ice Silk Self Cooling Sleep Mat for Dogs Cats"

6. Drink More Water

The most important thing is to provide clean and sufficient water for your dog in the summer. And let your dog can easily find water. Of course, the dog's water needs more in the summer. Pay attention to see if there is still water in the bowl. There is also hot weather, the dog's appetite may be reduced, the owner can choose some palatable dog food to feed the dog, you can also provide some yogurt Oh.

7. Always Take A Water Cup Outside

Just as you would bring water for yourself when you go out, so does your dog desperately need it. If your dog is panting or won't move forward, find a cool place to give him some water. If not, sprinkle some water on him.

8. Choose The Morning Or Evening

At that time, the temperature is lower. If it's hot all day, it's best not to go out all day. Choose a shady place to walk your dog so that you won't suffer too much. Go out either choose the morning or choose the evening. If there's a river or something, that's good too. Be sure to hold the leash, not only to prevent loss but also to control the dog's behavior effectively, to prevent it from getting too excited. Try to the grass, do not let the dog step on the hot road, or burn paw. You can reach out and touch the ground to see how hot, see if you can hold on for 15 seconds. If you have to walk on scorching pavement, then temporarily wear a pair of tiny shoes.

9. Don't Lock Your Dog In A Car Alone

About 31 states in the U.S. have laws that make it a crime for a person to leave an animal confined in a vehicle under dangerous conditions (such as extreme hot or cold temperatures). The temperature in a limited vehicle rises dramatically and can quickly kill a dog. If you leave your car alone, I bet a concerned passerby will likely smash your car glass. If you go for a minute or two, then remember to open the windows or turn on the air conditioning, leave water for it, and hurry back when you're done. If you can't, then don't take your dog with you when you go out. Let it cool off at home.

"If you see a dog in a hot car, dial 999."

10. Give Cool Snacks

Give a small number of cool snacks. Giving too much at once can make your dog uncomfortable. You can choose ice low-salt beef or muscle broth or other tasty juices. Even just an ice cube on a hot day will make your dog happy.

How to Rescue Overheated Dogs？

1. Take your dog's body temperature. Dogs with heatstroke can have a temperature of 39.5° or higher, so use a rectal thermometer to test your dog's temperature. Get someone to help grab the dog's head and body, find the anus, lift the tail, carefully put in the rectal thermometer and retrieve it, enter about 2.5cm, not too long, and wait about 2 minutes. The average temperature is 38.6-38.9°. If the temperature is higher than this, there is a high probability of heatstroke. Once the heatstroke, the first time to contact the veterinarian, while first think of ways to cool the dog. Pay attention to the gradual cooling, not all at once from hot to cold, may also be dangerous.

2. Wet the dog. Flush with a hose or put the dog in a cool tub of water (but not ice water). We recommend soaking all four paws in the water and wetting the armpits. Please do not get the whole body wet at once.

3. Diluted alcohol can be applied to the dog's meat pad, which will quickly evaporate and absorb heat. But if it is pure alcohol, remember to be diluted, do not apply alcohol directly, 70% of medical alcohols can be used now without dilution. The reason is still always stressed, do not "violently" cool down. Do not always use this method of heat dissipation, only occasionally, otherwise, the dog's paws may become dry.

More Attention Dog Breeds

Not to feed your dog too much fat. Fat dogs have a more challenging time dissipating heat and are at higher risk for heatstroke. Dogs with short noses, like bulldogs and pugs, are more prone to heatstroke than other dogs.

List the dog breeds that are prone to heatstroke in the summer.

  • Huskies
  • Alaskan Dogs
  • Bulldog
  • Shar-Pei dogs
  • Samoyed
  • Pug Seventh
  • Schnauzer

Every year, dogs have tragic deaths due to heatstroke, so owners must be vigilant—best wishes for a perfect summer for all dogs. 

Final Thoughts

Do you know of any other cooling methods? How do you cool your dog down? Any tips to share? Let me know in the comments below! Thanks. 

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