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Written by: Sarah Seward-Langdon
Reviewed by: Amanda Nascimento, DVM, MSc, Ph.D
Published on: 09/17/2022
Summer is in full swing, and you may be wondering how you can make sure your dog stays cool. Even if they’re indoors, the effect of a hot environment can still have serious consequences on your pooch’s health. When it's hot outside, your dog can overheat just like you do, and in fact they succumb to the heat much more easily than us! Luckily, there are many things you can do to keep your precious pet cool during the summer months.
Our dogs are family and they deserve to be treated as such. We know how important it is to keep our children cool when the temperatures rise, so why not ensure the same for our furry friends? This is why we’ve put together this easy guide that will help you help your best friend on four legs stay cool during the summer months!
The regular range of a dog’s body temperature (measured rectally) is anywhere from 100.2 to 103.8 degrees fahrenheit (or 37.9–39.9 degrees celsius) depending on the size and breed [5]. Dogs have built-in mechanisms that can help regulate their temperature in cold conditions, ie. their beautiful coats. Unfortunately, they can only do so much when faced with immense heat—dogs only sweat through the glands in their paw pads meaning they’re limited to panting and lying on a cool surface to try and regulate their body temperatures in hot weather [1]. This is not nearly as efficient as what our human bodies can do to regulate temperature in high heat.
It’s important for us as responsible dog owners to ensure we’re doing everything we can to make sure our fur babies are comfortable and safe, especially during these blazing hot summer days!
Here are 6 tips on how to keep your dog cool during the summer…
When it’s hotter outside, it’s always best to try and find an alternative to walking or running outside for hours, especially if you usually walk your dog in the middle of the day when the temperature outside is at its peak. Instead of heading outside, skip the walk and try stimulating your pooch with a food puzzle toy. Alternatively, you may be able to entice your fur baby to enjoy some time swimming—not close to a body of water? Try using a hard kiddie pool with some toys or treats. This will ensure they’re out of the heat and still getting the exercise and mental stimulation they need for the day!
We understand if it’s hard to get away from walking your dog; not only is it beneficial for them, but it is for you as well. Instead of going out during the late mornings or mid afternoons, try walking earlier in the morning when the sun hasn’t come out in full force yet. You could also pair this with a much later in the evening walk when the sun has gone down. Remember to check the pavement before your walk as well—if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your fur baby’s paws [2]! Try your absolute best to stay in shaded areas or moist grass.
As mentioned earlier, dogs do not have the most efficient temperature regulating mechanisms for immense heat. A parked car can get to crazy temperatures in just minutes if it’s left in the sun. It doesn’t even have to be that hot outside! In fact, the inside of a parked vehicle in 70 degrees fahrenheit (21 degrees celsius) weather, can reach a temperature of 100 degrees fahrenheit (37.7 degrees celsius) in 20 minutes. On incredibly hot days, it can get all the way up to 140 degrees fahrenheit (60 degrees celsius) in under an hour [3].
Think that cracking a window will help? Think again—the American Veterinary Medical Association debunked this and reminds people that cracking a window doesn’t help the situation very much at all. Unfortunately, even with all of this information available, hundreds of dogs die from car-related heat stroke every year [3].
It’s in your power to ensure your fur baby is safe and sound. When it comes to leaving your dog in a parked car in warmer weather, just say no. If you absolutely MUST take them with you somewhere, see if you can bring them inside to keep them cool.
Alternatively, leave the car running with A/C on and utilize a timer on your phone to ensure you’re in and out as quick as can be. So you can get back to your pooch and make sure they’re cool and safe. Otherwise, please leave your dog at home if you’re running errands that don’t involve them.
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✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
There are lots of cool treats that you can make to ensure you’re keeping your pooch happy and cool this summer! Check out our blog about DIY cooling treats [insert link to Summertime: Easy, Cooling Dog Treats to Keep Your Dog Chillin’ in the Heat] It includes a list of supplies on how to beat the heat with your dog, along with the recipes!
In today’s market of dog products, there’s no shortage of incredible cooling products out there. There’s everything from cooling mats to cooling collars to raised and covered dog beds! Using these on a hot summer day in combination with some chilling summer treats will ensure your pooch will conquer the heat!
Having a groomer work on your dog every summer isn’t a bad idea. A coat that is well maintained with no knots or matting could ensure your dog will feel a little cooler when faced with a little bit of sun. Make sure you consult a professional before you decide to cut away your pup’s coat! This is important because some breeds (ex. Double coated dogs like Huskies) should not be fully shaved—even if it seems logically that they’d be happier with less fur.
With everything we just reviewed, it’s important to be able to look out for signs of overheating in your dog. Unfortunately heat stroke can come on very quickly if you’re not careful, so it’s important to watch out for the first signs of your pet being overly hot! The worst part is it can lead to cardiac arrhythmia in your dog, which can be fatal [4].
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms of heat stroke:
Looking for even more information about heat stroke in dogs? Check out this interesting paper… “Heat Stroke in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 54 Cases (1999-2004) and Analysis of Risk Factors for Death”.
If you think your dog is overheating or suffering from heat stroke, cool them down with cold water and rush over to the vet as soon as possible (don’t use ice cold water as it will shock their system!). Call the vet immediately so they are prepared and they can take action quickly once you arrive with your dog.
In the end, dogs endure a lot of heat every year, and it's up to us to help them stay as cool as possible. Thankfully there are some simple ways in which we can all keep our pets cool and comfortable during these hot summer days.
You know how important it is to take care of your own health during the summer, so don't forget that you also need to be taking care of your fur baby. If you make sure to implement some of these summertime safety tips and techniques, you can maximize your dog’s quality of life, and minimize serious complications that could arise due to heat stroke.
Those benefits are well worth the time and energy that it takes to remain proactive about hot weather dangers for your dog during the heated summer months.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
✅ Single ingredient, 100% pure Camelina Oil.
✅ Non-GMO
✅ Ideal balance of Omega-3 compared to other products, like soybean oil.
✅ Canadian produced and operated.
References
[1] https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-do-dogs-have-a-higher-body-temperature
[2] https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-to-keep-your-dog-cool
[3] https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dogs-in-hot-cars/
[5] https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-subjects/reference-guides/normal-rectal-temperature-ranges
Sarah is a marketing specialist with a passion for anything creative! Her openness to working across industries and job opportunities has allowed her to gain enormous amounts of experience in graphic design, video production, and written content creation. Animals have a special place in her heart as she grew up with cats and now owns her own Alaskan Malamute. She has spent the last couple of years in Vancouver working with different companies within the pet industry and gained valuable knowledge about the ins and outs of the (alternative) pet food industry, supplementation, and various training methods. When she’s not digitally creating content for pet lovers to consume, she’s out eating great food, dancing at drop-in classes, or exploring the beautiful Canadian scenery with her fur-child Miso.
