How to Keep a Pet Dog Cool on a Hot Summer Day

When the temperature soars keeping a pet dog cool is very important. On very hot days dogs may not be able to pant fast enough to cool themselves down. Dogs don’t have sweat glands, except in small areas such as on the pads of their toes and on their noses. They cool down mainly by panting, which releases evaporated water from their lungs and mouth, and radiating heat from dilated blood vessels in their ears. If dogs overheat on a hot summer day they are at risk for developing dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke, which can be fatal.

I’m very concerned about stopping Misha, my black Labrador retriever, from overheating. His coat is very dark and absorbs heat easily. I’ve developed a number of techniques for keeping Misha cool when the temperature rises.

When the weather forecast is predicting a long string of hot days, I take Misha for a walk early in the morning at around 6 or 6:30 a.m. I find that if I leave the walk to 7 a.m. the day is already too hot. We walk on trails that are still in the shade of trees as much as possible, and don’t go for the more vigorous types of walks like hill climbing. I take a small water bowl and flask of water with me in a little backpack. The local parks have dog bowls attached to the human water fountains, which is very nice, but there's always the chance that a water fountain won't work, or that Misha will get thirsty before we reach the water fountain. i also prefer to give him water from a clean water bowl. It's important to remember when walking a dog on a summer day that a dog's paw pads can get burned if the dog walks on hot tarmac.

If I want to give Misha a ball game in the garden I do this very early in the day too. Late at night the heat of the day is still present, and the atmosphere is too uncomfortable to take Misha for a walk or to give him exercise.

If Misha and I do go anywhere in hot weather he wears a cooling bandana. This is a lovely device, which can be bought in many pet stores and online. The bandana is filled with polymer crystals. When the bandana is soaked in water the crystals absorb water and the bandana expands, so it's important to buy the right size bandana for the dog. Water slowly evaporates from the bandana, cooling the dog down. Some pet stores also sell cooling pads and beds for dogs to lie on, or cooling vests for a dog to wear.

As the day progresses I need to keep Misha cool as the house warms up, since we don’t have air conditioning. I put box fans where he likes to lie down. I periodically take him into the back garden to hose him down with the garden hose. We also have a children’s padding pool to keep Misha and his Leonberger companion cool. Inside the house I dampen Misha down with a cold wet towel or a spray bottle.

Another cooling technique I use is to take Misha to a nearby lake in my air-conditioned car. The lake has a dog beach, so Misha can immerse himself in water and get thoroughly wet. I never leave Misha alone in the car on a hot day when the air conditioning is turned off, even with the windows open. The temperature inside a car can rapidly increase on a hot summer day, making the car hotter than the surrounding environment. It's not a safe place for children or for pets.

Misha has access to lots of cool water during the day, Water bowls are distributed around the house to encourage him to drink and in case one is emptied without me noticing.

Misha often voluntarily goes down into the basement on a very hot day. I make sure that there is water available for him there. The basement is much cooler than upstairs. If the weather is too hot for sleeping upstairs Misha and I move into the basement for the night, where we are much more comfortable, and I sleep on a camp bed.

If you take steps to keep your dog cool on hot days he or she should never develop heat-related illnesses, but it's good to know the signs, just in case. Old or overweight dogs and dogs with breathing problems are more susceptible to heat related illnesses.

Signs of heat exhaustion include rapid and heavy panting, increased salivation and thick saliva, increased heart rate, vomiting and diarrhea. If heat exhaustion isn't treated it can progress to heat stroke.

Heat stroke is a very serious condition and requires immediate attention to prevent organ damage and to save the dog's life. One sign of heat stroke is increased core body temperature. A dog's normal rectal temperature is about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 38 to 39.2 degrees Celsius). A rectal temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or higher is a medical emergency. The dog may be panting extremely rapidly or may stop panting altogether. The gums may be dark red at first, but may eventually turn pale or even develop a blue appearance (cyanosis). The pulse may be rapid or irregular. The dog may also be disoriented, uncoordinated and shaking, and may experience seizures, or may collapse and be unable to get up. The dog may eventually loss consciousness.

If a dog is experiencing a heat related illness he or she should be taken to a cool, shady place, preferably with a fan in front of the dog, and wet and cool (but not icy cold) towels applied to the body, especially the head and inner thigh. The dog can also be immersed in a tub of cool (but not cold) water. Make sure that water is available for the dog to drink if he or she is able to. Encourage the dog to drink but don't force him or her to do so. Check the dog's temperature regularly to see if it is decreasing and also to check that the dog isn't becoming too cold. A vet must be contacted, even if you successfully lower the dog's temperature, to check for organ damage.

Summer can be a wonderful time for you and your dog, as long as steps are taken to keep your dog - and yourself - cool. You can still go for walks and your dog can still chase balls or frisbees, although you will probably need to plan your dog's exercise sessions carefully in summer. Early morning walks or games, or walks and games close to a water source such as a lake or river will give your dog exercise and fun!