Summertime is perfect for outdoor adventures with your dog, but experts warn that pets can quickly overheat, or burn their paws on hot asphalt while out on a walk. Here’s how to keep your pets safe in the summer.
Avoid hot asphalt
Avoid walking your dog on hot sidewalks with asphalt. Being close to the ground, your dog’s body can heat up quickly and sensitive paws can burn. Try and walk your dog in the grass whenever possible.
Watch the humidity
“High humidity amplifies the negative impact of high temperature on your pet—and in combination, these factors magnify the danger zone,” the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association‘s Dr. Barbara Hodges said . “When animals pant, moisture from their lungs evaporates and helps reduce their body heat. But high humidity conditions hamper that process and their ability to cool themselves, and their body temperature can skyrocket—rapidly—to dangerous, or even lethal, levels.”
Do not shave your dog
The layers of a dog’s coat help protect it from sunburn, the American Kennel Club said. Brushing fluffy dogs more frequently can allow air to circulate.
Hydrate
If you are out and about with your pet, make sure you are prioritizing hydration. That means keeping a water bottle on you, taking breaks to drink, and noticing when your pet isn’t drinking enough, according to The Washington Post.
Fans are often not enough to keep dogs cool
Dogs respond to heat differently than humans -- for example, they sweat primarily through their feet. Fans are not as effective on dogs as they are on people. Cooling body wraps, mats and other products made for dogs can help. You can soak them in cool water, as well. If your dog does well in a bath, a cooling soak can help.
Limit exercise on hot days
On very hot days, pets should be limited to walks in the early morning or evening. Dogs with white-colored ears are susceptible to skin cancer. Short-nosed dogs, like pugs, often have difficulty breathing.
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle
Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, but it is also illegal in several states.
It can be difficult to know when an animal is having an emergency -- experts say the best way to know is to take your dog’s temperature. “Body temperatures above 106°F (41°C), without previous signs of illness, are most commonly associated with exposure to excessive external or environmental heat and are often referred to as heat stroke," VCA Animal Hospitals said.
Heatstroke in dogs
Warning signs
Heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing are all signs the dog might be experiencing heatstroke. If they excessively salivate, lose consciousness or their tongue turns a deep red or purple color, call a veterinarian immediately.
Animals at highest risk
Any animal that is very old or very young, underweight or not conditioned to exercise is susceptible to heatstroke. Some breeds, including boxers, pugs, Shih Tzus, and short-muzzled breeds, are at exceptional risk.
How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke
Get the dog out of the sun or anything exposing them to heat, the RSPCA said.
Pour water cooler than the dog’s temperature over them, but not on their head. Focus on the neck, stomach and thighs.
Submerge them in cool water, but don’t do it to an unconscious dog, one that’s elderly, or one with health problems.
Fan the dog to create a breeze.
Take them to a vet once their temperature comes down.
The RSPCA said cool first, transport second.