It’s about to get hot out there, and your furry best friend has an extra layer of fluff that will insulate them and make it harder to cool off. It's great in the winter but a liability during the summer. Preventing your dog from getting heatstroke is crucial for their health and safety.
You can do plenty of things to avoid heatstroke. They're all revolved around giving your dog the opportunity to manage the heat coming at them. You do this by by cooling them down, keeping them hydrated, and ensuring they don't get sunburned.
Cool Them Off to Prevent Heatstroke In Your Dog
It’s key to be aware of how hot it is when you’re outside. If you're feeling a bit uncomfortable in the heat, the chances are your dog's feeling worse. The rule of thumb is too hot for you = too hot for your pet. Keep an eye on the humidity as well because that will stack up the heat's effect on your pet.
Make sure they've got lots of shade and water. Tree shade and tarps are the perfect way to keep your pet cool because they offer cover without restricting airflow.
Fans aren’t as effective at cooling off dogs as humans, so finding other ways to cool them off is crucial. A great way is to use cooling pet wraps. These get soaked in cold water and wrapped around your pet to cool down their bodies.
Keep Them Hydrated
Hydration is a main way of combatting heatstroke because it helps the body regulate temperature. However, it's crucial to remember that they’ll need more water than normal when it’s hot outside, so you’ll need to adjust their water intake accordingly.
Make sure they always have fresh cool water available so they can take it as often as they want. Also, freezing cold water isn't good for their systems and will shock them. They also might have sensitive teeth and not enjoy drinking water that's too cold. So cool water is best. You can keep an eye on their water bowls, and when you're out and about, you can use a pet water bottle or a portable bowl to set up if you’re hanging out somewhere for a while.
Preventing Sunburn means Preventing Heatstroke In Your Dog
Like us, it's too easy for dogs to get sunburnt. This is especially true for dogs with white ears and noses. Sunburn makes dogs more susceptible to heatstroke, so preventing it will ensure they stay safe. You can avoid sunburn by limiting sun exposure or buying pet sunscreen that you can apply to the parts of their body that have less hair coverage, like the tips of their ears. Keeping white-faced dogs inside during the sunniest and hottest parts of summer can also be a good idea.
Keep It Cool This Summer
Heatstroke doesn't have to put a crimp in your summer plans for your doggo. You can keep the season super fun by ensuring they're hydrated and giving them a bunch of ways to cool down. For more ideas on how to have a great time with your pets check out our website.