How to Keep Your Dog Active and Cool This Summer

Summer means warm weather, longer days and lots of time outdoors. This is all great news for owners who enjoy walking and playing with their dogs. However, it is important to take a few sensible precautions to help keep our pet companions safe while keeping them stimulated. Please spare a thought for pet owners experiencing homelessness, who will struggle to keep their pets cool with limited access to resources.

Let’s explore how we can enjoy summer safely with our dogs.

How do dogs keep themselves cool?

First, let’s think about how dogs cope in warm weather. We know that their fur coats put them at a disadvantage during the summer, so how do they cool themselves down?

Unlike us, dogs are only able to sweat through their paw pads and nose, which means they cannot rely on this as a method of reducing their body temperature.

So, when dogs become too hot, they pant. Panting helps to release heat from their tongues and airways through evaporation. This is usually pretty effective but of the environment temperature and humidity are too high, this process becomes impaired.

Dogs can also lose body heat through radiation. The blood vessels in their skin dilate which helps heat from their blood escape more easily. The amount of heat that can be lost this way depends on things like the environmental temperature and coat type. 

Behavioural changes are also key to keeping cool. Dogs will actively seek shade during hot weather and will favour lying on cool surfaces to keep their core temperature down. Many dogs will also minimise the amount of exercise or activity that they do, but this is not always the case.

Understanding this allows us to understand more about some of the steps we need to take to keep our pets safe in warm weather.

Heatstroke in dogs 

One of the biggest risks to dogs during the summer is heatstroke. Dogs only have limited methods of cooling themselves down, so overheating is a real possibility.

Heatstroke occurs when a dog has an elevated body temperature and is unable to bring it back down again. Normal body temperature is 38-39°C for dogs but, in heatstroke, this could be over 40°C.

When this occurs seizures, collapse, organ damage and death can happen.

Heatstroke can occur in dogs that are trying to exercise as normal in hot weather, or dogs that have been trapped in a hot environment, like a car or conservatory. Some dogs are more at risk from heatstroke than others, including brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs like bulldogs or pugs), overweight dogs, dogs with thick coats and giant breeds of dog.

Dogs suffering from heatstroke may show the following symptoms – 

  • Panting
  • Drooling
  • Bright red or pale gums
  • Shaking
  • Vomiting (which could be bloody)
  • Diarrhoea (which could become bloody)
  • Confusion
  • Collapse
  • Seizures

Dogs suffering from heatstroke need to be moved to a cool and shady area immediately. Pour cold water gently over the dog but don’t cover them with a damp towel, as this could inadvertently trap body heat. Sitting them in front of a fan to blow cool air over them could also help, as could moving them to an area with air conditioning. Taking these measures to help cool your dog before transporting them to your veterinary practice could increase their chance of survival.

Ways to keep your pets safe

Exercise in the cooler parts of the day 

Let’s start with the big one – dogs should only be exercised during the coolest parts of the day in the summer. This means sticking to morning and evenings only. Walking your dog during the heat of the day is dangerous and increases their chances of overheating. For some dogs like brachycephalic breeds, the temperature only needs to be just above average to cause them to struggle, so extra care is needed.

In very hot weather it is also possible for dogs to burn their paws on hot pavements, so this is another good reason to avoid being out and about in the middle of the day.

Limit excessive exercise 

As well as considering what time of day to exercise your dog, it is also important to think about the type of exercise you are doing. A gentle amble through some cool woodland is a different prospect from repeatedly throwing a ball in the middle of an open field with little shade. So, it is best to avoid using ball flingers or doing other activities like high levels of agility during warm weather periods.

Some owners worry that this means their dog isn’t burning off enough energy during hot spells. Just remember that no dog has died from missing out on a few exercise sessions, but dogs definitely have died from being over-exercised in warm weather.

Use cooling mats 

How do dog cooling mats work? Well, most dogs will actively seek out something cool to lie on during a hot spell, like a tiled kitchen floor. Cooling mats help replicate the same feeling. The special gel or water layer within the mat helps to draw heat away from the body, lowering the dog’s core temperature. These mats are more comfortable than lying on a hard floor, especially for elderly or arthritic dogs. They are also portable, meaning you can take them when you are out and about or traveling with your pet.

Cooling mats are one of the easiest and most effective ways of keeping pets cool on the streets, so we’ve added them to our Amazon Wishlists. 

Be aware of water intoxication 

While taking your dog for a cooling swim during warm weather is a great idea, you should be aware of water intoxication. This occurs when a dog drinks water to excess during play or swimming. Water intoxication can lead to a disturbance in the balance of their electrolytes, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, incoordination, seizures collapse and even death.

Just take a few sensible precautions. This includes limiting fetch games in the water, which increases their chances of swallowing (or even inhaling) too much water. You should also make sure your dog isn’t spending an excessive amount of time swimming and takes regular breaks. Care should also be taken with dogs that like biting at waterjets from sprinklers or hoses which can result in them drinking too much.

If you have any concerns about your dog, then seek immediate help from your vet.

How to mentally stimulate your dog

It can be hard to know how to mentally stimulate your dog at home during hot weather spells. The good news is that there are actually several things owners can do to keep boredom and anxiety at bay. Here are a few ideas for you:

  • Practice some training moves – Teaching your dog a few new tricks can easily be done in a shady area of the garden or indoors. Keep training positive, with rewards and praise each time your dog achieves something.
  • Use interactive toys – Snuffle mats and puzzle feeders are a great way of keeping your dog entertained. You can also stuff rubber toys, like Kongs, with wet dog food or soaked kibbes. Pop these in the freezer to make a cooling, melty treat for your pet.
  • Play some games – Games like treasure hunt (hiding treats around the house) or hide and seek (where you hide in the house!) can help to break the day up in warm weather.
  • Water play – Setting up a paddling pool in the garden, or putting the sprinkler on, can help to keep your pet cool as well as stimulated. Just keep an eye on your pet to ensure they aren’t consuming large volumes of water in their excitement.
  • Rotate their existing toys and chews – Instead of letting your dog have access to all their toys and chews, squirrel some away. You can then set up a rotation system where you have different ones out for them to play with on different days. This helps to keep things fresh and avoids boredom.

How can I help owners who are experiencing homelessness? 

Owners that are experiencing homelessness are dealing with a unique set of challenges. Both them and their pets are exposed to extremes of weather, often in a baking urban environment, and they do not have the resources available to them that so many of us take for granted. Staying cool and keeping their dogs healthy in hot weather can be a challenge. StreetVet is there to support these owners, but we can’t do it without your help.

If you would like to support us, then please head to our donations page for more information. We are always grateful for any donation we receive.

FAQs 

Do you put dog cooling mats in the fridge? 

It depends on the cooling mat as to whether it needs to go in a fridge. Those that contain water may benefit from being chilled, but ones that contain special cooling gel don’t usually require this.

Is chewing mental stimulation for dogs? 

Yes, chewing helps to mentally stimulate dogs. This natural behaviour also feels good and helps to keep boredom away. If you don’t want your dog chewing your possessions, make sure that you provide a selection of dog chews and toys for them to gnaw on.

Is sniffing mental stimulation for dogs? 

Yes, dogs have a keen sense of smell and enjoy being able to give their nose and brain a good workout. Snuffle mats and puzzle feeders help to keep dogs simulated, as do games like scavenger hunts.

Does mental stimulation tire dogs out? 

Mental stimulation is just as important for training dogs as physical stimulation. If you’ve ever seen a puppy after a training session, you will know just how exhausting it can be to concentrate and learn new skills.

How much mental stimulation does a dog need? 

There is natural variation depending on each individual dog, and also between breeds and ages. The most important thing to bear in mind is that your dog may lose focus or become frustrated if they must concentrate on an activity for a long period. Multiple short sessions are better than one long marathon one.