Hot Dog Alert for Pet Parents

Hot days are hard enough without having to worry about a seriously sick or injured dog. Save yourself from such stress with these tips for keeping your dog safe and comfortable despite the summer heat.

Heatstroke (which can be fatal) is the biggest danger your dog faces as the thermometer climbs. Know the signs to watch out for when the weather is hot: excessive panting, difficulty breathing, vomiting, white gums, an intensely red tongue, refusing food, not wanting to play as usual, being generally lethargic or even collapse. Remember that breeds with shorter noses, like pugs or Boston terriers, are even more susceptible than other dogs. If you fear your dog may be suffering a heat stroke, call your veterinarian (or closest 24-hour pet emergency hospital) right away!

Here are some ways to prevent heatstroke by proactively keeping your dog cool:

• Don’t leave your dog in the car without the air conditioner on during a hot day. According to the MSPCA, “The inside of a car can heat up to 110 degrees in 10 minutes on an 80 degree day even with the windows slightly open. Your pet could be in danger even on a moderately hot day.”
• As a dog trainer, I often need my dogs with me for my work. I am eternally in search of shade to park under and I have installed “BreezeGuards” on the windows of my mini-van so that I can safely leave my windows all the way down without worrying about dogs getting out of or people getting into my vehicle. Still, on days as hot as the ones Arlington is currently suffering, I leave my car running with the air conditioner on and the windows cracked a little for ventilation, bracing myself for the day I get a scolding for protecting my working dogs over the environment.
• If your dog stays in a crate, make sure there is plenty of ventilation and that it stays cool enough inside. A wire crate or pen will be cooler than a plastic airline carrier type crate.
• Some dogs, like us humans, enjoy water play as a refreshing way to cool down. Set up a sprinkler in the yard to run through with your dog. Get your dog a kiddie wading pool. Take your dog to a dog friendly pond where they can wade. (Our favorite these days is at Cat Rock in Weston because it seems to have the freshest, cleanest water nearby.)
• Consider leaving your dogs at an air-conditioned, indoor daycare like Pawwtopia or Go Play for the day so that they don’t miss out on socialization and exercise despite the oppressive heat outdoors.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Health professionals continually try to drill that message into the minds of their human patients, but it’s just as true for our canine pals. Carry water with you for your dog. See my Weekly Yip titled for more on this topic. Oh, and keep in mind that increased water intake will translate to an increase in the need for potty breaks.
• Offer your dog healthy, cool treats, like ice cubes with dog treats frozen inside or Kong toys stuffed with a small amount of peanut butter or a mixture of your dog’s regular dinner with some wet dog food, frozen for added challenge as well as a cooling effect.
• Exercise your dog early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the heat. (Also keep in mind how hot the pavement can feel to a dog’s paws, and stick to the grass if you MUST be out when it’s hot!) Ideally, mid-day is for snoozing.

While heatstroke is a huge warm weather danger for dogs, it isn’t the only one. Dogs can also suffer from sunburn. White dogs or dogs with patches of fur that are thinner in some areas, like on their noses or where their fur parts, are especially sensitive to direct sunlight. One solution is to stick to the shade as much as possible. Another—don’t laugh—is doggy sunscreen. Last year, I searched all over for a local source of doggy sunscreen and came up empty handed. A staff member at Petco Unleashed suggested using sunscreen for (human) babies, which is what I did for Tatsuya’s white snout last year. I hear that Active Paws in Belmont will stock doggy sunscreen this year.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a dog who loved the kind of hot weather we’ve had lately, but this handful of tips can at least make the heat safer and more comfortable for the dogs we love.