How Hot is Too Hot?
The dog days of summer are finally here! Being that it’s only June, it’s safe to say that some of the hottest days of the year are ahead of us. It’s important to monitor your dogs’ temperature this summer so they don’t overheat!
Dogs pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves down and their temperature will jump to dangerous levels quickly.
Watch for Signs of Heatstroke
- Heavy panting
- Glazed eyes
- A rapid heartbeat
- Excessive thirst
- dizziness/ lack of coordination
- Deep red or purple tongue
How to Treat a Heatstroke
Move your dog into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them. Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
Walking on HOT Asphalt
To ensure your pup doesn’t burn their paws during a walk this summer, do the seven-second test. The seven-second test is putting the back of your hand on the ground and if your hand can’t stand the head on the asphalt, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on. This is a quick and efficient way to make sure your dog doesn’t get hurt!
Swimming
It might seem that as long as your dog’s in the water, that they’re cool. But, swimming too much can prompt dogs to overheat! If your dog is panting excessively, their gums look dark red rather than pink and they’re extremely hot to touch, they’re overheating. Dogs will happily swim for hours, ignoring how hot or tired they are, so it’s important for you to monitor your dog when they’re swimming this summer!
