Keeping Dogs Cool In The Heat: A Quick Guide

It’s critical to think about your dog’s health in these hot months. While you’re able to easily go somewhere and cool down, like a public swimming pool or the mall or something, your dog has only the options you provide for him. Be aware that your dog needs your help and try some of these simple methods to help him stay cool in the heat.

Consider for a moment just how hot your dog may be. If you’re sitting their sweating like crazy and fanning yourself with the nearest item to you, remember that your dog can’t do either of those things since they can’t sweat and they don’t have opposable thumbs for grabbing items and fanning themselves. Also keep in mind that while you’re feeling hot, your dog is feeling hotter, especially if they have long or thick fur. Just assume that a dog feels temperatures at least ten degrees hotter, if not more depending on the dog.

The only natural method a dog has for cooling itself off is his tongue. When you see him panting furiously, this means he’s in desperate need of some cool water or other method of cooling down. Go fill up his water dish with cold water, or even ice cubes. The majority of dogs love a good ice cube to play with as it cools them off while they play. Filling their bowl with ice cubes will let them grab one or two and play with it while the others melt into more cold water for him to slurp up later.

Most likely the best method for helping your hot dog is to given them a kiddie pool to splash around in somewhere outside, preferably in the shade. Dogs just love to dive in and out and soak themselves to the skin, then of course to come over to you and shake themselves dry so that you’re just as wet as they used to be. It’s important to avoid inflatable pools though since dogs tend to chew on the edges of their kiddie pools, so get something made of solid plastic.

Not everyone has the option of a backyard pool though, so in that instance you can help your dog by providing a space indoors that still allows them to beat some of the heat. Try setting up a shady corner of your house with a little bed and a fan for them to just kick back and relax in front of. And periodically running your hand under cold water and then petting them will help to slick in some of that coolness to their fur.

Simply put, dogs need our help if they’re going to last in hot weather. Do your part and give them a hand, otherwise your hot dog won’t be so happy, and neither will you.

For more about dog health or to learn dog information in general, head to DogBreedsInfo.org today!

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