Wow, it’s Hot Outside!

The planet is heating up, and we’ve been seeing record breaking temperatures across the globe. Now, more than ever, it’s important to be conscientious about how hot weather affects your dog.

Every year, people lose dogs to heat stroke. That’s because dogs don’t really sweat. They do have some sweat glands in their foot pads, and they pant to stay cool, but none of that is enough in certain circumstances.

If you are outside with your dog on a hot day, make sure they have shade and water to drink. Never leave your pet alone in a car (even with the windows down) if the outdoor temperature is 70 or above. The inside of a car can go from 70 degrees to 104 degrees in just 30 minutes!

Our dogs love to be with us, and to go where we go, but it’s kinder to leave them at home in hot weather. And remember, exercising them when it’s hot out can be just as dangerous as being left in a hot car.

Signs of heat stroke are disorientation, dry, pale gums, bright red tongue, thick saliva, rapid heart rate, vomiting, excessive panting, and difficulty breathing. If not cooled down right away, organ damage, or even death, can occur. Dogs that are old, overweight, dark coated, or brachycephalic (flat face) are at twice the risk.

If your dog overheats, give him cool water to drink, place a cold towel or bag of frozen veggies on his head, (but not for more than a few minutes at a time.) Run a cool (not cold) bath, or hose him off –but remember, the water that’s been resting in an outdoor garden hose can be really hot! so let it run cool, first.

Another danger is walking your dog during the hot times of day, when pavement can become dangerously hot. If the pavement is too hot for you to touch with the back of your bare hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws and can badly burn their pads.

Be safe out there! Remember, your dog is counting on you to keep him safe.