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Unlike human’s us dogs can’t sweat through our skin and have limited ways of cooling down. Dogs do sweat through the pads on their paws, but it’s by panting that us dogs circulate the necessary air through our bodies to cool down. So here’s a few tips on how you can help keep your furry friend, like me, cool in hot weather.
Dexter, pawssibly living better than any of us right now
1. Frozen fruit and vegetables
Frozen berries, apples, bananas and carrots are perfect for keeping a dog cool in hot weather whilst keeping us entertained. They also make a perfect gum soother for teething pups. The plus side is hoomans can enjoy these treats too!
But furiends, if you really want to make our tails wag, try making us some doggy ice lollies or frozen pupcicles – yes, that’s a thing and yes, we absolutely deserve them. Blueberries and peanut butter are firm favourites in our house. Or mix a spoonful of dog-safe peanut butter with water or banana, pour into a lolly mould, freeze and enjoy the show of the most enthusiastic licking you’ve ever witnessed. I speak from experience.
🐾 Paw-note – DON’T include grapes or cherries as these are toxic to us dogs. And always check your peanut butter doesn’t include xylitol – this sweetener is dangerously toxic to dogs and can be listed as birch sugar or birch bark extract on the label so watch out for those too. Always go for natural peanut butter with just peanuts, no added sugar or sweeteners – nothing else needed!
2. Walkies early in the morning or late at night
Roads and pavements absorb heat from the sun throughout the day and hot pavements can burn and blister our paw pads. And trust me – a dog with burned paws is not a happy dog. If it’s too hot for your own bare foot, then it’s too hot for your pooch. Simple.
Walking dogs during hot summer temperatures can lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal. So, heading out first thing or last thing when it’s cooler will be welcomed by your woofer. The RSPCA recommend avoiding between 11am and 3pm – the peak heat hours. Good advice. We concur.
Not sure if it’s too hot? Try the 5 second pavement test. Place the back of your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s too hot for us. Walk on grass wherever possible, it stays dramatically cooler than pavement in hot weather and is considerably kinder on our paws. And always carry water – offer us small amounts every 15-20 minutes. Don’t let us drink while panting heavily though as this can cause bloating. The things you learn.
🐾 Paw-note – know the signs of overheating. According to the RSPCA and Blue Cross watch out for:
- Excessive panting or laboured breathing
- Excessive drooling – thicker and stickier than normal
- Red or purple gums
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Weakness, lethargy or wobbliness
- Confusion or disorientation
- Collapse
If you spot any of these signs act immediately – and this is important – the RSPCA say cool first, transport second. Pour cool water over your dog, offer small sips and get to a vet as quickly as possible. Never place wet towels over your dog as these can trap heat and make things considerably worse.
Full guidance at rspca.org.uk – worth a read furiends.
3. Doggie paddling pool
For those dogs who LOVE water like me, nothing beats a refreshing doggy paddle in the pool to cool down those paws – and cool down those paws we do!
Summer Waves dog paddling pool keeping us cool
We’re big fans of the Summer Waves Dog Paddling Pool. But if you really want to take the pawty up a notch, the Kuggty Splash Pad with Fountain is an absolute game changer and comes in different sizes to suit all breeds. Connect to a garden hose, adjust the water pressure to your dog’s preference – mine is low, Dexter’s is whatever causes maximum chaos – and stand back. Check it out on Instagram @thetailsofdylan 🎥
Not a water dog? I know, I know – it takes all sorts. A cooling mat is your answer – no hose, no splashing, no Dexter zoomies through the fountain, just cool.
🐾 Paw-note – always supervise your dog around water. Always.
4. Cool Floors, Cool Homes, Cool Dogs
A tile floor is a dog’s best friend in hot weather. In hotter months, it becomes the coolest, most comfortable spot in the house. Provided your underfloor heating is off, obvs.
And while we’re on the subject of keeping the house cool – here are a few hooman tips that make a real difference:
- Close the doors, windows and blinds during the day to keep the temperature down inside and open them again in the evening when it cools.
- Place a bowl of frozen water in front of a fan to disperse cool air – DIY air conditioning. Dylan approved.
- At night or early morning open two windows or doors on opposite sides of the house to create a cross breeze, nature’s air conditioning and completely free.
And furiends – don’t forget grooming. Regular brushing during hot weather removes dead hair from the coat making it lighter, cooler and more comfortable for us. We use the Furminator Deshedding Tool which removes loose undercoat brilliantly – the amount of hair that comes out is frankly alarming but I’ve got plenty and I’m grateful for it. The Bluepet Dual Sided Grooming Tool is also brilliant for routine brushing and keeping the coat in top condition.
🐾 Paw-note — never shave a double coated dog like a Labrador in hot weather. The coat actually provides insulation against heat as well as cold — shaving removes this protection and can cause sunburn and coat damage
5. Ruff and Tumble dog coat
For those fashion conscious owners look no further than Ruff and Tumble – and furiends, they have a coat for every occasion! Their brilliant Drying Coat is pawfect for post swim shake offs. Here’s me modelling mine. But for hot weather, make sure you go for their dedicated Cooling Coat – using clever evaporative cooling technology, simply soak it in cold water, wring it out and clip it on. And a little paw-note from me – a soaked towel or drying coat can actually act as an insulating barrier trapping heat in rather than cooling down, so avoid this when a dog is already overheating. Prevention is always better than cure furiends!
Quick Cool-Down Checklist – Hot Weather Essentials
Save this furiends – everything you need to keep us dogs cool this summer!
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