There are dogs living all over the world, and some in places that are hot all year round, so why do we need to make adjustments to help our dogs cope in the warmer months? Often dogs that live in places all year round are much more used to the temperatures they are subject to, and they are also more likely to adapt their behaviours to prevent themselves overheating. In countries where the winters are cold and the summers are hot we need to help our dogs regulate their own temperatures and behaviours to prevent them from making themselves ill. This article will cover what sort of things you can do to help your pet cope in the heat, how hot is too hot, and signs to look out for that your pet is struggling.
Dogs at higher risk of heat stroke
The main factor that we should consider when thinking about if our dog is likely to suffer from heat stroke is their breed, as different dog breeds vary greatly in a number of factors that affect their susceptibility to heat stroke. This includes their their size, shape, and coat thickness. There are also a number of other factors which can affect susceptibility to heat stroke, for example age, as young puppies and elderly dogs are also at risk.
Large or giant breed dogs
Large breed dogs are at increased risk of illness during the hot weather, as their body mass compared to the surface area of their skin is much higher, meaning that they lose heat to the environment much more slowly, and prevents them from cooling down as effectively as smaller breed dogs.
Brachycephalic breeds
Dogs with short muzzles, such as Pugs, Boston Terriers, and French and English Bulldogs, are considered brachycephalic breeds, and due to the shape of their face and airways they find breathing and cooling down much more difficult than other breeds. In addition to this, if they pant too much then they can cause swelling of their airways and lead to even more difficulty breathing, and as such are at much higher risk of heat related illness than many other breeds.
Obese dogs
Dogs that are overweight are at increased risk of illness during the hot weather, as the extra fat they carry around insulates their body, and can also make breathing and heat loss more difficult for them.
Thick or long coated dogs
Dogs that have an extra thick coat, such as Huskies, Malamutes, or Sheepdogs, are at increased risk of illness during the hot weather, as their thick coat insulates them and makes heat loss much more difficult.
How hot is too hot?
As humans, we generally enjoy going out for walks in the warm weather and making the most of the sunshine, and often we bring our dogs along as well – but is this the right thing to do? Wearing a thick fur coat would definitely make us change our mind about a walk in the heat during the summer, and so we should also think about what would be comfortable for our dogs when it comes to temperature. Another thing to also take into account is the humidity, because the main way dogs effectively loose heat is by panting, where evaporation of water from the tongue helps them loose heat quickly. In very humid environments this evaporation takes place much less effectively, meaning that it is more difficult for dogs to cool down.
Below 20 degrees Centigrade (68 Fahrenheit)
It is unlikely that your dog will suffer from heat stroke unless they are predisposed (for example have a thick coat, are a brachycephalic breed, or a very large breed dog), and so walking them at these temperatures is not usually an issue. It is always a good idea to monitor your dog whilst out on a walk and assess if they are getting too tired or hot – sometimes vigorous exercise even at these temperatures can cause your dog to overheat.
Between 20 and 23 degrees Centigrade (68-73 Fahrenheit)
There is a slightly higher risk of your dog from suffering heat stroke, with at risk dogs being much more likely to suffer. At this temperature you can still walk your dog as long as you carefully monitor their behaviour, but vigorous exercise is not recommended.
Between 24 and 31 degrees Centigrade (75-88 Fahrenheit)
There is a high risk of heat stroke for all animals, regardless of size and predispositions, and so if you must walk your dog in these temperatures (which should be avoided if at all possible), then it would be recommended that you keep this exercise to a gentle walk, and allow them to rest in the shade and have access to water when they need it.
Above 31 degrees Centigrade (88 Fahrenheit)
There is a very high risk for all animals, regardless of size and predispositions, and so you should not be walking your dogs at this temperature, even for gentle exercise and if shade and water are available.
Humidity has been factored into the above recommendations, as below 24 degrees centigrade (75 Fahrenheit) there is minimal impact of humidity on how hot the weather feels, and as the temperature increases above 31 degrees centigrade (88 Fahrenheit) the temperature feels significantly hotter at even moderate humidity levels.
How will I know if my dog is overheating?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between a dog who is panting because they have been exercising and are a little warm, versus a dog who is suffering from heat stroke and at risk of becoming seriously ill, however there are some signs which are more pronounced or will make things more obvious.
Panting
Dogs who are panting because they are tired or are recovering from a normal period of exercise will usually do so for a couple of minutes, before settling down and returning to their normal breathing rate and pattern. Dogs who are suffering from heat stroke will often pant more intensely, will not return to their normal breathing rate and pattern quickly, and will often appear to be struggling whilst they are panting (for example laying down stretched out, seeming distressed, and unable to focus on anything else). Dogs who are suffering from heat stroke will often hypersalivate (drool excessively) whilst panting.
Laying down or collapsing
Dogs who are overheating will often try and lay down whilst they try and recover from the heat, usually in a cool place like a tiled floor or in the shade. If they are struggling to cool down then they may become restless and shift positions, and will continue to pant whilst they are trying to settle. Some dogs who are badly affected with heat stroke may collapse – this refers to them not settling normally but collapsing onto the floor, often not being able to get up and move elsewhere, and in severe cases they may not be responsive to you and difficult to rouse.
Drinking excessively
Dogs who are overheating or suffering with heat stroke will often try to drink a large amount of water very quickly, and this usually results in them regurgitating the water straight away as they have filled their stomach up in a very short amount of time.
Sickness
Dogs who are suffering with severe heat stroke may start to show signs of illness, such as vomiting and diarrhoea – this happens because the internal organs are distressed due to the heat.
Dark gums
Dogs who are suffering with heat stroke often have dark red or ‘brick’ red gums, as the blood vessels in the gums dilate to try and lose as much heat as possible, often this will be in combination with the gums being quite dry and tacky, however this may be hard to detect if your dog is hypersalivating (drooling excessively).
Disorientation and seizures
Dogs who are suffering from severe heat stroke and whose bodies are really struggling to cope may show signs of brain dysfunction – including seeming disoriented and restless, and progressing to full blown seizure activity. The seizures themselves can be life-threatening, and if your dog is hot enough to begin experiencing seizures then they are certainly in a life-threatening scenario.
What can I do to help my dog cool down?
If your dog is showing any signs of disorientation, collapse, sickness, or seizures, then your dog is most likely experiencing severe heat stroke – in these cases you need to take them to your local veterinarian immediately for emergency treatment, as if they do not cool down quickly and have supportive treatment, such as cool fluids to prevent further damage to their internal organs, then their heat stroke could be fatal.
If you are not sure if your dog needs emergency treatment then please call your local veterinarian to explain the signs that your dog is showing so they can help you decide if they need to be seen as an emergency. Whilst on the phone to your local veterinarian you can begin with some of the cooling measures below.
If your dog is not showing these signs of severe, life-threatening heat stroke, then it may be appropriate for you to cool them down at home instead, however if you are concerned they are not able to cool down enough, or if their signs get worse, then again you should contact your local veterinarian.
- Find a cool or shady area for your dog to start cooling down in.
- Provide cool water for them to drink – do not allow them to drink too much in one go as this may cause them to regurgitate.
- Cool them down with water if available – do not use ice cold water for this, as it will cause the blood vessels near the skin to constrict and prevent the most effective heat loss, instead use slightly cool or Luke-warm water. You can lightly soak your whole dog, however the most effective areas are the feet and the ears.
- DO NOT cover your dog in a wet towel – whilst this is cool to start off with, the towel can actually prevent heat loss by preventing the air from getting to your dog’s skin.
- Use a fan or air conditioning unit to help circulate the air around your dog as this will help aid with effective heat loss.
- Closely monitor for any signs of your dog getting worse – if you do notice these then call your local veterinarian for advice immediately.
How can I prevent my dog from overheating?
Preventing heat stroke in dogs is very similar to preventing heat stroke in people, we just need to be aware that because of their fur coats and eagerness to play and exercise, they are much more prone to it than we are.
- Do not walk your dog when the weather is very hot or very humid – the worst times to walk are in the middle of the day when the sun is at it’s highest, instead walk your dog early in the morning or in the evening to prevent overheating.
- When walking your dog when there is warm weather, do not encourage them to perform intense exercise, such as by throwing the ball, and instead encourage more gentle exercise.
- Bring water on your walk with you so that your dog can have a drink to help cool them down whilst out – this applies for walks regardless of the weather, but even in slightly cooler weathers can be helpful for your dog.
- Take extra care if your dog is at risk, in particular dogs with thick coats or brachycephalic breeds, who will be at risk of heat stroke in far milder conditions compared with other dogs.
- NEVER leave a dog in a car alone when the weather is hot, even if the windows are opened slightly and they have a drink – when they get warm and begin to pant, the temperature and humidity quickly rises, and this can become a fatal scenario for them within minutes.
If you follow all of these recommendations and are sensible when the weather gets hot then you should be able to prevent your dog from suffering in the heat. If you are at all concerned about your dog showing signs of heat stroke, or that they are struggling to cool down despite some of these recommendations, then please contact your local veterinarian for further advice.