Our Aussie summers can get really hot, whether you’re in Tassie or Townsville, the temps can go up substantially.
Here are Some Great Tips for Pet and Dog Care When It Does Get Really Hot
Know your Dog
Some dogs are more susceptible to overheating than others. Dogs with shorter snouts (like a Boxer) tend to feel the effects of heat more, as do dogs who are older, or puppies. Be aware if your dog is potentially more at risk and act accordingly.
Water
It’s super important that your dog has lots of free water available at all times. When it’s hot, it can go green, simply get drunk, or even in some cases, get tipped over. Our TALL DOG bowls are great for all these things. What I have always done is have a water bowl in the front yard, back yard and in the house. And yes, if I’m honest, I’ve always had 2 bowls in the house; one at their food and one in the bathroom. My dogs will never be without water, winter or summer!
Shade
Your dog absolutely needs somewhere cool and shady to escape our hot Australian sun. Even if they opt to sometimes sit in the sun, that should be their choice and they have somewhere to go which is shaded and cool. If their dog house is hot in summer, that doesn’t count during the day as a shaded area. Likewise, patios can often be in full sun during summer, so don’t have them locked up on a patio.
Cooling
Theo loves the kiddies half-shell to sit in when it’s hot. For a big dog, you really only need to half-fill it; as once they get in, the tide will definitely rise. This gives them a great opportunity to cool down and relax. Just ensure it’s somewhere in the shade for them. As always, be aware of child safety and pool rules for your area.
Also, in respect of cooling down your dog if it is overheated, do this very carefully. You want to cool your dog down promptly, but don’t put them into shock. Use room temp water, versus chilled water is critical, as is not putting a wet towel over them – that actually has the effect of keeping the heat in. Some people highly recommend cooling mats for their pets too.
If you live in aircon during summer, and your dog is inside all the time with you, be aware that we become climatised to that, so again, don’t let your dog out into the heat and start throwing a ball, or jump out of an air-conditioned car and start throwing a ball. Allow them time to climatise.
Grooming
For some dogs, it’s suitable to groom them and ensure their coats are shorter in the warmer months. Some breeds, however, have coats that insulate (both cold and hot) so get to know the characteristics of your dog’s coat and act accordingly.
Activity
If it is hot, then discourage energetic activity. Unfortunately, some dogs are so people or ball-focussed, they will literally run until their heart stops. So, think for your dog and if it’s hot, then put the ball away, don’t go for a run or encourage them to run. Keep the exercise time to the beginning or the end of the day. Also, if you are running a dog, ease them up to it gradually, regardless of what time of the year it is. Dogs (like us) need to build up gradually; you don’t run a marathon on day one.
Hot Pavements
Avoid the heat of the day for walkies time; in summer, at dusk or at night is a lovely time to walk and very pleasant. As a rule of thumb, if the pavement is too hot for you to walk on barefoot; then it’s likely too hot for their paws. Be extremely conscious of this with younger dogs who haven’t built up their paw callouses so much as their paw leather is still very soft. There is, in fact, a 7-second rule; put the back of your hand on the pavement and hold it for 7 seconds; too hot for you – too hot for your pooch!
Parked Cars
We all heard it time and time again, but I would be remiss without mentioning it again. Cars, even with the window down, or parked under a tree, get super hot, super quickly in summer. Whilst you might think, I’ll just grab some milk from the shop and be only 1 minute; you get caught up inside, run into a friend, the register has a hiccup …. and well, I don’t want to say what could be the outcome; it’s just too distressing to write. Please – summer, dogs and parked cars never go well together!
If you do suspect heatstroke for your dog, please don’t ignore this; ideally, reach out to your vet immediately to see whether you should bring them in. Don’t ignore this; severe heat stroke can cause a fatality within an hour. We love our dogs – big and small – so care for them this summer and just be a little more conscious of their needs. 🐾