Heat wave: How to keep your dog cool, calm and collected

With many parts of the country having recently experienced (and most likely to continue experience) very high temperatures, we’re finding ourselves resorting to ‘out of the box’ cooling down techniques.

Think rubbing ice blocks on your face or standing in front of the freezer. What’s important to remember is that if we’re feeling the heat our pets are too, explained Marycke Ackhurst, pet behaviour expert from Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

She said when we’re too hot we perspire. However, dogs don’t sweat like us.

“Unlike sweating through their skin, like we do, they rely on panting and getting rid of excess body heat through their paws and nose.”

Ackhurst shared some tips you can implement to help keep your pooch cool during a heat wave:

• Stick to outdoor exercise or walks in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are lower, and make sure you have water with you for breaks in the shade.
• Check the heat of the pavement. If it’s too hot to comfortably place your hand on it for several seconds, then it is too hot for your dog to walk on.
• Keep walks short as some dogs don’t know their own limits – use caution with exercise such as running and fetch as you may need to stop them from overdoing it.
• In the heat of the day keep your dog inside with access to plenty of cold water.
• Make indoor time extra fun for them to help them use up their energy in different ways. Why not play fetch with a ball down the passage or hide their favourite plush toys or treats in a small area and let them sniff them out? You could also freeze their food and place it in a food puzzle toy to keep them stimulated.

Small to medium dogs such as Brachycephalics ie, short-nosed breeds need extra care during hot periods. Sometimes it’s just too hot, and it’s important to know what signs of heatstroke to look out for in your dog.

Ackhurst explained these below:

• Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting)
• Rapid or erratic pulse
• Salivation, anxious or staring expression
• Weakness and muscle tremors or lack of coordination
• Convulsions or vomiting, and collapsing

If you notice any of these signs, you should immediately:

• Move your dog to a cool, shady place
• Wet your dog with cool water or place them in a container filled with cool water to bring their body temperature down
• Fan your dog to promote evaporation. This cools the blood, helping to reduce your dog’s core temperature
• Provide your dog with some cool water to drink
• Take your dog to your vet as soon as possible for further treatment – this is an emergency
• Take note, with any of these signs, not to apply ice to your dog as this will constrict blood flow and discourage cooling