Summer Safety Tips: How To Protect Your Dog From The Dangers of Summer Heat

Dogs experience discomfort in high temperatures, just like people do, and heat-related illnesses can cause irreversible harm if left untreated. Find out which health issues are most important to watch out for in your dog this summer, such as dehydration, pad burn, and dog heat stroke.

• Difficulty breathing 
• Pale gums and a bright tongue
• Disorientation
• Unusual breathing (rapid and loud)
• Thick saliva
  
• Weakness and/or fatigue
• Frequent vomiting
• Bloody diarrhea

If your dog is experiencing advanced symptoms such as vomiting, bloody diarrhea, difficulty breathing, or weakness or collapse, it is an indication that the condition is severe, and you should take the dog to the vet immediately. If you’ve only noticed a few mild symptoms, immediately take your dog into an air conditioned house, or a shady area of your yard if you can’t get indoors, and try one or all of these methods to bring the dog’s temperature down:

• Water availability: To keep your dog hydrated and prevent the onset of heat stroke, make sure they have access to cool, clean water.
• A cool bath: Make sure the water isn't too cold—too cold can cause an upset stomach. To hasten the cooling process, run the water over the dog's head (being careful not to get any in its ears) and down its body.
• A Garden hose: One excellent method of reducing the temperature is to gently hose off an area that receives shade. To ensure that the dog is not injured, make sure the stream is calm. A powerful stream could hurt or frighten your dog.

Dogs paws get pad burns by walking on hot asphalt or pavement. Your dog may experience severe pain from them and may need to be seen by a doctor right away.

Walk the dog on grassy or dirt paths to avoid these burns. Black asphalt is extremely hot and can burn your dog's pads quickly, so avoid walking your dog on it. Prior to allowing your dog to walk on the pavement or asphalt, test the temperature with your hand or foot to ensure it is not too hot for your dog. To protect their feet, you can also utilize puppy boots.

• Limping or refusing to walk
• Paw pads that are darker than normal
• Licking or chewing of the foot 
• Obvious blisters or intense redness
• Sections of the pads that are missing

If you observe these signs, contact a veterinarian right once. If this isn't possible, reduce your dog's discomfort by keeping them in a cool, grassy environment. Additionally, pay close attention to the state of their pads because infections can quickly spread there. To reduce infection, flush the feet with lukewarm water and attempt to stop your dog from licking them.

A veterinarian should always be consulted before bandaging your dog's paws because doing so can cause an infection due to moisture retention under the bandage.

It's important for you and your dog to stay hydrated throughout the summer. Especially in the summer, make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water.

• Loss of appetite 
• Lethargy
• Dry mouth and gums
  
• Drooling

• Vomiting
• Weak or rapid pulse 
• Sunken eyes
• Depression
• Lack of elasticity in skin

Give your dog water to your pet and get medical help right away if it shows any of these symptoms of dog dehydration.

• When it's chilly outside, take your dog for a walk in the early morning or late at night.
• When taking your dog on a stroll, stay off of pavement and steer towards grassy or dirt paths.
• Your dog should never be left in a parked car. In as little as thirty minutes, temperatures can spike and become lethal.
• Dogs should be moved outside and into a cool house.
• When dogs are indoors, open the screen windows and use a fan to provide a cool cross breeze if there is no air conditioning.
• If your dog is outside, make sure they have access to lots of shade and drink.
• Make your own frozen treats or give your dog ice cubes.

Keep cool out there this summer and be cautious when exposing your dog to the heat.

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