5 Tips to Prevent Your Dog from Overheating

When the summer heats arrive, you will have trouble staying cool and comfortable. However, as a dog owner, you need to be responsible not just for yourself but will need to prevent your dog from overheating, as well.

While preventing your dog from overheating is in no way a difficult task, a lot of people lack basic knowledge on this topic, which, in turn, puts their pet at considerable risk.

In order not to allow this to become a serious issue, here are five tips you might want to apply or at the very least consider applying.

1. Don’t leave them in the car

Even though this tip is common sense and, even though there are so many tragic instances of this practice backfiring, some people still believe that it is a good idea to leave their pet in the car, while they are attending a meeting or shopping in the mall.

First of all, there is a false belief that lowering the window a bit, somehow, fixes the problem.

This is simply not true. Although lowering a window improve the air slightly, it still causes no small amount of discomfort to your pet.

Second, the tragic outcome mentioned above shouldn’t be perceived as the only negative outcome of this practice.

Imagine yourself being held in an oven-like vehicle for half an hour. Just because your dog can take it doesn’t mean it should.

2. Clean water and shade

A second bad practice, during the summer heats, is leaving your dog outside for most of the day.

Still, there are two methods by which you can make this situation a bit better.

First, make sure there’s enough shade in the backyard for your dog. Second, make sure there is enough clean, fresh water for them to drink.

Make sure to check water as often as you can, seeing as how being forced to drink warm water isn’t as effective as a cooling method.

Moreover, you would be surprised just how little it takes for your dog to slurp up what you’ve poured into their bowl, during the blazing heat.

3. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog

Sure, animals have a bit more efficient thermo-regulation than humans, however, outright assuming that they’re fine with a temperature that puts you in discomfort is just outright wrong.

Because of this, you need to ensure that the temperature within your own home is up to a certain standard.

With this in mind, spare no expense when it comes to looking for the best air conditioners, nor should you try to save money on their installation or maintenance.

4. Some dogs require special care

The breed, age, and weight of your dog may not have an impact on the affection you feel towards them, yet, it may make a difference in the way in which they handle the heat.

Older dogs, as well as dogs that are a bit overweight, might have greater difficulty coping with extreme heat.

Furthermore, pugs and other breeds with squished noses might experience some trouble breathing during the summer, which directly impacts their ability to cope with high temperatures.

5. Give your dog a haircut

Finally, the more hair you have, the harder it is to keep yourself cool.

This too is one more thing that is true for humans, as well as pets.

So, if you, yourself would get a haircut to get yourself out of this tricky situation, why should you deny the same privilege to your dog?

This particular tip is especially helpful when it comes to the so-called fluffy breeds.

Please note that double-coated breeds should never have a haircut or certainly should never be shaved.

The outer coat, in addition to keeping them warm, also helps keep them cooler by providing insulation against the heat.

Do your research to make sure it is safe for your dog.

Cutting or shaving your dog’s hair can also make them more prone to sunburn.

Dogs with thin hair (or those with too little hair) may require some sunscreen in order not to over-burn.

In conclusion

While you may see your pet as your friend or even your equal, in truth, you are still responsible for their wellbeing.

This includes ways to prevent your dog from overheating!

No matter how intelligent or capable your furry friend may be, there are some things they are simply incapable of and one of these things is coping with extreme heat.

Think about it, 9 out of 10 ways in which humans handle heat are technology-related (AC units, artificial covers, water coolers, etc.) which are all methods that dogs simply can’t apply on their own.