Dog summer tips | How To Keep Your Dog Cool In Summer - 10 Easy Tips

How To Keep Your Dog Cool In Summer 

Everybody loves the sunshine, right? Whilst the silly season brings lots of fun and opportunities for outdoor adventures with your beloved pup, the hot weather can be very harsh on dogs. Heatstroke and dehydration are common and can be life-threatening to dogs, so it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you keep your pet happy and healthy.

It's important to be aware of the signs of heatstroke in dogs. These include:

Vomiting 

Diarrhoea

Shaking

Collapse

Weakness

Confusion

Bright red gums

Foaming at the mouth

Excessive panting

If you see these signs, call a vet immediately, and keep your dog in a cool and shaded area. provide them with water and pour room temperature water over their fur. It's important to never use ice or freezing cold water as this can cause shock.

 Here are our top tips on keeping your dog cool and safe this summer:

1. Keep your dog in cool and shaded areas

Try to avoid playing with your dog in the direct sun on hot summer days. Ensure your garden and home has plenty of shaded areas for them to relax. Creating a ‘cool room’ is a great way to help your pup keep it chill: close the curtains in a tiled room and put on a fan, your furry friend will thank you!

 2.  Encourage regular hydration

Dehydration can happen quickly, so it's important to encourage your dog to drink regularly. Provide multiple bowls of water around your home and garden, and let your pooch drink both during and after walks or activities.

 3. ALWAYS bring water with you

It is essential that you are always prepared with water for your dog on walks or journeys. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! To help ensure your pooch can hydrate any time, anywhere, we have created the Travel Bowl Remember to plan ahead and bring an extra bottle of water for your dog any time you leave the house.

 4. Never leave your dog in a car

This can be extremely dangerous for dogs. Even a car parked in the shade with the windows open can become a distressing and even fatal environment for a dog. Make sure you plan ahead so you don't leave your dog alone in a car or any other enclosed space. If you see a dog in a car, please call for help immediately.

5. Try a garden dipping pool

This can be a fun and engaging way to help your dog relax and cool down on a hot summer day. Fill a small drum or paddling pool with cold water and allow your dog to dip their paws or splash around with some toys.

 6. Plan your walks

During the summer months, it’s best to take your pooch out on their favourite activity in the cooler mornings or evenings. Choose a route with lots of shade, and take extra care to avoid the midday sun. As always, hydration before and after is key.

 7. Damp Towels to lie on

In extreme heat, a damp towel laid on the floor can be great to provide your dog with some cooling relief, especially if you don't have tiled floors.

 8. Frozen food treats

Next time you cool down with an ice cream or lolly, why not treat your pooch to a frozen treat too? Freeze some meat or some of their regular food into blocks and let them chew away - just avoid big chunks of ice as these can cause choking.

 9. Keep up with grooming

Summer is an important time to make sure your dog's fur is free of matting and knots, as these can trap heat. 

 10. Protect paws from hot surfaces

Dog’s foot pads can burn easily and are sensitive to heat. Try to avoid walking over very hot surfaces such as sand or tarmac. If you can't handle the heat barefoot, chances are your dog can't either! ◖°ᴥ°◗