4 Tips to Help Avoid a Dog Heat Stroke
As the weather starts to heat up for summertime, be careful not to forget your four legged friends. When a dog overheats it can be dangerous and even fatal but following these tips will keep help your companion cool! If you feel like your dog is on the verge of dog heat stroke, consult your veterinarian immediately. This article is not scientific in nature but is written based on our years of experience in labrador retriever training. If you have more questions, again…consult your local veterinarian.
Tip #1. Having Enough Shade
If you dog is in an outdoor kennel, make sure that he has plenty of shade all day long. As the earth’s position to the sun changes throughout the day, you may notice that a spot is sunny in the morning and shady in the evening. It is important that your dog has shade all day long. Most dog kennels have a concrete flooring that will get extremely hot with the sun beating down. Also keep in mind the darker the color of the dog the more heat its coat attracts. Shade is a must in avoiding dog heat stroke.
Tip #2. Having Plenty of Clean Water
I know you might think that this would fall into the category of…”are you seriously saying this?” None of us would ever dream of drinking a class of water that has been sitting outside for three days in 90+ degree weather. However, what we often fail to remember is that when we don’t change our dog’s water, that is exactly what we are asking them to do. Drinking hot water will not help a dog cool down, but cool water will. Avoid dog heat stroke by keeping a water hose close by. Make sure to run the hose several minutes to let the water warm out of the hose before filling the water bowl with cooler and cleaner water. Generally, a dog needs at least one ounce of water for each pound of body weight per day.
Tip #3. Train Your Dog Early In The Morning
In many parts of the country, the temperature is still in excess of 90º as the sun sets. The coolest time of day for training and the best chance of avoiding dog heat stroke is early in the morning. Early in the morning, the earth has had time to cool down from the previous day and there is often dew on the ground which will help keep your dog cool. The absolute worst time of the day to train is in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. when temperatures are typically highest. If you can’t train early in the morning, the second best time to train or exercise your dog is late evening.
Tip #4. Watch The Tongue
When participating in outdoor activities during hot weather, be sure to keep a close eye on your dog’s tongue. A dog’s tongue will give you an idea of how he is cooling himself. Since dogs don’t sweat like humans, the tongue is the biggest part of their cooling system. When a dog heats up, heavy and rapid panting begins in an effort to cool down by forcing air across the tongue. The next step in cooling off for the dog is when the surface area of his tongue increases giving the him an even greater cooling surface. At this point you need to start thinking about letting the dog cool off. The next step that follows will be a loss of control of the tongue. This is the last sign of your dog overheating you will see before a dog heat stroke! Don’t get to this step! To cool your dog rapidly, use plenty of cool water. While a fan doesn’t normally cool a dog like it would for a sweating human, it will be helpful if the dog is wet.
The last thing any owner wants is to lose their trusted companion. A dog heat stroke is one thing that can be avoided by proper care and a watchful eye. Following these tips should lead to a safe and fun summer! Happy training and enjoy those dog days of summer!