Maisy keeping cool with a home made pawsicle
With temperatures soaring this week, it is important that we adjust our dog’s daily routines to help to keep them cool, and avoid the risk of heat stroke. While I would hope most people are aware that walking dogs in these temperatures is dangerous, sadly when driving to get my shopping with my car showing 27 degrees centigrade before 11am, I did still sadly see numerous dogs being not only walked, but being taken out for a run and in one case whilst carrying a tennis ball in his mouth!
Why does the tennis ball matter? Well one of the best ways a dog can cool themselves down is by panting and by blocking their mouth with their favourite ball (which he apparently won’t leave the house without) he is less able to do that! It would have been far safer for both dog and ball to be left at home in the cool with access to fresh, clean water.
Over exertion by running, playing and even walking in hot temperatures can be fatal for dogs. Their thick fur coats prevent them from sweating and cooling themselves down as well as we can, so we must advocate for them and not put them in situations which are dangerous hence all face to face training sessions today were cancelled. If walking outside in your winter coat would be horrible, then don’t make your dog do it!
Often we see posts on social media advising that you should walk your dog early in the morning, or later in the evening to avoid the sun. While this may work, at other times it still is too big a risk. By 8:30am this morning in Whitchurch, Shropshire it was already 22 degrees centigrade. This is already too hot for dogs who experience breathing difficulties such as flat faced dogs such as French Bull Dogs and Pugs, or for those dogs who are carrying a little extra weight. According to the weather forecast, it is still going to be 24 degrees at 10pm this evening! Add into that the fact that the floor such as tarmac or pavements have been absorbing the heat from the sun all day and taking your dog out could be a disaster.
If in doubt? Don’t take your dog out!
So what can you do instead?
Frozen enrichment is pawfect.
Last summer there was social media scare mongering by people saying you could not give dogs ice cubes. This is not true. It is perfectly safe to give your dog an ice cube, or a frozen treat so long as they are fit and well. The only time this should be avoided is when a dog is struggling with the signs of heat stroke. If they are (heavy panting, seizures, weakness, collapse) then you need to get them to a vet ASAP and focus on slowly cooling them down from the paws up.
For fit and well dogs then freezing their dinner in Kongs, Lickimats and other enrichment devices (you may want to stock up from No Fuss Fill with your discount code Nosetotrail) will not only help to keep them cool, but it will keep them entertained for longer and challenge their brains to help make up for the lack of physical exercise that they may normally be used to. For more enrichment tips why not download my webinar here.
Maisy’s favourite are pawsicles. Paw shaped ice lollies which are made with “doggy milk”, 0% fat yoghurt, dried prawns and a lamb braid chew as the “lollipop” stick. You can see a “how to” video on my TikTok channel here.
Provide shade
Often it is safest for our dogs to be inside, but if they want to join you in the garden then make sure they have shade to lie in. Dogs are very good at seeking this out themselves but you can help them by putting their bed and some treats in the shade to encourage them to rest there, rather than on the lawn in the sunshine. If your garden is a sun trap and doesn’t have much natural shade then look at making some perhaps with a canopy bed like those from Zoofari which Rico is resting on below. You can even soak towels and blankets in cold water so that your dog has something cool and damp to lie on.
Provide lots of water!
Don’t forget that your water bowls will heat up and potentially even dry out or get drunk more quickly than usual. Keep topping them up and add a few ice cubes to keep the temperature lower.
Some dogs like my lovely client Luna may also like to paddle but try to resist the urge to spray water out of a hose towards your dogs and certainly not into their mouths as this risk water intoxication which is potentially fatal.
You can also put treats like pieces of hot dog or sprats into shallow tubs of water for them to “fish” out as a fun but cooling enrichment game.
Look at some cooling products
There are all sorts of cooling mats, bandanas and jackets on the market now for dogs. With these there are two types. Once you soak in cold water and are made of a material that stays cool and damp for longer than normal and others that are filled with a gel which you freeze.
If you have a dog prone to chewing things then please avoid the gel filled items like the cooling mats. This gel is not safe to be consumed so keep your cockapoo’s teeth well away and just use a normal towel soaked in cold water instead!
If you opt for an item you soak then make sure you check it regularly a cooling bandana or jacket will have the completely opposite effect if left on your dog after it has dried and the last thing they need in this heat is another layer!
Rico a small dog wearing a cooling bandana
Train in short bursts
Finally, it is important to shorten training sessions, and lower your expectations during hot weather. If you have ever struggled to concentrate in a meeting at work because it is swelteringly hot then keep this in mind when training your dogs. Low impact and stationary training is fine to do, but don’t expect too much of your dogs. A few minutes here and there (inside or in the shade) is great to keep them stimulated, but don’t be expecting them to perform as well as they did last week in the cooler weather.
With scent work remember that their noses will dry out really quickly if they are sniffing away in this heat so make sure water is in your search area and give regular breaks to your dog!
Remember, safety comes first, always. No dog has ever died from missing a walk but dogs will die if walked (or left in the car!) in this heat.
Stay safe and I look forward to training with you again soon.