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5 Ways to Protect Your Dog From
Heat this Summer

By Janice Jones   |Last Updated 02-06-2020

As temperatures continue to rise globally protecting your dog from the heat should be on your mind.  Summer means bright and sunny mornings and lots of fun outdoors but do you know that the high temperatures can be dangerous for your canines and pets?

Veterinary doctors say that they receive a large number of emergency cases during the summers.

Just like the way you take precautionary measures for yourself and for your family during the hot summer season, it is important that you do the same for your pets as well to protect them from having heat stroke and other health problems.

5 Ways You Can Protect Your Dog From Heat

The following basic measures can be taken to make sure your doggie doesn’t get affected by the heat and enjoys the summer season with you:

1.  Provide Plenty of Water to Keep them Cool

To keep the furry member of your family safe and healthy during high temperatures, make sure they have plenty of drinking water available all the time.

Also, dogs love to lie down in water to cool off. So, allow them to do that in a bath tub or pool.

Since dogs do not have sweat glands on their skin, they lower their body temperature by drinking plenty of water, and when allowed to lie down and play in the water, they get some relief from the heat.

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2.  Leaving Your Dog in the Car Could be Dangerous

Remember that the temperature inside a parked car is much higher than it is outside.

So, it is better to either leave your dog at home or take the fur ball with you whenever you park your car.

A dog’s body temperature can rise, and they can even get a heat stroke if left in the car, even for an hour.

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3.  Protect Your Dog's Paws

Can you walk barefoot for a mile on a hot summer day? Surely not. So, how can you expect your dog to do that?

Long summer walks can burn your dog’s paws, especially if it’s a young pup.

To protect its paws, avoid going out during afternoons. Take your puppy for a walk either in the mornings or late in the evening.

If, for some reason, you have to take your pet out during the day, make them walk on grass or other cool surfaces and avoid cement or asphalt surfaces.

Additional protection can be provided by using paw wax and regularly moisturizing your pup’s feet.

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4.  Your Doggie Needs Sunblock Too

Although dogs have fur to protect their skin, they can still get skin cancer.

Therefore, it is important to provide them additional protection from the sun by applying sunblock on them.

No, do not apply your sunblock all over your puppy’s body.

There are sunblocks especially made for pets which need to be applied to areas where there are less or no hairs, such as their belly.

I recommend Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray for Pets.  It has a SPF Equivalent to 30+, is non oily or greasy and leaves that looking fine because it contains hair conditioners. 

If your dog's paws or nose is cracked you might want to check out My Dog Nose It, a balm that you put on cracked noses, pads or elbows to help them heal and protect them from the sun.

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5.  Keep an Eye on Your Dog

During the summers, it is important to keep an eye on your dog and look for any signs of dehydration or heat stroke so that emergency care can be provided.

Lookout for the following warning signs which are indicative of their high body temperature:

• Too much consumption of water
• Heavy panting
• Disorientation or confusion
• Vomiting
• Red eyes
• Lethargy

The 4 legged member of your family needs care and protection the same way other members of your family need it. So, do not leave them unattended during hot weather.

Products That Can Help Keep Your Dog Cool

If your dog must spend time outside, there are some products that could help. Cooling pads, cooling collars and cooling collars are all designed to keep your dog cool in high temperature.

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