Keeping your dog cool during walks is very crucial to keep them healthy and free of injuries. Nonetheless, not a lot of people know how to keep their dogs cool during walks outside on hot days. That’s why we come up with these tips on how to keep your dog cool on a walk to avoid unwanted events like dehydration, heatstroke, and injuries.
As a dog breeder or dog owner, you should have a basic understanding of the importance of walking your pets. That way, it will help you know your dog more, such as their necessities – to strengthen your relationship with them. Now, let’s start!
How to Keep a Dog Cool on a Walk
During your daily walks, you must ensure that you have all the necessities to keep your dog hydrated and cool especially during summer. To make sure that your dog will not experience dehydration, here are the simple tips that you should follow to keep your dog cool on a walk.
Hydration
Make sure your dog has plenty of water. Dehydration is the most common health issue in the summer. It is best to keep your dog hydrated before, during, and after walking is critical.
Before you leave, pack a water bottle and a flexible bowl in a backpack. A dog will require approximately one ounce of water per pound of bodyweight for an average day’s hydration. However, a dog participating in strenuous activity may need more.
Keeping Coat Cool
Hydration also should include the body; you can bring a wet towel or a spray bottle filled with cool water to keep your dogs’ skin and coat damp and cool. You can also soak a dog shirt and have the dogs wear it throughout the walk.
Alternatively, if you come across a lawn with sprinklers running or that appears to be very wet, see if your dogs want to run through the sprinklers or roll in the damp grass to cool off.
Walk During Afternoon
If possible, avoid walking dogs in the middle of the day or in the afternoons during hot weather. Walking your dog in the early to mid-morning hours or after the sun has set is advisable. The sun is most intense in the middle of the day, around noon. To avoid negative effects, dogs should go for walks in the mornings or afternoons when the sun is mellow.
Also, find areas with plenty of shade on the sidewalk or street for your dogs to avoid overexposure to harmful sun rays.
Wear Booties
Dog booties mainly protect your dogs’ paws from damage from hot concrete. Dog paws can also suffer abrasions and bruises easily. These injuries can turn into infections, which only continue to get worse.
Get summer booties to protect your dogs’ paw pads from the hot ground. If the soil is hot to your hand, then it’s too hot for your dogs’ paw pads. Make sure to find high-quality summer dog boots to protect them from burning or irritating their pads.
Importance of Keeping Your Dog Cool on a Walk
The importance of keeping your dog during walks is the same as keeping them cool during summer as well.
Keeping them cool will ensure comfort and will reduce the risks of the following:
- Surface burns on their paws
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke
Surface Burns
As mentioned, you could make them wear footwear designed for them to prevent surface burns on your dog’s paws.
The indication that your dog has burned was when he licks his paws more than usual after a walk.
Treatment
Pet owners can clean the area with a wet rag for minor burns or abrasions and keep it clear of debris, especially after walks outside. Furthermore, suppose any signs of infection appear on the area, and it does not seem to be healing, you should seek veterinary care for deeper wounds.
Dehydration
The signs of dehydration in dogs to look out for include:
- Sunken eyes
- Dry gums
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Collapse
- Loss of skin elasticity
Pinch a small area of skin on your dog’s back or the top of their head with your thumb and forefinger to see if they are dehydrated. The skin will spring back if it is well hydrated. The skin returns to its original position more slowly as it loses moisture. In the most severe cases of dehydration, it does not return at all.
However, if they are dehydrated, drinking more usually isn’t enough to compensate for the large volume of fluid they are losing. If your dog’s urination or drinking habits change, you should seek veterinary attention right away.
Heat Stroke
The most obvious symptom of heatstroke in dogs are:
- excessive panting
- drooling
- reddened gums
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- mental dullness
- uncoordinated movement, and
- collapse
Heatstroke in dogs can indicate a serious medical problem and result in unnoticed complications such as brain swelling, kidney failure, intestinal bleeding, and abnormal blood clotting. When it happens, immediate veterinary care is highly recommended.
How To Keep a Dog Cool on a Walk: FAQ
Feel free to check out our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information.
Not all dogs are created equal when it comes to staying cool. However, these breeds perform well in hot weather and are particularly suitable for a hot climate.
First is the German Shorthaired Pointer; they have a short, flat, water-resistant coat that helps them regulate their temperature. Next, is the American Water Spaniel; these dogs are very vocal and have a unique, wavy coat with curls that helps protect them against the weather.
Also, a Great Dane is included on the list. This breed loves to laze around and especially loves the heat.
Some breeds struggle in hot weather, such as Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Pomeranian. Bulldogs are naturally on top of the list of dogs that can’t handle the heat, as they can hardly breathe in hot water, making them prone to heatstroke. However, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s biggest issue is that he can be prone to obesity.
To prevent obesity, you could introduce them to some fun indoor activities that will help keep them active on a hot day. Moreover, Pomeranians struggle in hot weather due to its super-dense coat that acts like a thick, heavy layer of insulation; it keeps them uncomfortably warm.
Also, its tiny muzzle makes it difficult to pant out sufficient hot air to cool him down effectively. If you have these breeds, it is best to keep them well hydrated and indoors with the AC until heat waves pass.
As a general rule, you should walk your dog 3 – 4 times per day for at least 15 minutes. But this can vary according to your dog’s: breed, age, size, health conditions, and eating habits. While a walk a day might be enough for smaller dogs, high-energy dog breeds will require more than one walk per day.
A regular walk is vitally important for your pet’s health to have a lesser risk of obesity. It is also beneficial for a dog’s emotional wellness. Obesity in pets is associated with several medical complaints, including osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and insulin resistance.
More so, a walk can make a dog very happy. Dogs love to check out the sights and smells and will look forward to spending time with you. On the other hand, a dog that doesn’t receive sufficient exercise can easily become bored or destructive.
Yes, dogs can get bored of the same walking route. Just like humans, dogs can get bored of the same walk day in and day out. Dogs love to experience new sights, smells, and people! If your pup is acting out of sorts, it might be time to change up the same old boring routine.
Dogs are active and enjoy being active. Puppies to senior dogs enjoy a good walk, and it keeps them healthy, happy and bonded to you. Moreover, the importance of keeping your dog cool while on a walk or hike is your responsibility. To avoid heatstroke and dehydration, keep your dog hydrated at all times and avoid walking them when the sun is too high. You could also keep them on a shaded pavement. Aside from that, you could provide them with appropriate footwear to avoid injuries. Attending to your dog’s needs, keeping them cool while walking, and learning about their breed can help you become a better pup parent. Indeed, it will allow you to enjoy your walk while also ensuring your dog’s safety.