How to Cool Down an Overheated Dog
Dogs love to play outside, but it can be dangerous for them during the summer. Our furry friends burn a lot of energy, and it’s easy for them to heat up quickly with little warning. Keep your pup cool, comfortable, and collected with these overheated dog recovery tips.
Overheating: Causes and Symptoms
Dogs only have sweat glands on their paws, so they remove most of their excess heat by panting. Thus, it’s harder for them to release heat when they become warm. Dogs with thick or long coats, short noses, high activity levels, or advanced age are more susceptible than other breeds to overheating, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.
Symptoms of overheating can vary but, in most cases, they’re quite noticeable by even novice pet owners. Your dog may be sluggish when it comes to replying to your commands or may not reply at all. Their gums and tongue may turn bright red or blue, their eyes may appear glazed over, and you may notice your pup drooling excessively. Other serious symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion include vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, lack of coordination, and rapid heart rate. Some dogs develop fever—but be careful not to confuse this with the typical “hot head” they get when they’re happy to see you.
Dogs are at a greater risk of overheating than humans because their body temperature sits around 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is naturally higher than ours at 98.6. You don’t need to worry if your dog’s temperature is slightly higher than yours, but you should be worried if it measures anywhere higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit. At 105 degrees Fahrenheit, your dog’s temperature is dangerously high and you should seek immediate vet care.
Treatment and Prevention
The best way to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke is to learn how to properly cool down an overheated dog in the first place. Exactly how do you cool down an overheated dog? Start with the following environmental factors.
Make sure your dog has access to shade and air conditioned or cool areas, both in and outside the home. Give him water but don’t force him to drink it constantly; just as with humans, too much water isn’t a good thing for dogs.If you’re near standing, clean water, let your dog take a swim. Otherwise, you can give them a little bath with a hose or cool them off with a damp towel.
If your dogs need to burn energy, make sure they’re playing in or around a water source as often as possible. Most dogs find sprinklers completely fascinating, so feel free to enjoy a bit of time in the yard. Take your dogs for a walk at cooler times of the day (after 4 p.m. or before 6 a.m.), especially during the summer.
Is your furry buddy languishing in the heat? Make sure he has a quick and convenient way to get indoors when it’s hot outside. Australia Pet Doors has doggie doors of all sizes to keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy.