More and more extreme weather conditions are dominating our climate. Extremely hot summers are almost part of the daily routine during the most beautiful season. Heat beyond 35 degrees Celsius is as unusual for us as it is for many of our pets. Dogs, in particular, can suffer from it: as they have very few sweat glands, they try to cool down by panting through their tongues. For dogs with very long fur and a lot of undercoat, this only helps to a limited extent. But in their pack, there are also humans who can support them. We have compiled our top tips on "cooling dogs in extreme heat" and explain when and for which dogs a cooling coat can be used. This is especially important for older, sick, or overweight dogs, as heat can be a great physical strain for them.
Top 10 Tips for Cooling Dogs in the Heat
1. DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!
Always provide your dog with enough fluids, offer water regularly, and make sure the water bowl is always filled so your dog never goes thirsty. When you're out and about, you should always have a bottle of water with you.
2. NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR
No matter if the windows are open and the car is in the shade: A DOG MUST NEVER BE LEFT ALONE IN THE CAR IN SUMMER!!! If you notice a dog alone in a car, it's even a reason to call the police because it's animal cruelty. The heat in the car can cause serious organ damage, even leading to cardiac arrest.
3. FEED SMALLER, MORE FREQUENT MEALS
We know it ourselves: in summer, eating isn't a great pleasure, except for garden parties. For dogs, too, a few large portions on hot days are rather hard to digest. It's better to provide small portions regularly that don't overload the stomach.
4. AVOID EXCESSIVE EXERTION
Letting your dog run alongside your bike or doing an extensive agility program is a no-go in the heat. When taking a normal walk, the dog will set its own pace. Walks should ideally take place in the cooler morning and evening hours.
5. SWIMMING AND PADDLING
Is there a swimming lake nearby, do you have a paddling pool in the garden, or do you often walk along the dog beach anyway? Great, because a dip in cool water can be a revelation on hot days. CAUTION: First, check if your dog is not too hot, so that the cool water does not affect his circulation, and do not let him swallow too much water. Is your dog afraid of water? Then show him how wonderful water is by letting him dip his paws in first. He will quickly realize that it's pleasant when the water evaporates and cools him down.
6. TAKE A SIESTA
Dogs also love to chill, relax, and take a siesta in the heat. Find a shady spot on the lawn, in the garden, or indoors and enjoy yourselves. High temperatures cause quick fatigue in both humans and animals, making regular breaks necessary.
7. PROTECT FROM SUNBURN
Yes, dogs can also get sunburn. Especially light-skinned and skin-sensitive animals can be affected, particularly on the tip of the nose and ears. These can simply be covered with a little sunscreen, preferably one for sensitive skin.
8. AVOID DRAFTS AND AIR CONDITIONING
Everyone has seen the image of a cool dog with sunglasses in a convertible somewhere. It looks cute, but it's not good for your dog, as it can lead to painful eye infections. An air conditioner set too cold in the car can also cause circulatory problems. Rule of thumb: the temperature in the car should only be 6°C lower than outside, so at 34°C outside temperature, don't cool down to the usual 22°C in the car, but to a maximum of 28°C.
9. REGULARLY BRUSH LONG FUR
Regular brushing removes the undercoat, allowing more air to reach the skin, which your dog will greatly enjoy. It's best to visit a professional dog groomer who can give your dog a summer look appropriate for their coat structure and breed. This is because only when it's done professionally and not simply shaved off will the hair structure not suffer. Incorrectly shorn fur can even negatively impact thermoregulation. Speaking of fur: dogs with dark fur heat up faster than dogs with light fur.
10. TREAT YOURSELF TO AN ICE CREAM TO COOL DOWN
It's not for nothing that ice cream parlors are overflowing in summer. And dogs also love to lick a cool treat. You don't have to visit the trendy dog ice cream boutique in the hip neighborhood. Fill some natural yogurt, cottage cheese, or quark into a dog-friendly container (e.g., an empty, small yogurt cup) and place it in the freezer. For connoisseurs, you can add their favorite fruit or food, such as mashed banana, strawberry, or even liver sausage. You know best what your dog likes, so just try it out. You can also find summer dog snacks and ice molds for homemade dog ice cream in our assortment.
How to Administer First Aid if Your Dog Is Already Overheated
Heat is a major stress factor for your dog. And depending on its character, it will react differently. While one dog is agile even in summer, another is overexerted after a short time. Observe your dog regularly. If it is panting more heavily than usual, appears more nervous, or looks at you with glassy eyes, it may already be suffering from heatstroke. Sudden vomiting, staggering, or a darker tongue than usual are also signs of too much sun and heat. In this case, immediately move your dog to the shade. Get some lukewarm water to cool it down from the inside by drinking and from the outside by dabbing. Avoid cooling down too quickly. Once the condition has stabilized, take your dog directly to the vet and follow their instructions. Your dog should then feel better soon.
A Cooling Coat Provides Relief
Another aid for cooling dogs on hot days can be a cooling coat. It works completely without chemicals, based on the principle of evaporation, similar to sweating in humans: the cooling coat is dipped in cold water, wrung out, and then put on the dog. Due to the material used, this is not comparable to a wet towel for cooling, because the moisture remains inside the cooling coat and is only released gradually. The cooling coat is optimally adjusted to the dog with a velcro fastener to avoid constricting it and to ensure comfortable wearing. Especially older and allergic dogs, as well as dogs with heart problems, are predestined for a cooling coat, as they then have to pant less to cool themselves down.
The team at bussgeldkataloge.de has taken a closer look at the legal circumstances:
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Heatstroke in the car: when the vehicle becomes a deadly danger
Dog owners like to leave their four-legged friends in the car when shopping. In the cooler season, this is generally not a problem. However, as summer approaches and temperatures rise to 20 degrees Celsius and more, the vehicle quickly turns into a death trap. If such a case is observed, intervention is indeed permitted, but only under certain conditions.
Cars heat up too quickly
Unfortunately, the danger of rapid heat development in the car is still underestimated. On a warm summer day, the interior of the car can heat up to 70 degrees Celsius. Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are already dangerous for dogs. It is completely irrelevant whether the car is parked in the shade or not. Because the sun moves quickly. Even a slightly open window is not enough to ensure regulated air circulation.
If the dog is not discovered in time, it suffers irreparable organ damage due to the heat, which in the worst case leads to cardiac arrest.
Is it punishable if the dog remains in the car in the heat?
In general, it is always advisable not to leave dogs alone in the car. However, there are reasons why such an action is not always possible. In addition, for many dogs, it is less stressful to stay in the car than, for example, to go into a shop.
Generally, it is not forbidden to leave a dog in the car. Nevertheless, the principle applies that the external conditions must be right. This means the dog must neither get too cold nor too hot.
Any animal owner who acts against the stated principle may have to face a charge of animal cruelty. This includes either a fine or even a prison sentence of up to three years.
When and how should bystanders intervene?
Anyone who sees a dog in a car on a warm day should always act. How one can help depends on various factors.
First, the question arises of how to recognize that the dog in the car is unwell. Clear signs of this are constant panting and lethargy. The dog does not react to being spoken to or tapping on the window. Many four-legged friends stagger and vomit. Another sign is a dark tongue and a glassy gaze, which indicates that it has already suffered heatstroke. Thus, the dog is in acute mortal danger.
In such a case, quick action is required, as the dog must be urgently removed from the car and receive help. The best way for observers to proceed is as follows:
- If the car is in a store parking lot and the animal is clearly in distress, the observer should ideally note the license plate and have the owner paged over the store's loudspeaker system.
- If the owner cannot be found, the police are notified. They will take all necessary measures to free the animal from the car.
- If the dog is already in mortal danger, it may be advisable to smash the car window. However, this is only justified as an "emergency" if there is no other way to free the dog from its predicament. To ensure this condition, witnesses should be brought in and photos taken with a cell phone. These can later be used to reconstruct the facts and prove necessity. In this case, the procedure will not be interpreted as property damage.
Once freed, the dog should be moved to a shady spot as quickly as possible and given some lukewarm or slightly cool water. Ideally, cool its body and moisten its tongue with water. However, all first aid measures do not replace a visit to the vet. Therefore, even if the animal seems to recover quickly, it should be presented to the vet afterwards.
What should be considered when traveling with dogs?
Anyone traveling with their four-legged friend should always give them the opportunity to take breaks along the way. In addition, regularly offering water or a cool-down during said breaks is recommended.
What tricks do you have for hot days? How does your dog prefer to cool down? Let us know in the comments.
