How to Help Your Dog Through a Heatwave

My dog will always choose the sun. That does not mean I should let her stay there.

Sabai has lived in the UK for almost ten years. Before that, she was a street dog in Thailand. I have no idea whether her early life has anything to do with it, but she remains a committed sunbather.

On a hot day, she follows the light around the garden. When one patch disappears, she finds another. Eventually I open the door and call her inside, at which point she looks at me as though I have misunderstood the entire purpose of summer.

If the decision were hers, she would stay out for much longer than I am comfortable with. So the decision is mine.

We are often told to watch our dogs and follow their lead, but hot weather is one of the times when that advice has limits. Some dogs take themselves into the shade. Others keep running, playing or lying in full sun because they are enjoying themselves. I have learnt not to confuse Sabai’s enthusiasm with good judgement.

Before the house gets hot

Most of the heatwave preparation in our house happens in the morning. I close the curtains on the side where the sun hits first, refill the water bowls and put a fan on before the rooms have become stuffy.

Once a house is hot, it can be difficult to cool down. Conservatories and rooms with large windows are particularly unforgiving, so I check the temperature rather than assuming that being indoors is automatically safe.

Sabai usually finds the coolest place without any help from me. She leaves her bed and stretches out on the kitchen floor, or settles in the hallway where there is less direct sunlight. I leave those options open to her and make sure she can move away from the fan if she wants to.

She also drinks more in warm weather, although not always when I expect her to. We keep water in several rooms because one forgotten or overturned bowl is too easily missed.

There are plenty of cooling products available, but I do not think a home needs to resemble a canine spa. A good cooling mat can be useful if a dog likes it, as long as it is intact and not being chewed. The basics still do most of the work: keeping sunlight out, moving the air around, providing water and giving the dog somewhere cooler to sleep.

What to do when the walk disappears

Sabai knows roughly when she should be going out, and a weather forecast does not alter her expectations. If the afternoon walk is cancelled, she still begins hovering near the door at the usual time.

Frozen food helps. I sometimes put part of her normal meal into a Kong or spread it over a lick mat and freeze it. It does not magically lower her body temperature, but it gives her something to do while we wait for the evening to cool down.

Whatever goes into it should suit the dog’s usual diet. A small amount of plain yoghurt may be fine for one dog and a terrible idea for another. Frozen carrots, dog-safe ice cream and treats frozen into water can all work, but there is no need to invent an elaborate summer menu if a dog has a sensitive stomach.

Water play is another option for dogs who enjoy it. A shallow paddling pool or a brief run through the sprinkler can make a hot afternoon more bearable. I would still keep an eye on how long the game lasts. A wet coat does not prevent a dog from overheating if they are racing around in direct sun.

The same applies to cooling mats and vests. They may make a dog more comfortable, but they do not turn a hot afternoon into suitable walking weather.

The walk is the easiest thing to change

People worry that missing a walk is unfair. I understand that, particularly when the walk is the highlight of the dog’s day and the most reliable part of their routine.

Even so, I would rather disappoint Sabai for an afternoon than take her out simply because that is what we normally do. We can walk earlier, wait until later or leave it altogether. One quiet day at home will not harm her.

When we do go out, the route changes. We look for shade, carry water and avoid the parts that leave her working hardest. There is no ball throwing, however convincing she may be.

Dogs wearing a muzzle or head collar need enough room to open their mouths fully and pant. That is worth checking before a warm-weather walk, rather than discovering halfway round that the equipment is restricting them.

Car journeys need similar planning. I cool the car before the dogs get in and keep the air moving throughout the journey. A fan near a crate may help with airflow, but it will not make a hot car safe. Leaving a dog alone in a parked vehicle is never worth the risk.

Fur does not make every dog sun-proof

Regular brushing becomes more important in summer, particularly for dogs whose coats mat easily. Removing loose hair can make them more comfortable, while mats hold close to the skin and are unpleasant in any weather.

That does not mean every thick-coated dog should be shaved. Some coats should not be clipped short, and it is worth asking a groomer or vet before making a dramatic change.

Sunburn is another consideration, especially for dogs with white fur, thin coats or exposed pink skin. Ear tips, noses and bellies are easily forgotten. A vet can recommend a suitable pet-safe sunscreen, which is preferable to reaching for a human product that may contain ingredients a dog should not lick.

When panting looks different

Panting after activity is normal. The concern is when it becomes heavier than expected, does not settle with rest or comes with other changes.

A dog in difficulty may drool excessively, become weak or unsteady, vomit, appear confused or develop very red or unusually pale gums. Collapse or seizures are emergencies, but I would not wait for symptoms to become that severe before acting.

If I suspected heat-related illness, I would begin cooling immediately while contacting a vet. The current advice is to pour water cooler than the dog over the body and use airflow where possible. Wet towels should not be wrapped around them because they can hold heat against the skin.

The dog still needs veterinary advice even if they appear better after cooling. Heat-related illness can cause problems that are not obvious from the outside.

Most hot-weather decisions are far less dramatic than this. They look like drawing the curtains before breakfast, refilling a bowl or deciding that nobody needs to go for a walk today.

In our house, they also look like Sabai standing on the wrong side of the back door, staring at me through the glass because I have brought her inside before she was ready.

She is allowed to be annoyed. I am still not letting her back out.