Hot Weather Safety for your Dog

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By Hilarie Erb, AKC GoodDog! Helpline Trainer

Summer is here and while getting outside feels good, hot weather can quickly become dangerous for your dog. Check out these tips on how you can keep them safe!

Always provide your dog with plenty of fresh, cool water. 

When taking your dog anywhere, even a short ride in the car when you don’t plan on getting out, you should have water and a bowl for him to drink from. Be prepared for any unplanned stops.

Even if you are attending an event meant for dogs, bring water for your own dog – just like you do for yourself and your children. Don’t count on water being readily available. Even if it is, you’ll have to share it and wait for it, with lots of other unprepared dog owners.

You should also have a means to provide shade in an emergency. Keep an umbrella in the car – they’re not just for rain!

NEVER leave a dog alone in a parked car. 

Not even for a minute. Cars get dangerously hot very fast, and many pets die every year in one. Never leave your dog in a closed car, even if it’s running with the air conditioner on. It is not worth taking a chance that the car will stop running, or that your dog will inadvertently open a window and escape.

Avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt, concrete, or sand, which can burn dogs’ paws.

Pavement and asphalt can get hot enough to burn. You might be comfortable enough walking outside but put your hand on the pavement. If it feels hot to you, it’s much too hot for your dog!

When spending time outdoors, keep your dog cool.

When outdoors, provide shade. It can be as simple as an umbrella or a fancy canopy that the whole family fits under. Walk in shady areas, and don’t leave your dog outside in the yard when you are gone.

Provide cool, icy treats that you can purchase or make yourself. Need ideas? Check out Best DIY Frozen Dog Treats. Also look into a cooling vest or mat for your dog.

Extra care is needed for brachycephalic dogs.

Brachycephalic dogs – those with squished faces – need extra special care in hot weather. They include the Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Chow Chow, French Bulldog, Pekingese, Pug, and Shih Tzu breeds. The structure of their faces, with smaller airways and folds in their throats, makes it even harder for them to cool off and more susceptible to overheating much quicker than other breeds.

Take breaks during sessions of play or exercise.

Dogs don’t necessarily know when they should stop. When they are having fun, they don’t feel pain or know that they should take a break so it’s up to you to decide. Stop while your dog is still having fun, not waiting until they are exhausted. And because it is much hotter close to the pavement, if your dog is your running buddy, exercise early in the day or in the evening when it’s cooler.

Symptoms of overheating include:

• Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
•  Increased heart and respiratory rate
• Drooling
• Mild weakness
• Stupor
• Collapse

Get your dog to a cool place immediately if you see any of these symptoms. Use cool, NOT ICY, water on the feet and groin area and a fan if available. And get to a veterinarian right away, even if you think your dog seems better.

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.