Warm-weather safety for dogs

March 9, 2022|Dog cool coats

Summer can be fun. But it can be dangerous to your dog since they can't cool themselves as efficiently as we do. A cool coat can help.

Dogs and heatstroke

As the weather warms up, humans and dogs spend more time outside. While we're enjoying ourselves in the heat, our dogs may be having some issues. Since dogs can't sweat like we do, they have trouble staying cool enough. But you can help them avoid any severe problems. Find out how to keep your dog safe from heatstroke so you can both have fun. 

A dog cool coat can be a very effective way to keep your dog safe and comfortable.

 

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke, a form of hyperthermia, happens pretty often to dogs since they don't cool themselves as well as humans do. A dog's normal temp is between 101 and 102.5. Heatstroke can lead to temps of 106 or even higher! Temperatures that high can lead to acute (sudden) renal failure, rapid or irregular heart rates, liver damage, and seizures, to name a few issues. This is an extremely dangerous condition, and failure to act can lead to death.

Signs of heatstroke include:

– Panting
– Decreased responsiveness
– Drooling
– Dark red gums
– Confusion and/or anxiety
– Glazed eyes
– Rapid heart rate
– Labored breathing
– Temperature above 103
– Vomiting or diarrhea, possibly with blood in them

If you see these symptoms, you need to cool your dog off a.s.a.p.!  What you can do:

– Get them out of the heat
– Let them stand or lay in cool water and bath them in it
– Encourage them to drink cool (not ice cold) water

If these steps don't get your dog normal quickly, or if you see seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, or minimal consciousness, you need the vet's help as promptly as possible. Organ damage quickly starts in and makes rescue much more difficult.

A cool coat can help keep your dog safe so the two of you can enjoy all the fun activities of spring and summer.

 

How do you prevent it?

This condition can be prevented if you are prepared. All dogs have the potential to suffer from heatstroke, so it's a good idea to be aware of the weather and risk factors. If your dog is especially prone to overheat, this becomes vital.

To make sure your outing doesn't turn into a tragedy:

– Plan extreme activity for cooler times of the day
– Offer plenty of water
– Limit activity to shorter periods during the hot part of the day
– Provide a kiddie pool or other water for cooling off
– Use cooling mats, cooling coats, etc., to keep body temperature at a healthy level. If you want to buy your dog a cool coat, see Made by De for more information and purchase an effective cool coat. Don't forget to sign up for the Insider Group while you're there. You'll get a coupon code for 20% off all purchases. 

Read this post for more about how a cool coat can help protect your dog. Summertime is ideal for fun times outside. With a little planning, it can be great for dog activities too. It pays to be aware. What do you do to help your dog stay cool? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Have more fun this summer. Keep your dog cool with a dog cool coat.