Playing in the summer sunshine with your dog is always a lot of fun, but there are a few simple precautions you should take to protect your pet from heat-related problems such as heat stroke.
Dogs cool down and regulate their body temperature by panting and sweating through their paws and nose. As a dog breathes in, air travels through their nasal passage and is cooled before it reaches the lungs.
When temperatures become warmer and more humid, a dog has a harder time cooling down. Your dog’s heart and lungs work harder as your dog breathes in and out quicker to reduce their body temperature. This is especially the case for short-snouted dogs (brachycephalic breeds), who have a harder time cooling down because of their shorter nasal passages.
With this in mind, here are a few safety tips when taking your dog out in warm weather.
1. Stay Off Hot Pavement
One major thing that many dog owners overlook when it’s sunny out is their dog’s feet. Paw pads can be easily burned by hot pavement. Summer heat warms pavements just like a frying pan and if the pavement gets too hot it can burn your dog’s paws. Sand can also get very hot.
The hand technique is the best way to check a surface to se if it’s too hot. Press the back of your hand against the asphalt or concrete for 7 seconds to verify if it will be comfortable for your dog to walk on. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. Read this article for more detail.
Avoid hot surfaces during the day or consider putting protective booties or paw wax on your dog’s paws as a form of added protection.
The chart below lists temperatures in Fahrenheit:
The chart below lists temperatures in Celcius:
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