After 2014 and 2015, the warmest years recorded in modern days, pet owners realized that protecting your dog against the rising climate is as important as protecting yourself. Man’s best friend is just as vulnerable to the growing effects of global warming as we are.
Article Summary
What are the factors that can contribute to dog’s overheating?
- does not drink enough water
- some medicines
- weight gain
- dogs are not used to hot climates
- long dry spells from excessive sun exposure
- overactive
How to protect your dog from dehydration
My recommendations are as follows:
Inside of Your Car
Keep your dog safe in the car when traveling by taking him with you when you need to get out. When you drive with your pet, please protect them from the sun by installing a sunshade on each rear window. We all know that many owners endanger their pets when they leave their dogs in the car to go into a supermarket. Unfortunately, your pet can quickly enter a hyperthermic state [1] if confined too long in this space.
When you go into a store without your dog for minutes at a time, your dog is having a painful experience. When you turn off the air conditioning system, notice how quickly the indicator of a thermometer starts rising. You potentially turn your car into a furnace on wheels, while pets are still inside. Ask yourself as your dog is waiting for you to return after a few minutes, “ Is it humane to let my dog suffer from heat and dehydration?”
At Home In Their Dog Crate
Now imagine leaving your pet in a dog crate or kennel without good ventilation. Even the best dog crates can use some help in this regard. If you have a garden, you can keep your dog’s kennel covered with shade and have a fresh bowl of water nearby. This helps, but it won’t stop complications in a heatwave. You may have to take other preventative measures.
If the dog spends too much time without the owner’s intervention in too hot of an atmosphere, he can suffer brain damage, heat stroke and other life threatening conditions. The answer to the question by many on how to keep a dog cool in a kennel is by installing a dog crate fan.
I highly recommend that you don’t leave your dog in the sun or in a cage without a cooling system. Buy a solar fan to cool dog crates more efficiently. A dog house fan will keep your pet protected against harsh climate conditions when you can’t. But if you don’t have a solar fan to ensure your dog’s safety, leave them in the house, in a cool and well ventilated room.
There is a limit to how much heat a dog can take. Panting works as a biological cooling system so that dogs’ natural body temperatures don’t go higher than 105 degrees F. It is effective in normal weather, but in this way, dogs are different from people who can control their temperature with several thermal strategies.
If you’re one of 2 out of 5 Americans wondering if dogs really need personal air conditioners, veterinary specialists confirm temperatures of shelters, homes and areas our four legged friends frequent daily, should maintain a temperature that is consistently less than 80 degrees and more than 60 degrees. When you cool dog crates with a dog crate fan, you are finally treating them as your equal. Most people haven’t realized how much dogs endure due to our incompetence as ignorant pet owners.
Walking at the Beach or Park
A dog running on hot sand or asphalt can easily burn their paws. Put your hand on the floor and wait 60 seconds to check if the ground temperature seems unbearable. If it feels too hot on the palms of your hand, walk in the grass instead.
Using sunscreen [2] and tents are good ideas. These items are not only for humans, dogs also struggle with bad reactions to ultraviolet rays on their skin. Some of these measures are necessary to take in order to protect your dog from the heat, so you can stay outdoors without shade no matter how long you need to walk your dog.
Protect your dog on the beach with topical UV protectants from the sun and do not forget to have fresh water especially in hot climates. You must have a mobile canteen if your pet accompanies you everywhere.
It is important not to train the dog at a time when he is in danger of heat stroke. Reduce your efforts of having to move within the shade by planning morning walks with your dog earlier than 10 o’clock and around 6 o’clock during the evening when the sun sets.
Further Protecting Your Pup
Cooling systems pull hot air from dog crates as they pull fresh air in. This process is ideal for keeping a moderate temperature that pets can appreciate. If for some reason, you haven’t gotten one yet, and are suspicious of unusual behavior, you can put a towel or damp cloth on the neck and back of your dog.
What are the signs that a dog is experiencing dehydration due to overheating?
- changes in posture due to complaints
- high body heat
- irregular breathing
- drooling a lot
- blue tongue
- fear of heights
- vomiting and weight loss
Some breeds are more sensitive to heat than others. If you still see symptoms of fatigue and dehydration from your pup after taking all preventive measures, schedule a veterinary appointment. A specialist can help to determine if your pet suffers from heat and dehydration or some other non-related issues.
