Too Hot : 5 Tips For A Cool Home For Dogs
Dogs are more vulnerable to heat stroke because, unlike humans, they cannot sweat to control their body temperature. Our duty as pet owners is to ensure our dogs are relaxed and comfortable all summer.
This article will give you five ways to make your home more comfortable for your dog when the weather heats up. We've got you covered, from using damp towels to providing frosty goodies and beyond.
So, relax with a cool drink and listen as we provide tips for keeping your pet calm and content this summer. Keep in mind that a relaxed dog is an excellent dog.
Why Should You Have a Cool Home for Your Dog?
Heat stress can rapidly progress into a life-threatening condition in dogs. They quickly grow distressed in hot temperatures when confined in places like conservatories, vehicles, and small kennels. But the risk of overheating among dogs is also present inside their homes.
The general view among specialists is that your dog will be better able to regulate its body temperature if the indoor temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat stroke, which can be fatal, becomes more likely at higher temperatures.
Puppies and senior dogs may have more difficulty controlling their body temperature. As a result, they may be at greater risk of developing heat-related disorders than their younger, healthier canine counterparts.
Overheating is more likely to occur in older dogs due to age and health issues. Keep an eye on your dog for indications of overheating in hot weather; every dog is different.
Canine hyperthermia symptoms include excessive panting, confusion, and rapid, loud breathing. Collapse or convulsions, bright red or blue gums, vomiting, and diarrhea are further symptoms to look out for.
Overheating can make pets lethargic. Your dog may take more naps than usual or need help getting up and strolling. Your dog may become lethargic, collapse, be prone to heat strokes, and show other symptoms of neurological distress.
1. Provide Frozen Dog Treats
While most dogs prefer to lap ice rather than gnaw on it, there are certain exceptions. But if you’re worried about tooth injury and want to prevent it, let a frozen treat thaw a little before giving it to your dog if they seem to be chewing violently.
But other than this, there aren't any significant drawbacks to rewarding your dog with a tasty frozen treat. There have been rumors going around the internet that ice and ice treats are harmful to your dogs.
However, there is no truth to the matter. Observe their behavior, and look for cues to learn about dogs and their comfort, especially when treating them with frozen snacks.
So go forward with filling up an ice cube tray with snacks for your tiny dog. Snacks can be peanut butter, salmon, or dog biscuits dissolved in water; freeze the mixture.
If you have a larger dog, they might enjoy a refreshing treat by placing goodies in water on sterilized baking sheets and then freezing them. Frozen fruits are one of our preferred cold snacks for dogs.
The convenience of freezing fruit, the fact that your dog will appreciate the taste, and the health benefits make it an ideal summertime treat for your furry friend.
Even though ice cubes have been given the cautious all-clear, frozen goodies must be prohibited for your dog. Dogs have a very different digestive system than humans, so it's essential to be cautious about feeding them table scraps. Examples include Popsicles and Ice Cream.
2. Use Wet Towels
If you live in a hot climate, ensure your dog has a nice, cool place to rest. One simplest and most effective procedures are towing off an overheated dog. You can speed up the cooling process by placing a moist cloth on your dog's tummy and covering the inner thighs and femoral arteries.
Wrapping your dog in a wet towel, laying down a wet towel on the floor, or draping a wet towel over the back of a chair are all great ways to provide rapid relief from the heat.
If you put a wet towel over your dog, it will cool off more quickly. The towel will not create the same vasoconstriction as cold water because it is not in close touch with the skin.
Wet towels absorb heat and make your dog feel more relaxed. The air temperature drops when water from the towels evaporates into the ambient air. Evaporative cooling decreases the temperature of a room, making it more bearable for your dog.
Wet towels are another cheap method of keeping your dog's home cool. Wet towels use natural processes to cool the air, making them a more environmentally friendly alternative to air conditioning, which may be expensive to run.
3. Keep Water Readily Available
Having clean water for your pet is critical year-round. Still, it becomes especially crucial during the warmer months. Professionals recommend that you provide your pets with many spill-proof dishes and keeps them in cool, shady areas.
Have you ever wondered how much water your dog needs daily? Your dog requires 1 ounce of water daily for every pound of body weight.
The daily water requirement for an 80-pound dog is approximately 80 ounces or a little more than half a gallon. And on hot days, this may rise even further. Keep your dog healthy and hydrated by giving it fresh, chilled water daily and washing the bowls daily.
The easiest way to cool off a sizzling hot dog is with a glass of ice water. The internal temperature of your dog will drop rapidly after drinking cold water.
Colder water will also encourage your dog to drink more of it. The water in your dog's bowl can heat up quickly during the summer. You may quickly reduce the water temperature in your dog's bowl by adding ice cubes.
4. Use a Cooling Collar or Vest
It would be challenging to stay cool in the summer if we had heavy coats like our pets. This is especially true in a hot vehicle or while exercising outdoors. While dogs contain a few sweat glands in their paw pads, they rely primarily on panting to cool themselves.
This means that their natural cooling system is weaker and can be overrun faster than it can on Earth. Cooling vests for dogs rely on evaporation, the exact mechanism the human body does to maintain a comfortable temperature.
An overheated dog can be kept comfortably cold all day with the help of a cooling vest, which draws heat out of the dog's blood and spreads it throughout the body.
Although you hear people saying that dogs shouldn’t wear clothes as they have survived for millennia without them, this isn’t true. Even a century ago, dogs were only bred for work purposes and stayed outdoors for extended periods.
Modern dogs have been bred for cosmetic purposes, removing a lot of their protection against nature. This has increased their need for clothes and such.
The dog's chest and neck are the primary locations for cooling. This is why cooling collars and vests effectively maintain your dog's body temperature. The evaporation technology has the advantage that it only takes a quick sprinkling of water to revitalize your dog's vest.
5. Brush Your Dog Regularly
First off, brushing your pet regularly can have many positive effects. Your pet's natural method of keeping cool is shedding its excess fur, which a good brushing can aid.
Additionally, air can flow more freely through the fur on hot days after the animal has been brushed. Potential allergens, such as grass seeds and dirt, can be removed from your dog's coat by brushing.
Maintaining a well-groomed dog in the summer heat is as essential as ever. In addition to insulating your dog and keeping them warm in the winter, its coat also serves as a barrier against the sun, keeping them more relaxed in the summer.
In warm weather, dogs with thick coats are more likely to overheat and die. This is because a dense layer of fur close to the skin acts as an insulator.
Brushing your dog frequently can aid in the removal of any excess undercoat that may have been shed during the colder months. In addition, you'll improve circulation and keep your pet more comfortable by loosening the undercoat's mats.
A short coat can be achieved with regular brushing and, depending on the breed of your dog, a safe clip. This allows the air to chill their skin, which is a huge benefit directly.
A piece of advice from us, avoid the temptation to shave your dog at all costs. Talking to your vet can help you figure out what you can handle and what needs to be delegated to the pros.
Final Words
Keeping the house cool is essential to keep your dog safe and comfortable during the hot summer months. The five tips below are a great place to start if you're considering keeping your pet cool and comfortable.
It's important to remember that different-sized dogs and dog breeds have varying needs while making any improvements. Remember that you can guarantee your dog's safety only with a little effort, even when the temperature rises.
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