As the summer breeze has been fast approaching, the cold weather dog issues will soon be taking off as well.
However, there will be an expected bunch of summer dog issues that are also coming. For fur parents, it is very important to be mindful of their fur babies’ well-being also during the hot or warm weather.
Read through this article to know more about what you should remember during the warm weather to protect your fur baby.
We will be giving you some valuable tips and advice on how you can keep your fur baby happy, comfortable, and chilling when the sun finally shines at its brightest.
We will also be sharing with you dogs that do not tolerate the hot weather too well. Are there some dogs that are more at risk from overheating than others? Are there ways to prevent your fur baby from experiencing these?
Well, what are you waiting for? Take your pencil and paper to note the answers to your questions! Let’s find out which dog breeds can’t tolerate the excessive heat and what are the ways that can help cool down your fur babies.
Dogs That Don’t Tolerate Excessive Heat or the Warm Weather
Please know that all dogs are very much vulnerable to the effects of excessive heat to some extent. This is related to the fact that dogs can not cool themselves as efficiently as we people can.
When we feel the heat, we can do a lot of things to cool ourselves. Drink a glass of ice water, turn on the air conditioner, have a fan with us, take a bath, and sweat it off. Well, too bad that dogs are somehow limited in doing those.
At the same time, your fur babies are only able to sweat through their paws. They also use panting as their primary cooling method.
So you can expect that a dog with a very thick, fluffy coat could significantly feel the heat quickly if they are left out under the blazing heat for a long period.
On the other hand, dogs with thin coats such as greyhounds may have a greater risk of getting sunburned and experiencing heatstroke as they do not have the thick fur to protect their skin and act as a barrier from the UV rays of the sun.
Here is a list of some dogs that can not tolerate the hot weather well.
1. Flat Faced (brachycephalic) Dogs
Brachycephalic breeds are shorter-nosed and flat-faced dogs such as Pekingese, Pugs, and Bulldogs.
Because of their conformational quirk, they can experience difficulty breathing, especially during the hot weather.
Panting can be very difficult and may require double the effort for these dogs, meaning that flat-faced dogs find it more difficult to cool themselves compared to dogs with long muzzles.
Obese dogs. Overweight dogs always have the struggle to cope with the arrival of the hot summer weather.
As being obese is not suitable for us people, it is also not of help to your fur babies as the extra weight puts more strain on their bodies. At the same time, the hot and warm weather only adds to the pressure.
2. Thick Coated Dogs
Dogs with thick coats can be at risk of overheating quickly compared to short-haired breeds.
If your fur baby is a Siberian husky or a German Shepherd, your canine opinion will surely struggle more during a heatwave than their fellow Basenji.
3. Super-Sized Canines
Giant dog breeds often struggle to keep themselves cool purely just because of their size. So, fur parents of these large dogs, such as Great Danes and Bernese mountain dogs, should be vigilant during the warm and hot weather.
4. Senior Dogs
Just like our older adults, senior dogs and those that already have health conditions become more sensitive to very warm and hot weather and tend to overheat more quickly than the young and healthy dogs.
Dogs That Love the Summer Heat
If there are dogs that really can not stand the scorching heat, there will also be dogs that love the summer heat, especially if you live in a region that enjoys a warm climate and typically has hot summers.
Generally speaking, breeds that have short, thin coats do best in the typically hot summer. Breeds such as Chihuahuas, Basenjis, and Pharaoh Hounds are built to withstand the summer heat, as well as Salukis, greyhounds, and whippets.
Tips to Keep Cool During the Summer Heat
Finally, here are some tips and advice that you should take note of to keep your fur baby cool during the approaching summer heat!
1. Hydrate and hydrate!
Keep your fur baby hydrated by providing them with unlimited, fresh, and clean water to drink, especially when the weather is warm and hot, and you are both exploiting the outside world.
2. Know the right time to exercise.
Always make sure to walk your dog during the time of the day that the sun is not at its hottest. Walk your dog early in the morning or late in the day when the sun has lost most of its shines.
Avoid walking your dog between 8 in the morning and 6 in the evening to prevent him or her from overheating and experiencing heatstroke.
At the same time, try investing in a dog umbrella. Although they are designed to protect fur babies during rains, they also make great protection from the sun’s UV rays and keep the sun off them during their walks.
3. Protect their paws
When the sun shines at its brightest, the pavements and sand can also become very hot, presenting a risk of burning your fur baby’s precious paws.
Test the pavement or sand first by placing your palm onto the ground and holding it there. If you can not keep your hand for more than five seconds, the pavement is confirmed to be too hot for your pet’s paws.
4. Provide shade for them
It is better if your fur baby has somewhere to chill out when the hot summer weather comes.
If you have a garden, make sure that there is a shady area for them to chill if you don’t have trees or shrubs to provide with the natural shade, try and consider investing in a pet gazebo.
5. Extra grooming!
Grooming your dog frequently during this periodic shedding period will help keep him cool in hot weather by removing some insulating fluff.
Avoid shaving your dog! The thick coat might protect your fur baby from UV damage and actually help keep some of the sun’s heat out.
Conclusion
Summertime can be a relief from getting over the cold weather dog issues. However, there would also be issues with regard to this weather.
Make sure as fur parents protect your fur baby at all costs and make them comfortable whatever the weather may it be.
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