The hot season is a difficult time for your pet. The pet’s body is trying to cool down, so the dog begins to behave in an unusual way: sticks out its tongue, breathes heavily, tries to lie in one place longer and move less. The problem is that our four-legged friends are not adapted to extreme heat: they can easily get heatstroke. Many dog breeds have thick hair, which only aggravates the pet’s condition in the summer.
Let’s figure out how to help a dog in the heat, what and how to feed it, and what to do for maximum comfort and safety in the summer.
Animals, like people, sweat in the heat. Sweat is released and, as it evaporates, cools the pet’s skin. As a result, the dog experiences relief and is saved from overheating. The difference from humans is that animals have sweat glands on the tongue and paw pads.
This is why in the summer heat the dog sticks out its tongue. Breathing becomes faster, causing the liquid to evaporate much faster. The animal does the same during serious physical exertion. As a result, the body temperature remains normal, and the pet tolerates the heat more easily.
However, if the animal sticks out its tongue when it is not hot, this is a reason to take it to the veterinarian.
This symptom may indicate:
Runny nose. The animal sticks out its tongue because its nose is blocked and it can only breathe through its mouth. Associated symptoms include mucous discharge from the nose, decreased appetite and lack of sense of smell.
Overheating. This most often happens in dogs with thick undercoat. Thus, the dog must constantly cool its body.
Neurological pathologies. In this case, the tongue muscles lose control due to serious injury, pinched nerves, or infections.
How to cool a dog in the heat in the apartment and on the street
How to help your dog survive the heat? During the summer, you should make every effort to make life easier for your furbaby. So, if an animal lives and spends most of its time in an apartment, you will have to create the most comfortable conditions for it:
The most important thing is to provide your pet with enough water. When a dog is hot, it begins to drink a lot of liquid. Make sure clean, cool water is always available. You can place additional drinking bowls in your dog’s favorite places. Change the water in the bowl often, 3-4 times a day, as it quickly deteriorates in the heat.
Create a cool corner for your pet in your apartment. First, provide the animal with free movement throughout the living space. Second, leave the bathroom door open so your dog can get in and get out of the bright summer sun. You can fill the bath with cool water to make the room fresher and cooler. Some dogs like to hide in the garage or on bare concrete or tiles when it’s hot.
Provide care for your pet’s fur. Some people believe that in the hot season it is necessary to cut the animal’s head. This is a misconception. A haircut can cause more harm, since wool protects the skin from direct sunlight and participates in heat exchange. It is recommended to cut only animals without undercoat. The best thing you can do for your dog is to thoroughly brush the undercoat. A short downy layer keeps the skin cool and prevents the pet from overheating.
Let there always be fresh air in the apartment. Ventilate the rooms regularly, open the balcony and windows, but do not allow the animal to lie in a draft. It’s better to first cool the room and then let the fluffy inside.
Walks. In summer, it is better to spend less time outside to avoid heat stroke. It is recommended to take the animal out early in the morning and late evening, occasionally during the day – for no more than 10-15 minutes. Try to stay in the shade and near bodies of water. Avoid walking your dog on hot asphalt or rocks to avoid getting burned.
Dog and air conditioner
Air conditioning is a great way to cool a room in hot weather, but it can be dangerous for doggies. First of all, the danger is represented by a strong flow of cold air, under which the animal can catch a cold. To avoid this problem, you can direct the air flow upward or place your pet in another room for a while.
Another problem can be leaving a pet with wet fur under the air conditioner. This is very harmful for the dog, as it can lead to pneumonia and pyelonephritis. Many owners resort to the following trick: they gradually accustom their pet to the cold air flow. First, you need to set the air conditioner to the maximum temperature and let your pet into the room for 5-10 minutes. Then you can gradually reduce the degree and make sure that the fluffy does not lie under the air flow.
The dog is negatively affected by the sharp temperature difference between the hot street and the cold apartment. It is necessary to ensure that the difference is not more than 5–6 degrees.
Dirty split system filters can accumulate harmful bacteria and microorganisms. They are not scary for adults, but they can harm children and animals. Do not leave your pet alone with the air conditioner on. In the event of a power failure or outage, he will remain in a hot apartment with the windows closed. It is very dangerous.
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