Summer’s Here! Tips to Keep Your Pup Healthy and Happy in the Dog Days
A Guide Dog puppy-in-training, enjoying a summer day. photo: Guide Dogs for the Blind
As a veterinarian, I’m often asked about hazards to avoid during the dog days of summer. With warmer weather upon us, we developed these tips for our working dogs at Guide Dogs for the Blind, as well as our puppies in training. But they’re good advice for any dog guardian as the outside temperatures heat up.
Plan Ahead for the Heat
Plan any travel or outdoor activities, including walks, for the cooler parts of the day; before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. are better choices than noon. Dogs can get dehydrated quickly in hot, humid weather so provide regular rest breaks. Take a collapsible water bowl with you and offer fresh water every hour or so. Remember that older dogs may tire easily in warmer weather and may need extra time to cool off and rest.
Watch out for other residual heat effects. Hot concrete, asphalt, and even sand can burn your dog’s feet. Even on a pleasant, sunny, 77-degree day, asphalt can quickly reach a temperature of 125 degrees. Always test a surface first with your own hand. If it’s too hot to hold the palm of your hand against for five seconds, then it is also too hot for your dog’s paws. If you must walk with your dog on a hot surface, there are many great booties available to help protect the paws in hot weather.
Never leave your dog unattended in a car when temperatures rise above 70 degrees. Even when a car is parked in the shade with the windows cracked, the inside temperature can quickly become intolerable and deadly for a dog.
If your dog does become overheated, move him into a shaded or air-conditioned area right away. Apply cold, damp towels to your dog’s head, neck, and chest, and soak the paws in cool (not cold) water. Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water. If your dog is panting excessively, appears weak, is drooling or vomiting, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.
Be Aware of Other Summer Risks
Keep your dog away from all stagnant water at this time of year, and do not let them drink it or play in it. Late summer and early fall are prime times for the growth of seriously toxic algae containing microscopic bacteria that can be deadly for dogs (livestock and people too!). This type of algae typically appears as blue-green or red-brown blooms, foam, or scum on the surface of stagnant water. Algal blooms can produce an odor that’s attractive to dogs so they often want to play in this water and can ingest the algae. If your dog has gone for a dip in water with blue-green algae, rinse the fur immediately and thoroughly as dogs can also get sick simply from licking their own fur. Clinical signs such as vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and paralysis develop rapidly after exposure to toxic algae and require immediate emergency veterinary treatment to avoid death.
Don’t leave your dog unattended around a swimming pool. While the chlorine in pool water may not cause issues if your dog drinks it from time to time, the chlorine pool tablets are a different story. Keep all pool chemicals in a safe place where there is no risk your dog will ingest them. And if you’re lucky enough to make a trip to the beach with your furry friend, make sure they don’t eat too much sand. Dogs have experienced life-threatening intestinal blockages due to excessive sand ingestion!
Remember to take precautions during fireworks season, which is an upsetting time for many dogs. Take them out for a long walk before the sun sets if fireworks are expected. Keep dogs indoors during fireworks and provide a quiet and enclosed place to give them a sense of security and comfort. Frightened dogs may escape and run away so try not to leave your dog outside in case of unexpected fireworks and always be sure they have a tag with your contact information.
Watch Out for Air Quality
While we hope this won’t be a part of our summer experience again this year, poor air quality can affect dogs as well as people. If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 101-150, it can be unhealthy for puppies, senior dogs, or adult dogs with breathing/heart issues, so keep at-risk dogs inside air-conditioned homes as much as possible, with only short visits outdoors. An AQI above 151 is considered unhealthy for all dogs, meaning you should take the following steps.
Keep your dog indoors as much as possible and keep the windows shut. Use an air conditioner or air purifier to filter the air if possible.
Shorten the time your dog is outdoors. Keep the duration of regular walks to a minimum.
Avoid intense outdoor exercise during periods of poor air quality. Regular walks and strenuous outdoor activities can resume once the air quality improves.
Monitor your dog for signs of respiratory distress and eye inflammation. If your dog is having difficulty breathing, is coughing/sneezing excessively, is weak/lethargic, or has inflammation of the mouth, eyes, or upper airway, please see a veterinarian.
If you live in proximity to potential wildfire activity, include your animals in your disaster preparedness planning and have an animal evacuation kit ready. This should include a flashlight, several days’ worth of dog food, bowls, any medications, blankets, your contact information, and recent pictures of your dog in case you are separated.
This may sound like a lot, but most of it’s really just common sense so let’s end on a positive note. There’s plenty of fun ahead for you and your pup this summer. With just a little care, you can look forward to many more safe, happy dog days together!