Unlike us, dogs can’t sweat to cool down. They can only pant, but sometimes that’s not enough to help with cooling down. Some dogs may suffer more than others. For example, a lab vs. a pug. Pugs have a shorter snout so it will be harder for them to breathe, making it easier to overheat and harder to cool down. Whereas labs have longer snouts, making it a bit easier for them to breathe and cool down.
Here are some of the basic signs that your dog is overheating, what to do to help them, and how to prevent it from happening.
Signs
- They’re panting more than usual and it’s very rapid.
- They may begin to drool a lot/more than usual.
- Rise in body temperature and heart rate.
- Their gums and tongue will turn very red.
- They’re drinking more water than usual.
- They may even become sick (vomiting), or have a seizure. If this happens, take them to the vet immediately!
How to help them
If you see any of these signs, you can do a number of things to help cool them down.
- Gently hose them off with cold water.
- If your dog doesn’t like the hose, bring them inside your home and pat their body down with a cold washcloth or towel.
- You can give them some cold water and ice cubes.
- If you notice that your dog is getting worse, you need to take them to the vet immediately.
Prevention
Here are some things to keep in mind in order for your dog to avoid overheating.
- If you live in a hot climate, or it’s summer time, you may want to limit their time outside.
- Take walks in the early morning or late evening.
- Take them swimming, or play with the hose or sprinkler.
- Make sure they’re drinking enough water.
