How to Cool Down a Dog: 6 Tips

Dogs overheat when their body temperature exceeds the external temperature of their environments due to hot weather or other external factors. Normal body temperatures for dogs fall between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and most doctors of veterinary medicine (DVM) agree that heat exhaustion occurs when the dog’s temperature reaches 105 degrees or above. Heat exhaustion leads to heatstroke, a serious health risk that can lead to brain swelling, organ failure, and even death.

Though overheating is a danger for any dog, some dog breeds are more likely to overheat than others. Flat-faced dogs—such as pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, and Pekingese—are particularly vulnerable to overheating, as are large dog breeds like Saint Bernards. Senior and overweight dogs, as well as active dogs and dogs with health problems, also risk overheating on hot days.

Pet parents should know the signs that indicate an overheated dog. They include:

• Early signs: Dogs often do not show immediate signs of overheating. Instead, they exhibit irregular behavior: They may lack focus or attention, wander off, or seem lethargic.
• Panting: Excessive panting is one of the most common signs of overheating and heat exhaustion. Dogs lack sweat glands, save for a few in the dog’s paw pads, so panting helps to keep a dog cool. Take immediate steps to cool a dog down if you suspect that their panting is due to overheating.
• Face and mouth: Dogs that experience heat exhaustion often have glazed eyes. They also drool excessively and their gums appear bright red, pale, or blue due to a lack of oxygen.
• Loss of control: Overheating causes some dogs to lose muscle control. They appear unsteady on their feet, and experience either diarrhea or vomiting. Eventually, dogs that go untreated for overheating or heat exhaustion lose consciousness.

There are a number of ways to prevent your dog from getting overheated. Among them are:

1. 1. Avoid hot cars. On a hot day, never leave your dog in a car. The temperature in a parked car on even warm days can reach 120 degrees in just a few minutes.
2. 2. Fill a kiddie pool or turn on the sprinklers. Fill a kiddie pool or connect a garden hose to a sprinkler and let your dog splash and play in the water. If neither is available, fill a shallow bowl and let your dog dip its footpads in the water.
3. 3. Give them drinking water. Make sure your dog has plenty of water on warm days. Place multiple water bowls around your home and outdoor areas, and offer your pooch cool, juicy treats like fresh fruit or vegetables.
4. 4. Go inside an air conditioned room. Bring your pup into a cool room with air conditioning when the summer heat proves too strong to remain outdoors. Air conditioning is preferable to a fan because fans help to cool down humans by drying sweat on their skin, but a dog’s skin doesn’t release sweat in the same manner. Draw blinds or shades in the room to further block the sun and heat.
5. 5. Move them to the shade. Encourage dogs that want playtime outdoors on hot summer days to romp in a shady spot, such as under a tree. Move walks to the early morning or early evening to avoid the heat of the afternoon. Keeping dogs out of the sun not only reduces the chance of overheating but also helps to prevent sunburn.
6. 6. Use cool pads. Place ice packs or a cooling vest on your dog’s coat to bring down their body temperature on a hot summer day. A cooling mat gives them a comfortable place to lie down; you can also use a wet towel as a DIY cooling mat.

When a dog is overheated, contact a vet and follow these steps:

• Cool down the dog. Take immediate action to cool down your dog if it exhibits signs of heatstroke before contacting your DVM. Move the dog to a cool room with air conditioning, if possible, or wet down the dog with lukewarm water; cold water causes blood vessels to constrict and slows its natural ability to reduce its body heat. Apply cool, wet towels to its neck and armpits, and gently apply cool water to its ears and paw pads.
• Try to give it water. Give your dog cool, fresh water, but don’t force it to drink if it resists. The water can end up in its lungs, which makes matters worse. Wet its tongue with water, but never give it ice cubes, which may send the dog into shock by cooling down its body temperature too rapidly.
• Take the dog to the vet. When the dog stops panting or its temperature lowers to 103 degrees, take the dog to your vet. They will conduct tests to determine if the dog has experienced any health problems as a result of overheating.

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