These heatwaves in the UK are nightmare for some people, and their dogs.  Whilst there are many people and dogs who love the heat, there are also many who don’t, and who find it uncomfortable or unbearable.

 

Heat can be a greater risk for dogs, not least because they rely on their humans for everything, including noticing when they’re struggling with high temperatures.  It can also affect dogs in different ways, potentially being more dangerous to them.  Heat stroke can quickly kill a dog, so being proactive and keeping your dog cool, rather than cooling them down when they get too hot, is better for their comfort and safer for their health.

 

Here are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of heat to your dog:

 

1. Avoid walking your dog in the hottest parts of the day

 

Firstly, remember the saying that “no dog ever died from missing one walk, but dogs have died from one walk in the heat”.  If you must walk your dog, do it in the very early morning or late at night. 

 

This point isn’t just about the air being hot, and them panting excessively.  Paving and tarmac can be DOUBLE the air temperature!  So when it’s 25 degrees outside, the ground temperature can be 50 degrees or more.  Burnt paw pads are an awful sight (don’t Google it – you do not want to see that) and can be incredibly painful for dogs.  Don’t believe me?  Put your hand on the pavement or tarmac and see if you can hold it there for five seconds – if it’s too much for you, it’s definitely too hot for your dog.

 

If you absolutely must walk your dog during the day (seriously, have a think about this – there aren’t many situations where a dog walk is absolutely essential), stick to shaded, grassy areas, and avoid having your dog running around or otherwise exerting themselves.

 

2. Never EVER leave your dog in a vehicle

 

Apart from the risk of theft, leaving a dog in a vehicle is dangerous to their health.

 

Cars, vans, lorries, whatever – they’re surrounded by glass so the driver can see.  They’re essentially a greenhouse on wheels.  What do greenhouses do?  They trap solar heat, retaining warmth and, on hot days they get even hotter and need to be opened to release excess heat.  Now imagine shutting your dog in a greenhouse from which they can’t escape.  That’s basically what you’re doing when you leave your dog in a car.  Left a window open for them?  Oh, please.  That’s going make absolutely no difference whatsoever.  It takes only a few moments for the inside air temperature to reach dangerous levels, even if you’d been running the air con just before you got out.

 

You know the saying, but I’m going to repeat it here: DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS.  If you can’t take them with you to where you’re going, leave them at home.

 

3. Invest in a cool coat

 

Keeping your dog cool is better for their health than trying to cool them down.  I feel like I’ve tried every cool coat ever invented; they stayed wet, made the dog wet, and anything he lay on…including me.  And then a friend recommended the Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling Coat.

 

If you’re of a certain age, do you remember the Remington advert – Victor Kiam saying, “I liked it so much, I bought the company”?  Well, I didn’t buy the company, but I did decide to stock the Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling Coat for dogs – because it’s Just. That. Good.

 

Equilibrium is mainly an equine brand – so if you have horses or ponies then you’re probably familiar with it.  They created their Quick Chill Cooling Coat for horses, and it was so effective and popular that they made a smaller version for dogs.

 

This cooling coat is fantastic – it’s effective at keeping your dog cool, and it’s everything that other cool coats aren’t!  You drench the inside (the inside material is like a synthetic chamois leather – hard when dry, and flexible when wet) and then wring it out before putting it on your dog.  It draws the heat away from your dog without wetting them (huge bonus because who wants to be stuck in wet clothing?) and the outer layer means that the moisture doesn’t seep out onto things or people.  So even if your dog comes for a snuggle, you’ll stay dry and, remarkably, when you take the cool coat off them, you’ll notice that they stayed dry too!

 

Available from The Bark Side at below RRP – you can order online, or visit the stall on Rother Street Market in Stratford upon Avon on Saturdays.

 

While some retailers have increased the price this summer, on The Bark Side you’ll find that the price of the Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling Coat for dogs is £30, against an RRP of £34.99.  Because it’s important to me that dog lovers can afford to keep their dogs safe.

 

Find out more and buy yours now.

 

4. Keep your dog cool at home

 

Home is your dog’s sanctuary.  It’s where they’re safe and comfortable, and never more so than during a heatwave.

 

Make sure they have a cool area to retreat to, and if they go outside, provide shaded areas for your dog to seek out. 

 

If your dog is one of those who refuses to stay indoors, have you considered a paddling pool, pet sprinkler, or water games for them to play?  Personally, I’d rather play water games with my dog at home than have him pottering about in the river, because I’ve heard of blue-green algae (and indeed sewage) in our rivers.

 

Also consider doing activities like training, nose work (scent training), or other games which can tire your dog out without exercise or exertion.

 

Get some cooling treats ready for them.  Doggy ice cream is a great, fuss-free way to keep them cool…and who doesn’t like ice cream?  If your dog is a fruit fan then putting fruit and water into a muffin tin, then freezing, can be a good idea.  Also consider things like Frozzy’s Dog Yogurt or KONG Easy Treat which you can freeze on a LickiMat or in a ice cube mould or KONG toy.

 

Above all, remember that your dog is likely to struggle more in the heat than you are.  If you’re too hot then your dog probably is, too.  Keep them safe and cool, rather than trying to cool them when they’ve already become too hot.