Cool Canines

While summer might almost be over, the heat tends to stick around a little longer. It’s important to keep dogs cool throughout the warmer parts of the year.

Dogs Australia Canine Health & Wellbeing Committee Chair, Dr Karen Hedberg BVSc, has some tips to keep your dog cool and comfortable this summer:

• Walk in the early morning or afternoon to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
• Keep dogs in the shade and make sure they have access to shade during warmer temperatures.
• Ensure your dog is in a well-ventilated area.
• Wetting and using cooling coats for dogs.
• Placing cooling mats for your dog to sit on.
• Frozen or wet sacks.
• Frozen treats - Frozen treats can be okay but they do melt quickly so it’s important to be mindful of that.
• Place ice blocks in water bowls.
• Avoid running your dog and strenuous activity in extreme heat.
• Make sure your dog has plenty of access to water and that water dishes cannot tip over. You can tie a bucket filled with water so that it won’t fall.
• Fill up wading or shed pools in the shade for your dog
  • Wading pools may not be best suited to smaller breeds.
  • More flatter dishes would be appropriate and easier for them to go in.
  • Wading pools are portable and easy to use although supervision is important.
  • We use wading pools for the German Shepherds to cool down in after the national and major shows.

Dr Karen Hedberg says "The best way, in my opinion, to keep your dog cool is to have plenty of ventilation and plenty of shade".

Image Credit: Kirsten Enni