Hot Dog! Exercising in the Heat & Warning Signs of Overheating

Making Sure Your Pup is Active During Warm Weather Months 

Sizzling summer months can be brutal for humans and canines alike! As warm weather continues to surface, pet owners should be very aware of their dog’s health. When the temperatures rise, it’s doesn’t mean it’s time for exercise and activity to fall. Keep reading for tips on staying active during summer, and how to spot a dog that’s overheating.

Many tips on keeping your dog active are fairly apparent, but in the rush of summer it’s sometimes easy to overlook easy opportunities for exercise. Start by planning the best time of day to exercise your pet, targeting early mornings, evenings, and nighttime. You can still enjoy a walk in the park or around the block, you just need to adjust the time of day to avoid direct heat and top temperatures.

Dogs tend to love the water, and if you’re looking for a late afternoon or early evening activity consider investing in a sprinkler or baby pool. If you have age appropriate little ones around, this could be way for everyone to enjoy water play while getting some exercise! If you’re traveling to a lake or dog beach, mid afternoons can still potentially be dangerous depending on the temp. Be sure to check weather before planning any big trips.

Which brings us to shade. Whether running with your dog in the open spaces or enjoying a walk on-leash, it’s important to know where shade is and make sure it’s readily available. When you take a break in the shade, take advantage of the down time and offer your pet water. In fact, it’s good to always keep a collapsable water bowl and water on you whenever exercising your dog. 

If you are enjoying time outdoors in warm weather, be sure to keep an eye on signs of overheating. Typically signs of heat exhaustion will surface through panting, dry and/or pale gums, increased salivation, rapid pulse, confusion, weakness or even rectal bleeding. If you’re dog is displaying these symptoms, remove them from heat immediately and take them indoors if possible. Try cooling them down with water (and remember dogs cool from the bottom up, so don’t forget their bellies!). Give them plenty of water, but don’t force them to drink. Another red flag is hot asphalt or sand,  make sure the pads of your pet’s paws are not in danger of hot surfaces. If symptoms persist or blistering occurs, contact your vet as soon as possible.

Despite the challenges that summer poses, it’s still a wonderful season to go outside and enjoy time with your pet – just plan their outdoor exercise wisely! For information on outdoor group socialization or training classes, visit www.ItsADogsWorld.biz.