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Dog and Heat

When it’s hot, dogs love to let off steam and cool off in the water.

Dogs and heat. Useful tips on how to survive the hot days.

You just have to imagine that the owner has to endure these high temperatures in a fur coat. Then it might be easier to understand how the dog feels in the heat. Since dogs, unlike humans, cannot cool down through sweat – our four-legged friends have only a few sweat glands – dogs and heat do not get along so well. Cooling down works through panting. Heavy panting should already alert the dog owner to take countermeasures.

We have put together some useful tips here to help our dogs survive the hot summer well.

Cooling down with water

If the dog likes to swim, cooling down in a lake, river, stream or the sea is a great way to refresh themselves. Equipped with swimming toys and balls, bathing is a successful activity. This way, dogs and heat are even fun.

If the dog doesn’t mind, it can also be sprayed off with the garden hose (starting at the paws). Catching the drops of water is fun for almost every dog.

If the garden hose is not your four-legged friend’s friend, a sturdy children’s paddling pool will also provide cooling.

Walking the dog in summer

If the temperatures are very high, long walks should be scheduled for the early morning or late evening. Walking with the dog and the heat is bearable on cool lawns or shady forest paths. Otherwise, older animals in particular can quickly develop circulatory problems.

During the day, only short walks are recommended, preferably not on hot asphalt. During the midday hours, a nap in the shade or in the cool apartment is on the agenda.

Avoid walking on pavement and asphalt, open fields and paths without shade. Check the heat of the road surface by pressing your hand onto the surface. If you cannot calmly count to 10, the ground is too hot and will burn the dog’s paws. Even if the road surface is not quite so hot, long walks can lead to burns.

Staying outdoors

It is best to stay in the shade with your dog and the heat. On the cool grass in the park under a shady bush, you can bear it even in high temperatures. A stay in the forest is a great change for dog and owner. Strenuous activities such as cycling should be avoided as they put too much strain on the cardiovascular system.

Grooming in hot weather

The fur should be brushed regularly in summer so that more air can reach the skin. Your darling will also be happy with a short summer cut and thinning of the fur, which will give him relief. Dogs can get sunburnt in hairless areas, so don’t cut them too short. Dogs with dark fur suffer much more in the summer heat, so make sure you go into the shade. You can also give your dog relief in hot weather by moistening his legs and stomach or putting a damp cloth on his body.

It is ideal if the four-legged friend can move freely in and around the house in the heat. He will then usually find a cool place himself, inside or outside.

Food and water

Of course, you always have to provide your dog with enough fresh water in hot weather so that it can quench its thirst at any time.

Smaller food portions spread throughout the day are less stressful for the body.

Homemade ice cream is a welcome change for the dog. You can find some recipes to download here.

Traveling in the car with your dog

It cannot be stressed enough: never leave your dog alone in the car in summer temperatures. It is not enough to park the car in the shade. Always take your dog with you. You can be stopped for any reason. The sun moves and in no time at all the temperatures inside the car are hellishly hot and become a death trap. Lack of oxygen, nausea and circulatory failure can lead to the animal’s death in the worst case scenario.

The use of air conditioning is essential for long journeys. If there is no air conditioning, long car journeys must be planned for the cool morning hours or late evening.

Call the police immediately if you discover an animal in a car. If an animal owner acts irresponsibly, he can be held accountable under Section 17 of the Animal Welfare Act. Fines and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years are threatened.

Recognize warning signals

Heavy panting with a stretched neck, a glazed look and a deep red tongue are a warning sign that the heat is getting too much for your four-legged friend. If vomiting, loss of balance and unconsciousness are added to this, the dog has suffered heatstroke, which in the worst case can lead to death. You should consult a vet as soon as possible!

Here you can find information on the topic Heatstroke in Dogs.

Recipe ideas for dog ice cream

Banana Ice Cream

  • 1 overripe banana
  • 100 g cottage chease

Ice Cream with Watermelon

  • 100 g watermelon
  • 100 g natural yogurt

Blueberry Ice Cream

  • 100 g blueberries
  • 100 g quark

Preparation

Mix all ingredients and fill into ice cube trays. Stick a small wooden stick or spoon into each ice cube so that you can feed it to your dog. For larger portions, you can also freeze the ice cream in muffin tins.

Important: Offer the dog the ice cream in small portions and make sure that it only swallows small pieces at a time.

Recipe for dog ice cream

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Cats and the heat – cooling down your furry friend

getigerte Hauskatze mit weißer Brust liegt im schattigen Gras

In the heat of summer, a cool shady spot under trees is ideal for your house cat.

Cats and heat. How do I cool down my cat?

As descendants of steppe dwellers, our cats love warmth and summer. Unlike their ancestors, heat is not all that good for your cat. Hot summer days are a big challenge for your house cat. You can read here how you can make life bearable for your house cat in summer and cool down your cat.

How do cats cope with high temperatures?

As a rule, cats react to heat with lethargy. They move much less in hot weather and look for a cool, shady place to retreat to. This only helps to a limited extent when it is too hot. Cats have far fewer sweat glands than humans and therefore cannot regulate their heat balance by sweating. Like dogs, cats try to cool down by panting. They also groom themselves more often because saliva moistens their fur and provides evaporative cooling.

Our tips will help you to make your house cat as comfortable as possible in hot temperatures.

Keep your fur moist to keep cool.

As already mentioned, cats use the evaporative coolness of their saliva to cool down. Help your house cat by moistening a washcloth and stroking your cat’s fur. It also helps to stroke the cat with wet hands every now and then. The positive side effect is that the cat grooms itself less and loses less fluid through saliva.

Make sure there is a shady and cool place.

Outdoor cats will independently find suitable, shady places to retreat to in the garden. It is a little more difficult for house cats in the house. A cool place in the basement or on the tiles in the bathroom is a good option. There are also special cooling mats for animals. These are self-cooling and dissipate heat very well. Airing out in the early morning and late evening also helps to cool down the living room. Shade the apartment during the day with roller shutters and blinds. Ideally, your house cat has a balcony secured with a net, where it can find a shady spot under plants. Please pay attention to the plants, as many of the widely used ornamental plants are poisonous to our cats. Here you will find an article on the subject of poisonous plants and a list to download. Setting up fans is not suitable. Cats can quickly catch conjunctivitis from the constant draft.

Adjust the outdoor time to the outside temperature.

If possible, cats should stay indoors during the worst of the midday heat. The risk of suffering heat stroke or sunburn is greatest in the strong summer heat at midday. If possible, make sure that your cat only stays outside in the early morning and late evening. Most house cats sort this out on their own, just make sure that the cat has access to a cool place in the house at all times.

How do I recognize heat stroke in my cat?

If the body temperature rises above 39°C and the animal shows restless behavior, this indicates heat stroke. Dark red gums, heavy panting and apathetic lying on the stomach are further signs. If you see these signs, you should see a vet immediately.

The right food is also important so that the cat can tolerate heat better.

As is well known, cats don’t like to drink much. That’s why it’s advisable to offer wet food on hot days. This will help with fluid intake. During particularly hot days, your house cat needs less food than usual, as calorie consumption drops due to reduced physical activity. Give your pet food in small portions spread out over the day. Clear away any leftovers straight away. The food spoils quickly on hot days and you will otherwise attract flies.

How do I encourage my cat to drink?

Drinking on hot days is much more important than the right food. To ensure that the cat drinks enough fluids, place lots of water bowls in and around the house and apartment. If your cat doesn’t like drinking, you can put some tuna infusion in the water bowl to add flavor. Unseasoned chicken broth also flavors the water and encourages drinking. Some house cats love to drink from indoor fountains or the faucet. A water fountain in the living room also ensures a good indoor climate.

Are insects and parasites more dangerous in summer?

Check your outdoor cat daily and remove ticks, fleas or mites immediately. Other insects are also unpleasant in summer. But don’t use insecticides because cats are very sensitive to insecticides. It’s better to equip your home with fly screens to keep the stinging pests outside.