Author: Lisa Maria Stöbich
Did you know that the "dog days" have nothing to do with our beloved four-legged friends? The star Sirius was visible with the sun in the sky in the early days of the Roman Empire. The Greeks came to believe that the hot days were due to the combined power of the sun and Sirius. Between July 23 and August 23, the star was visible in the constellation Canis Major, leading to the designation of the Dog Days.
Summer, sun, sunshine: It's finally that time again. You want to have a nice summer with your four-legged friend, explore the world and experience adventures, but the heat quickly becomes an obstacle?
Learn how to protect your dog from heat stroke and what to do if it happens. We also give you important tips to cool down your fluffy darling in summer and to protect it from the heat.
How do I recognize heat stroke?
In summer it can quickly happen that your four-legged friend gets too hot. In the worst case, heat stroke can even threaten. Your alarm bells should go off if you pant heavily. This is how your dog tries to cool down. Also suspect are vomiting, diarrhea or dry skin. But how do you even recognize them? Try making a fold of skin on the back of your neck. If it doesn't go away on its own right away, your four-legged friend may be dehydrated.
It can also happen that your dog begins to breathe very quickly and shallowly, gets a racing heart or reddened mucous membranes. You may also notice other strange behaviors: if he starts drooling more than normal or becomes restless in general, it's high time to act. From a body temperature of 40 degrees, it becomes dangerous.
Heat stroke - what to do?
When these signs appear, it's time to rush to your dog's aid and cool him down. Take him to a cool place and give him lukewarm water to drink. You can also wrap a wet towel around it or carefully dampen it with water. Attention: The water must not be ice cold, as this would further strain the already overstrained circulatory system of your four-legged friend.
Once you have got your dog's body temperature under control, make your way to the vet. You also have to keep your dog cool on the go. Use a wet towel or a cooling blanket.
This is how you protect your four-legged friend
You can take a few precautions to prevent this horror scenario from happening in the first place. Our four-legged companions don't tolerate the heat as well as we humans. This is because they can only sweat to a very limited extent, namely on the pads of their paws and nose. Dogs pant to cool off in the heat. Due to the small area, only little heat can be emitted here. So one thing is clear for our four-legged friends: Now it's time to chill.
You may have noticed that you are weaker and less active in the heat. It's the same with your four-legged friend. Now you have the perfect excuse to find a shady spot, enjoy a cool drink and take a long siesta.
By the way: Heatstroke can also affect your cats. Your house cat will also be happy to cool off.
Sports and walks in the cooler hours
But you don't have to give up exercise entirely. How about a long walk at sunset? The cool morning hours are also suitable for sports, while walking the dog in the midday heat is not a good idea. Keep walks short, even in the hot mornings and afternoons when the sun is not kind to us.
Find suitable routes without hot asphalt, because this can feel very uncomfortable for your fluffy companion. Do your rounds on shady routes, on forest paths or in parks where your dog can move on the grass. Many dogs like to roll around in it to cool off.
Rolling around in the cool grass provides a fresh kick.
Proper grooming helps
Have you ever looked at your furry friend's thick fur? No wonder dogs suffer from the heat. Especially our very fluffy, long-haired four-legged friends with thick, dark fur are at the mercy of the heat. The right grooming and hairstyle means cooling off for dogs.
Take some advice from the groomer because who knows, maybe it's time for a brand new summer hairstyle. If you dare to restyle your four-legged friend yourself, then make sure not to trim too much, otherwise sunburn can threaten.
Even without scissors and razors you can make your dog's life easier. Regular brushing ensures that the coat is thinned out a little. So our fluffy friends can enjoy the summer breeze better.
On the road
Are you and your four-legged friend motivated for a road trip? Don't forget rule number 1: Never leave your dog alone in the car, not even with the window open. Even when the outside temperatures are still relatively mild, heat builds up quickly. This can put a strain on your fluffy companion when driving.
If you are out, you can bring him a cooling blanket to make himself comfortable on. Air conditioning is also helpful. However, the temperature in the car should not be too low below the outside temperature, otherwise people and dogs could get circulatory problems when they get out.
Feasting, feasting and slurping can cool down
Drinking enough is not only the golden rule for us, but also for dogs. Always provide your four-legged friend with enough waterso he can slurp along happily. This is how you prevent him from becoming dehydrated. And what about the feasting?
Off to the pool: Here your fluffy friend can cool off properly.
Give your dog slightly lighter meals and smaller portions more often throughout the day. Large meals remain heavy in the stomach for a long time and require a lot of energy to digest. Since your fluffy friend already has less energy in the heat, it can exhaust him even more. Maybe you can snack together in a shady spot. Grab one of ours dog walking bags, in which you store the treats, and off to the park.
Not only humans, but also dogs are happy about a delicious refreshment in summer. Simply mix 2 tablespoons of quark, yoghurt or cream cheese with a small dash of oil and stir in something delicious such as liver sausage or cooked chicken. The whole thing comes in a muffin tin for a few hours in the freezer and voilà: the dog ice cream is ready.
Off into the cool water
Lazing around in the shade with an ice cream is nice, but it's not the only thing you can do in summer. Pack your bathing suit and enough water and plunge into the cool water. Perhaps there is a beach, lake or river nearby that is worth a trip to. So you not only cool off, but also get to play, swim and romp around.
If you prefer to escape the heat in the garden or on the terrace, a paddling pool might be worth it. Here your four-legged friend can cool off and splash around. Some dogs also have a lot of fun chasing the water out of the water hose. Get the garden hose and throw yourself into the fray. Attention: Not all four-legged friends enjoy this, some are afraid of the garden hose. If this is the case, cool it down with a wet towel or some water with your hands.
Prepared for the heat wave
Get ready for the hot summer days.
Now you know how to protect your fluffy darling from the heat and cool it down. With a little creativity and motivation, you will manage to get through these "dog days" together this summer.
Cover photo by Ed Mehravaran. More images from freestocks.org and Helena Lopes.
About the editors
Hatice Kücükhüseyin is a content expert at inara writes. Words are her favorite tool. With them she brings color and life into every text. When she's not writing, she watches French cinema.
