How to Keep Dogs Cool in Summer Outside: 8 Essential Tips

Summertime! Warm, bright, and fun days are ahead. As fun and enjoyable summer is, it also comes with some obvious concerns. Especially you need to be extra precautious with your pets in the summer. 

During this time of the year, our canine friends become vulnerable to heat stroke. You would want your dog to have as fun a summer as you will. So, to make sure they don’t suffer in the scorching heat, you need to take some measures from your side.

That’s what you’re here for, right? No worries; we’ll cover it up for you. All you have to do is to follow the tips in this article. Here you go!

8 Ways to Keep a Dog Cool in Summer Outside

There are several easy and cost-effective methods to keep your dog cool during the summer. Here goes some of the most useful ones:

1. Keep Pets Hydrated With Plenty of Cool Water

Drinking adequate water is one of the prime practices of a healthy lifestyle. However, in the summer, it becomes even more important to maintain proper hydration for both humans and animals. 

To remain healthy, a dog should drink one ounce of water per pound of body weight daily. Therefore, a dog weighing 15 pounds must drink at least 15 pounds of water every day. 

Place the dog's water bottle in a shaded or cool location so the dog feels the urge to go there more often and develops the tendency to drink more water.

2. Offer a Cooling Mat for Relief From Heat

One of the most affordable options to help your dog’s temperature cool down to a few degrees in the hot summer is a cooling mat. 

There are different types of cooling mats. Some contain cooling gels, while others require filling with cold water or ice. Again, some cooling gel mats need to be refrigerated to get cooler, whereas some have built-in cooling technology. Know which type works the best for you. 

Regardless of the type, cooling mats are great options for keeping your dogs cool in the summer. They provide instant relief from the heat and let you enjoy the good aspects of the season.

3. Create Shaded Areas for Comfortable Rest

You might want to think twice before taking your dog outdoors this summer if there aren’t enough shaded spots. Because without adequate shaded spots, your dog won’t have the option to rest comfortably between playtime. This can cause your dog to have a heat stroke.

Though shaded areas don’t contribute to reducing the body temperature, they provide instant relief from the scorching heat of the sun and direct exposure to sunlight. It prevents the dog’s body from absorbing more heat.

Wondering if your dog house in the yard would provide enough shade for your dog? Well, it depends. If it’s well-ventilated with proper air circulation, then, sure. However, outdoor dog houses are usually built with enhanced insulation to keep the dog warm. In that case, it’s a bad idea.

To create shaded areas in your yard, trees are the best option. Nothing beats the gift of nature. If there aren’t enough trees in your yard, you can always plant them. They will help the place get cooler as well. Just keep in mind the position of the sun at different times of the day and plant the trees in appropriate spots.

Other than trees, pop-up canopies and patio umbrellas are pretty great options for providing shade to your pup, too.

4. Schedule Frequent Breaks to Prevent Overheating

Your pup won’t show you that it’s tired while playing. You need to figure out when to schedule breaks between playtime and walking or running sessions. Make sure to schedule breaks more frequently so your dog doesn’t get drained out in the blazing heat.

How you should schedule the breaks depends on the activity, the time of day, and the temperature. For activities like walking or playing, taking breaks every 15 to 20 minutes should be enough. However, for hiking, fetching, tugging, or running, taking breaks every 10 minutes would be better.

5. Provide Frozen Treats as a Refreshing Cool-down

One of the best things about summer is having ice cream, popsicles, and other frozen treats. So, why deprive your pup of that? Though regular popsicles we have for ourselves might not be a good option for your dog, you can make a pupsicle version with its favorite treats.

You can make the pupsicles with pet-friendly veggies, dog treats, or xylitol-free peanut butter. To make the pupsicles, all you need is a popsicle mold. Fill it with water and the preferred treats, then freeze it. If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can just use your ice tray to have frozen dog treat cubes.

You can also freeze your dog’s Kong after filling it. It’s even better. Your dog won’t just have a tasty frozen treat but also something to stay entertained with. 

6. Allow Supervised Playtime in a Pet-Friendly Pool

If your neighborhood has a dog-friendly pool, why not have a fun pooltime with your pooch? Though many dogs aren’t comfortable with swimming or getting into the water, the heat of a hot summer might change their mind. You never know. So, just let them make the choice.

Deep swimming pools where people swim aren’t good options for the dogs. Instead, you can try a paddling pool, which is generally shallow and transportable. You can easily set up a paddling pool in your yard or any other outing place on vacations.

However, be extra cautious when swimming with your pup. A dog life vest and leash should be included to ensure your dog’s safety and control.

7. Avoid Strenuous Activity During the Hottest Hours

Don’t plan exercises or other energy-consuming activities during the hottest hours of the day. Check the weather and track the times when there will be extreme heat outside. Don’t take your pup out at those times. These are the prime times for heat stroke to take place within dogs.

Even if you feel the day isn’t that hot, check the amount of heat the sun is spreading outside. If you have an asphalt pavement, you can walk barefoot or touch it with your hands to know whether the heat would be tolerable for your pooch.

8. Never Leave Pets in Cars

When you take your dog for a ride in your car on a hot summer day, be careful about the car’s interior temperature. Make sure to turn the air conditioner on or roll the windows down. If you must park the car while keeping the dog inside for some time, avoid sunny spots. 

A car’s temperature can increase 20 to 40 degrees more than the outside temperature within a few minutes. Hence, if possible, it is best to avoid keeping your pets inside the parked car. 

Otherwise, even in a fully air-conditioned parked car under direct sunlight, your doggo will have a high risk of heatstroke.

Symptoms of Heatstroke in Dogs

Watch out for heatstroke in your dog during the summer. Despite careful considerations, mishaps may happen. So, always be prepared and know when it’s getting concerning. Here are the common signs of heatstroke for you to take notes:

• Excessive panting and salivating

• Fast and rapid breathing

• Rapid heartbeat

• Redness in gum and tongue

• Fatigue and weakness

• Loss of consciousness

• Diarrhea and vomiting tendency

• Disoriented movement

• High rectal temperature (103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)

• Extreme thirst

• Seizures or agitation

Conclusion

Let this summer be a happy and fun time for both you and your pup. Make sure to keep the above points in mind when enjoying outside with your pooch. At the end of the day, staying healthy matters the most for both of you.

So, stay cautious, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying your summer to the fullest.  

Happy summer!