Keep Your Cool:
Summer Heat Safety for Dogs

Summer in Texas is hard on dogs. Heat problems can build quickly, and dogs can't tell us when they're getting into trouble. This flip book walks through the three levels of heat-related illness, how temperature and pavement affect your dog, and a few other summer safety tips.

Know the signs: three levels of heat trouble

Heat-related illness in dogs happens in stages. Catching it early makes all the difference.

Heat stress: "It's hot in here." This is the earliest stage. Your dog may be panting, thirsty and looking for shade. It's time to head inside, offer water and cool down.

Heat exhaustion: "I'm not feeling great." Signs include heavy panting, thick drool, dry or bright red gums, seeming overly tired, vomiting, diarrhea and wobbly legs. Stop all activity right away, get your dog somewhere cool, and call your veterinarian.

Heat stroke: a medical emergency. Watch for collapse, seizures, thick sticky drool, a racing pulse, glassy eyes, dizziness or disorientation, bright red or purple tongue or gums, and muscle tremors. If you see any of these, go to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately.

Temperature and risk

Risk rises faster than most people expect. By the mid-70s, conditions can already be unsafe depending on breed, and in the 80s and above, heat can be life-threatening, especially for large dogs. Some dogs are at higher risk: overweight dogs, flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like pugs and French bulldogs, puppies under six months, and seniors. Shade and fresh water help lower the risk, but they don't remove it.

Too hot to trot: check the pavement

Pavement gets much hotter than the air. On a 77°F day, asphalt can reach 125°F, hot enough to damage paw pads in about a minute. On a 102°F day, it can climb past 165°F.

Use the seven-second rule: rest the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Walk early in the morning or later in the evening, stick to grass during the hottest part of the day, and consider dog booties or a paw-pad product for extra protection.

Other summer safety tips

Stay current on vaccines and preventatives. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are everywhere in summer, so keep heartworm and flea and tick prevention up to date.
Practice water safety. A brightly colored dog life jacket helps with both safety and visibility around pools, lakes and boats.
Get ready for fireworks. The Fourth of July is one of the scariest days of the year for many dogs. If your dog is noise sensitive, reach out early so we can help you prepare. You can also learn more in our How Dogs Hear flip book.

Questions about your dog?

Wiggle Butt Academy offers in-home training and behavior help across Dallas, training at our Plano location, and board and train programs. We also consult virtually worldwide.

Email: info@wigglebuttacademy.com
Scheduling: 469-444-1474