I can't deny it, I absolutely love the summer. However not all dogs (including some of ours!) share my enthusiasm. All dogs are different, and in particular some breeds do better than others in the heat. 

In general dogs with short, thin coats do best in the heat, and brachycephalic (short nosed breeds - boxers, bulldogs, pugs etc) and dogs with thick coats do not tolerate heat well. Age is also a consideration - the young and older dogs are more susceptibile to heat stroke and dehydration, and also obese, diabetic and giant breeds need more consideration.

Dog's are built to conserve heat rather than release it, and they can't sweat in the way that we do. They rely on air flow through their nasal passages and a few sweat glands on their paws to cool down. On a hot day could you recognise the signs of heat stroke or deydration in your dog??

Signs of heatstroke in dogs

- Raised temperature (101.5 is NORMAL) and accelerated heart rate.

- Rapid breathing and panting

- Excess salivation and thickened saliva

- Vomiting

- Bright red tongue and pale gums

- Excessive thirst

- Muscle tremors

- Staggering

If you spot these signs take action quickly !! Get your dog indoors and contact your Vet. Cool your dog with water, especially underneath (stomach, groin) and extremeties (head, paws, tail), use fans if you have them available. Don't use ice as cooling too quickly can cause the dog to go into shock. If you use soaked towels place them under the dogs armpits and groin, but do not cover. Let the dog have access to water but don't force to drink, and finally monitor the temperature and stop cooling procedures when the temperature reaches around 103 degrees.

Heat stroke in dogs is a very serious condition and it's onset can be sudden, escalating into an emergency situation in a matter of minutes.

Signs of dehydration in dogs

- Sunken eyes

- Lethagy

- Depression

- Dry mouth

- Gently pinch a small fold of skin at the base of the neck - is it slow to return back?

Dehydration is not always obvious, it can happen slowly over a period of time and suddenly can reach critical level. If you think your dog may be suffering from dehydration contact your vet immediately. Make sure your dog is out of the sun and offer plenty of cool, clean water.

In hot weather there are lots of things you can do to help keep your dog cool. NEVER leave your dog in a car, the temperature can rise really quickly to fatal levels. Let your dog stay inside out of the sun, or at least provide good shade outside so they have somewhere to go. Make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times. Some dogs like ice cubes in the bowl and it also encourages them to drink. Frozen dog treats also go down well in our house ! If your dog likes to swim then a dip in a (safe!) lake or stream, or a trip to the seaside will be very much appreciated. Be aware that water ingestion can be as fatal as heat stroke though so keep an eye on your dog and make sure they don't take on too much water either by retrieving a toy or playing with bubbles ;-) Avoid walking on surfaces that can get boiling hot - stay off pavements and sand as dogs pads can burn really easily.

If you have a working or competition dog then all of the above still applies. However there are a few products around that can really help if your dog has a job to do in the heat. We absolutely recommend the FitDog rehydration products, they are just brilliant and can literally be a life saver on a hot day. Our dogs love it, and it really encourages them to drink as well. Ruffwear have a range of super cooling coats which work through evaporation, and there are 2 different types. The Swamp Cooler provides more coverage but is slightly more bulky, while the Jet Stream Cooling Vest is a much more active fit but with the same cooling technology. Both are winners in our books and we use them on our own dogs.

Whatever you are doing with your dog in the heat, just use your common sense and take care !!