The Dog Days of Summer: How Hot Is Too Hot?
The weatherman says “It’s gonna be a hot one!” You look at your four-legged friend running around like crazy and wonder ‘is it too hot for you?’ The best way to exercise is to get your dog outside, but sometimes the summer weather can be too much for your pup, making it harmful to take them outside. While we know that hot pavement can mean it’s too hot outside to walk and the shade can bring some relief from the sun, do us pet parents know when too hot is actually too hot to be outside for our pets? Let’s explore what veterinarians and experts have to say about it being too hot to have your pup outside on those scorching summer days.
The temperature is not the only factor to take into consideration on those summer days - the humidity can also affect your pet. Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association explains that animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, dogs are unable to cool themselves and their temperature can skyrocket to dangerous levels very quickly.
It’s important for pet parents to know that a dog’s temperature is higher than a human’s, ranging from 101 degrees Fahrenheit to 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the air temperature feels hotter to them than it does to us. If the temperature outside reads over 100 degrees, it can quickly cause problems for your dog, even if they’re just sitting in the sun. If it’s cooler than 100 degrees but there is high humidity, the humidity prevents dogs from being able to efficiently cool themselves through panting, potentially causing problems for your dog. Pet parents also need to be aware of their dog exercising and how much sun your pet is soaking up because high humidity plus temperatures in the 80s or 90s can also spell trouble for your pup. In most cases, if you’re uncomfortable outside, it’s probably not the best for your dog to be outside either.
One clear sign for how hot is too hot for dogs is if their tongue is hanging long and there’s a lot of panting. Cooling down in canine terms doesn’t happen by sweating, it happens through panting; which is when moisture inside your dog’s mouth and on their tongue evaporates, helping to regulate their temperature. If you’re also finding that your dog has excessive drooling, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and bright red gums and tongue on top of lots of panting, being outside is way too hot for them and they need shade, water and air conditioning pronto. Any signs of stumbling, collapsing, unconsciousness or rising body temperatures is a need to seek veterinary care immediately, as these are extreme signs of your dog overheating.
Most dogs will be okay for short periods of time in temperatures up to 90 degrees, so long as they have plenty of access to shade and water. However, there are certain factors that can make a dog more susceptible to the heat such as size, breed, weight and age. Typically smaller dogs can tolerate higher temperatures compared to larger dogs, but there are exceptions to be aware of. If a dog of any size is obese, very young, elderly or is a brachycephalic breed - dogs that have shortened snouts or faces that appear flat, resulting in narrow nostrils and smaller airways - will have a harder time in the heat no matter their size. It’s also important to note that dogs with thicker coats will have a more difficult time staying cool compared to dogs with short or thin fur.
Your dog may be able to withstand higher temperatures if they are just sitting with you in the shade, but any exercise and movement during high temperatures and humidity should be closely monitored. Always keep an eye on the pavement, as that tends to heat up more quickly than the temperature outside and a good rule of thumb to follow is if you’re uncomfortable, your dog probably is too. Remember, humans can always dress appropriately for the weather outside, but your dog can’t remove their fur to cool down, so just be aware of temps and humidity when trying to figure out how hot is too hot for your canine friend.
The sun may be hot, but our dog walkers are the coolest around! Our furry friends always come first at Going Mutts Pet Services, which is why we like to find the shady trails, give lots of water breaks and find other ways to play if it’s too hot outside. Drop us an email to get started on customizing a play or walk plan that fits you and your furry best friend!
Sources:
https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-safety-tips/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-dogs
https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-is-too-hot-for-dogs-3975543