With summer right around the corner, or for those who live in warmer climate areas, long walks on hot days can cause dogs to be susceptible to heat exhaustion. It is very important that if you are walking your dog in the heat, or on hot pavement to be aware of the signs of this, which can be excessive panting, heavy drooling, diarrhea, a lack of desire to continue to walk.. always be aware of your dogs behavior and always be looking for signs that it is time to slow down, take a drink and cool off or end the walk for your dogs safety.
Anytime you think your dog is hot or overheating, the best thing we can do to cool them off quickly is to submerge their paws in water. Although dogs primarily cool down by panting, their sweat glands on their feet also help them cool down, so getting them off of the hot street or pavement and onto cooler grass or dirt is extremely helpful in the cool down process. However if possible, dipping their paws in cool water will be the most effective way to quickly cool them off and prevent their bodies from suffering a heat exhaustion.
It is always smart to have a jug of water with a travel bowl when on walks not only so your pups can quench their thirst, but also to soak their pads and help cool them down during summer days when the ground and air is hot. Always being prepared for these scenarios with water and a bowl will help prevent your pup from overheating and making it home safely no matter where you go.
Thank you for posting about this! 🐾