Dogs in hot weather . Cool their feet not their back….

Great advice, thanks.

So that’s why our dog paddles in her pool, rather than rolls in the water. I never thought of that.

Excellent advice, thank you!

I didn’t know that. Ought to get a small paddling pool.

My daughter has a paddling pool for her goldie. He has a big thick coat so pouring water on top doesn't help him.

I've been a dog owner for over 70 years now, and would certainly take issue with any advice which says not to pour water on a dog's back "as it constricts blood vessels". So would Blue Cross, as per : www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/how-to-keep-dogs-cool-in-the-summer-heat
The RSPCA also recommend that in very hot weather, you give your dog a damp towel to lie on, but don't drape it over the dog as this can trap the heat in. As for cooling feet and legs by paddling, this makes a lot of sense, as the blood vessels are closer to the surface there, and less covered by a thick coat. We've not had very hot weather up here in Northumberland .. top temp around 25 deg so far.. but we're still walking our pooches early and late, and not in the heat of the day.

It has been 34c here and still i see people dragging poor dogs along on hot pavements. The paving in our garden was scorching hot yesterday - i stepped on it with bare feet and jumped on the grass very quickly.

Paddling pool, before and after all daily walks and any time outside.

Dogs, and cats for that matter can only sweat through their paw pads and to a lesser extent through their noses.

So cooling their paws is the quickest way to cool them down.

In this very hot weather most dogs and cats have the sense to stay in the shade, and should only be taken for walks before the sun is strong in the morning and after or towards sundown.

And yes, before you jump on my for faulty grammar, the cats and I do take walks together when they insist.

DD used to take her cat for a walk on a lead in an urban area where she lived in Australia, it's compulsory to register and microchip them too.

We ran into difficulties a couple of weeks ago with our dog in France. Thinking it was cool around 9.30 am, so 8.30 am English time, we walked along the beach to a château. The dog was in and out of the sea and walking on sand. The château was beautifully cool, limestone walls and lofty rooms, but coming out 2 hours later around 1 pm, it was really boiling. We knew we had to get back somehow, so we gave the dog water to drink from his bottle and our own water too. At least we didn't have to walk on pavements, but the silver sand was prickly and we could tell he was uncomfortable. We tried to find the occasional tree to rest, but he was panting heavily despite bring the fittest two year old gundog you have seen. It was scary.
Luckily we found a campsite where I went into the bar, ordered myself a drink and asked for water for the dog. (I have to say that the French are brilliant for providing dogs with individual drinking bowls in restaurants). My husband carried on to fetch the car and come back for us. I told him I had poured some of the water over the dog and he said he had read something only a day earlier, which said you aren't supposed to do that.
Luckily all was well, but it shook us up a bit.

I did see a dog wearing little boots in the hot weather a few years ago.

However, avoiding the heat of the day is the most sensible option and I'll take note of the paddling paws in cool water too.

One of our small dogs always paddles in the water bowl when it's hot then leaves a trail of pawprints through the house. Fortunately a tiled floor.

Callistemon21

I did see a dog wearing little boots in the hot weather a few years ago.

However, avoiding the heat of the day is the most sensible option and I'll take note of the paddling paws in cool water too.

Funny you say that, at the ferry port where the sniffer dogs walk up and down the cars on tramac, they wear little boots in the hot weather.

The ferry port was actually our biggest challenge in temperatures nearing 30 degrees. You have to arrive early with the dog in order to do the necessary paperwork. Then you park up in the queue, no shelter provided, and you aren't supposed to let the dog out. The dog cars were loaded last onto the ferry, so we were over 2 hours in the car in the heat of the day. Luckily we had thought ahead, and I had saved one of the white bed sheets to drape over the open boot of our car while - don't laugh - I sat in there with him!

Well done!

When I had my dog I had a little paddling pool for her in the garden she loved being in it but so did my granddaughter get in with her think I got from pound shop but you could get a baby bath for in your garden. Or I had an old T-shirt that I would soak in cold water but it was also her comfort blanket when it was bonfire night

Mi (Spanish) vet said the main thing is for dogs is to have endless supplies of water as they regulate their heat by panting. My Goldies have never seemed to mind the heat much. I just avoid hot pavements but apart from that am guided by their wishes and reactions. 'Walkies' is always greeted with enthusiasm but I choose a beautiful woodland walk with plenty of shade, a stream and a lake.

@callistemon

DD used to take her cat for a walk on a lead in an urban area where she lived in Australia, it's compulsory to register and microchip them too.

Thankfully, it's going to become law to microchip them here in the UK next year.
About time too!

Pouring cold water onto a dog or covering them with a wet towel is so so dangerous, it can cause them to over heat and can cause death. Yes, cool from the paws or give a cool mat or wet towel to lie on, but never ever cover them up.

DeeJaysMum

@callistemon

DD used to take her cat for a walk on a lead in an urban area where she lived in Australia, it's compulsory to register and microchip them too.

Thankfully, it's going to become law to microchip them here in the UK next year.
About time too!

Oh, I didn't realise! Good move 🙂
For the cats, too.

I walk my dog first thing in the morning and at night after 9 pm. She is only out for short time to tiddle during the day.

The only place Dogs can sweat is through their paws so that’s another reason why they should never walk on hot pavements.

When my children were little, I always used to bring the temperature down when they had a fever by cooling their feet with tepid water ( not cold water). Worked every time.