How to Keep a Hot Dog Cool
Well, summer is almost here, but for many of us we are seeing sweltering temperatures already. The high today here was 96°F so the AC is on, the chickens have a giant umbrella covering them, Frank the dog is lounging on the cool floor and the cats are sleeping in the hall. Today I want to talk about hot weather, so grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage and let’s dig into some tips for keeping our dogs safe and comfortable this summer!
Let’s start with the fact that weather can affect blood glucose levels. For some dogs warm/hot weather can drop blood glucose levels and for other dogs it can raise blood glucose levels. It is quite common in our Facebook group Diabetic Dog Owners for members to have to run curves and then adjust dose accordingly during the summer months. Just remember that once it cools off insulin amounts may need to be adjusted again, so another curve will be in order.
Diabetic dogs also have a harder time regulating their body temperature so you may notice Fido laying on cool tile, panting more and drinking more water. There are several products you can purchase that can help keep your pup cool.
- Cooling Mat – these are filled with a gel material that activate with pressure. Lucy had a cooling mat and while she did not really like laying on it, I will tell you that THEY WORK!
- Cooling Bandana - activated by water and then wrung out, these bandanas are nice. I have used a human version myself and they cool nicely!
- Cooling Vest –Some versions have cooling technology like the cooling bandanas and of course there are the old school versions are based on absorbing moisture and wicking away body heat.
During these hot days exercise should be done when it is cooler, it is recommended to walk or exercise your dog in the early morning or the later evening. The other extremely important reason to walk your dog when it is cooler is due to extremely hot asphalt and concrete and the real danger of burning their paw pads. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for them as well.
Another serious concern with our dogs (and not just diabetic) due to excessive temperatures is heat stroke. Heat stroke (hyperthermia) is a serious illness and requires immediate vet intervention. When a dog’s body reaches a high temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) they are considered hyperthermic. When a dog’s temperature is above 106°F (41°F) they are in heat stroke, and once the body reaches temperatures of 107°F to 109°F (41.2°C to 42.7°C) the organs fail and the dog can die.
Breeds that are more susceptible to heat stroke are:
- Boston Terriers
- Pugs
- French Bulldogs
- Pekinese
- Bulldogs
- Boxers
- Shih tzus
- Cavalier Charles Spaniels
- Chow Chows
Make sure you always have plenty of water available to your dogs. Frozen healthy treats will help cool them off, I make “pupsicles” with low sodium broth. You can also freeze little dollops of plain Greek yogurt or pure pumpkin. Green beans, red pepper slices, celery, cucumber slices are all healthy, low glycemic vegetables you can freeze and give as treats.
I hope this blog has given you some ideas on how help keep your sweet pup cool throughout the summer. I hope you all have a wonderful summer and thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog.
Do you have a suggestion or comment? Please start a conversation below.
Until next week, stay cool!
If you are looking for a Facebook community to join for support, I have been an admin in Diabetic Dog Owners for four and a half years. You can also join Canine Diabetes Support and Information on Facebook as well.
For more conversations, photos, and giveaways check out PetTest on Facebook and Instagram.
For printable version of this blog, click here.