Hot Dog Summer: How to Keep Your Greyhound Cool in the Heat
While summer gives water-loving hounds plenty of opportunities for a cool down, not every dog enjoys the beach, creek or kiddie pool! We’ve put together some of our best tips for how to make sure your greyhound doesn’t overheat in the warmer weather (or a heatwave!), and can still get enough enrichment in their day.
How hot is too hot for greyhounds?
Once the temperatures start to climb, our dogs have trouble regulating their body temperature and the risk of heatstroke increases quickly. It might surprise you just how low the temperature can be and still pose a risk to large dogs like greyhounds especially. Our friends at Port Phillip Animal Hospital (PPAH) encourage dog owners to remember that vigorous exercise or underlying health conditions can lead to heat stroke at as little as 20ºC, but you should keep a close eye on your hound for signs of heatstroke even below this temperature (especially if they’re sporting a coat, boots or shirt). Most dogs will find temperatures over 24-27ºC uncomfortable, while anything hotter poses life-threatening risk of heat stroke for large breeds like greyhounds.
Follow this guide to assess heat stroke risk at various temperatures. Be aware of your dog’s risk factors and always monitor them for signs of heat stroke, even in lower-risk conditions. Source: PPAH.
How to check pavement temperature
Pavement temperature is another important consideration, as hot footpaths, roads, sand and trails can cause painful burns to your dog’s paws. Surface temperatures can be around twice as hot as the air temperature, as materials like asphalt and concrete absorb and retain heat. Just because the sun is going down doesn’t mean you’re in the clear; these surfaces will continue to vent built-up heat later in the day, too. Want to know if the ground is too hot for your dog to walk on? PPAH suggest checking the temperature by placing the back of your hand on the surface for at least 7 seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws!
Checking pavement temperatures helps keep your dog safe from painful burns. Source: PPAH
Tips for walking dogs in summer
While it’s best to be on the safe side and keep your hound cool, indoors and in the shade as much as possible on hot days, we also understand that some dogs just don’t want to stay home, or might need a walk for toileting. Here are some tips to make summer walks safer and more enjoyable for you and your dog.
Adjust walk times: walk early in the morning before and later in the evening after the sun has set (after checking the pavement temperature, of course!) to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Plan or adjust routes: If you can, try driving to a grassy shaded area or plan your walk route to stay in the shade and on the grass as much as possible.
Carry water: Take water for your dog and offer it frequently.
Use dog boots: Dog boots can help protect paws against burning pavement, making them a necessity for midday pee breaks. However, be aware that boots can inhibit a dog’s ability to regulate their body temperature. Only use boots for short periods in summer, such as to walk to a shaded, grassy area or for quick toilet breaks. If you’re looking for greyhound boots, our friends at Snooties Booties have designed theirs especially with hound feet in mind and donate regularly to rescue groups like us!
Cooling aids: Use a cooling jacket, light coloured Houndtee soaked in water or just hose your dog down before (or during) your walk. This can help keep them cool and reflect the sun away from dark coloured dogs. Keep in mind that if the cooling jacket warms up or the Houndtee dries completely they can trap heat, so make sure to re-wet them or remove them before this happens. Also, on humid days cooling aids (evaporative cooling) won’t work so keep an eye on the humidity!
Protect yourself too: Remember to slip, slop, slap and stay hydrated.
How to keep dogs cool at home
Okay, it’s practically sizzling outside and you’re skipping the walk. Wondering how to keep your greyhound cool at home? Here are our top tips for a comfy hound as the temperatures rise!
Direct a fan at a dog bed so your dog has the option of resting in a breeze.
Try cooling bed covers, blankets or mats that give your dog a cooler surface to lie on.
Make sure your dog always has access to fresh, cool water, and check whether bowls need to be topped up throughout the day.
Program greyduate Willow demonstrates how to use a cooling mat after finishing her snuffle mat on a hot summer day.
What to do if it’s too hot to walk your dog
With shorter or fewer walks, your dog will need more enrichment to keep their brain happy and occupied. Here are a few of our favourite DIY enrichment ideas.
Frozen treats: Try feeding your dog frozen foods. Treats like frozen peas, ice cubes, or wet food can help keep your dog occupied while cooling them down. We especially like freezing unsweetened coconut water or Norm freakshakes into ice cubes and then serving them in enrichment toys.
Splash zone: If you have an outdoor space and a water-loving hound, set up a small pool or a sprinkler. You can also put toys or treats in the pool to encourage foraging and keep your hound’s brain engaged.
Use meals as enrichment: This could be as easy as tossing a handful of kibble into the grass, rolling it up in a towel, or using a slow feeder. If your dog likes to sniff out treats, you can also place small portions of their food around the house or yard (once it’s cool enough!) for them to search for. If they haven’t done this before, make it nice and easy until they get the hang of the game!
EnRIPment: Any paper or cardboard in your recycling bin is only a few minutes away from being a fun indoor activity for your dog. For some dogs, just getting to shred stuff is the fun part, but you could also put treats in toilet paper rolls or scrunched up pieces of paper to encourage foraging.
Training. This is a great time to work on some training. Cooperative care training could include introducing tooth brushing, refreshing your muzzle training or learning a touch or place (e.g. ‘on your bed’) cue. If your hound has already mastered these things, you can also teach some fun tricks like a paw shake or spin cue!
Signs of heat stroke in dogs
Following the tips we’ve covered so far will go a long way to keeping your hound safe in hot weather, but it’s still a good idea to know what heat stroke looks like in dogs. Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and requires urgent action and veterinary attention. Look out for:
High body temperature
Excessive panting
Difficulty breathing
Restlessness or agitation
Drooling, especially very thick saliva
Pale, dark red, purple or blue gums
As heat stroke progresses, more serious signs include:
Rapid heart rate
Dizziness and inability to walk in a straight line
Vomiting or diarrhoea (potentially with blood)
Lethargy
Collapsing
Muscle tremors
Seizures
Unconsciousness
If you’re worried that your dog might be suffering from heat stroke, start cooling them down immediately by removing them from the hot area, pouring cool water on them, offering them cool water to drink and pointing a fan at them. Never try to cool your dog down using ice baths, as this can cool them too quickly and have dangerous side effects.
Once you’ve started to cool them down, take them to the vet straight away, even if they look like they’re recovering, as correct treatment is crucial and can be complex.
Final thoughts
As the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure! Now that you know how to keep your dog cool, comfortable and entertained, we hope you’ll enjoy the warm weather with your best mate (or mates, because we understand how hard it can be to only adopt one greyhound).