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5 Tips for Walking Your Dog in Hot Weather

July 2, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Walking Your Dog in Hot WeatherWalking your dog outside on hot days can be harder on your dog than you realize. Whether you take your dog for a walk on one of those scorching hot mid-summer days or on an unusually warm day in the spring, do not assume your dog can handle it. We humans often assume, mistakenly, that dogs are born to be outdoors and they can withstand weather extremes better than we can. However, you may be surprised to learn that you may be better equipped to tolerate extreme heat than your dog. Heat stroke is sadly not uncommon in dogs and unfortunately, it can be debilitating and lead to death.

As a responsible dog owner, you need to know how to protect your dog from heat stress while you are out on a walk. Here are five tips to follow:

Walk Early Morning or Later in the Evening

Most people walk their dogs in the morning and again before or after dinner. Try to take the walk at a time when you can slow it down and give your dog time to explore at a leisurely pace rather than a rushed, business-like pace. Go before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. to avoid taking the walk during the hottest time of the day. Not only will your dog be more comfortable, so will you!

Beware of Hot Surfaces

Be careful walking on hot surfaces. Take off a shoe and walk on it with your bare feet. You are likely to find that asphalt and sand will burn your feet. If the surface is too hot for your feet, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. Other hot surfaces include certain kinds of masonry and crushed stone. Be sure to test it before having your dog walk on it.

Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Proper hydration is critical for dogs and humans alike, especially during summer weather. Although some parks are equipped with dog-accessible drinking fountains, it’s best not to rely solely on that. Sometimes those fountains are not operating or they are filthy. Always take water and a collapsible bowl with you and offer it to your dog regularly.

Find Some Shade

walk your dog on the shady side of the streetWalk on the shady side of the street, or on a shady path if you can. Better yet, plan a walk that allows you and your dog some time to rest in a shady spot.

Shade is especially important if you have a dog with a dark coat. Black and dark coats will absorb heat from the sun very fast, which puts your dog at severe risk of heat stroke if it cannot find relief from the sun. Keep this in mind if you take your dog to the beach, where shade is scarce. Try to get the dog into the water to cool it down. If the dog will tolerate it, consider putting a large white t-shirt on the dog to reflect the sunlight.

Accommodate Your Dog’s Specific Characteristics and Condition

Your dog’s ability to handle heat depends on its individual circumstances. A dog’s breed, overall health and its age are factors that you must consider before you subject your dog to a long walk in the warm weather.

With regard to breed, many flat-faced breeds, such as French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Boxers and Pugs, have respiratory issues due to the shape of their skulls. They have been bred to have shortened muzzles, which usually makes breathing and panting more difficult for them. Hot weather can be quite dangerous for these breeds because they have a harder time keeping themselves cool and oxygenated. If you own a flat-faced dog, you must protect it against overheating by keeping their hot weather walks very short.

If your dog has not yet shed its winter coat, it will soon be overheated on an earlier than usual warm spring day. Treat the situation just as you would when you take your dog out in the middle of summer.

Other conditions that can exacerbate overheating include obesity, allergies and older age. Overweight dogs, dogs with allergies, dogs with health issues, or senior dogs also need shorter walks in hot weather.

Know the Signs of Overheating

dogs pant when they begin to overheatDogs do not vent their body heat by sweating. They vent their body heat through their mouths when they pant, so when your dog pants it is trying to expel excessive heat. When your dog is beginning to overheat, it will begin panting and may seek shade. Early signs of heat stroke include very rapid panting and excessive drooling may occur when panting isn’t enough. Your dog may begin walking slower, try to lie down or seek shade. You need to recognize these signs and get your dog immediate relief from the heat.

Contact the Dog Walking Experts at Paw Pals for more information

Heat stress is a real risk for your dog. If you think you may be unable to walk your dog safely during the hot weather, contact the experts at Paw Pals for help. Their dog walking professionals know how to walk a dog that will minimize the likelihood of overheating, how to recognize the signs of heat stress and other health emergencies and how to take emergency action. For more information about their professional pet services, contact Paw Pals.

Filed Under: Dog Walking

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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