Why Walking Your Dog In The Heat Is Dangerous

 The temperatures are already rising and during this time, you just want to be outside. However, with the hot weather, you need to be careful with your dog because it can be dangerous to him. Just taking him for a walk may be too much under certain circumstances.

 Here are the main problems your dog may have if you’re not vigilant and careful enough:

 #1: Sunstroke, Overheating, And Sunburn

 One of the most serious conditions your dog may deal with during the summer is suffering from a sunstroke. The problem is that dogs can only sweat through their paws. So, when the temperatures are too high, they can’t regulate their body temperature as well as we do. Plus, they still have their furry coat that retains all the heat.

 Before this happens, you might notice some signs that he is overheating. These include pale or dry gums, diarrhea, vomiting, hyperventilation, excessive panting, confusion, weakness, increased heartbeat, increased salivation, and rectal bleeding. In case you notice any of these signs on your dog, just take him to a cooler place and you can even turn on a fan pointing directly at him. You can also some wet towels on his body especially between the hind legs, under the armpits, and on his neck. Wetting his paw pads and ears can also help to keep him cooler. Give him some fresh water but don’t let him drink it all at once. Please notice that all these are just to make him cooler. As soon as you can. call your vet and tell him what’s going on. You should take him there to make a full examination.

 In what concerns sunburns, most dog owners don’t even know this might be a problem. After all, with all that thick coat protecting them, how can your dog suffer from a sunburn? In fact, they can. If you notice, there are some parts of their bodies where the fur isn’t that thick and the skin goes unprotected. This usually is more common on the stomach and on the nose. So, in order to prevent it, just rub some sun cream on your dog’s most vulnerable areas and don’t allow him to stay in the sun for too long.

#2: Dehydration:

Unfortunately, dehydration is a very common problem in dogs during the summer, especially while they are walking. This happens because some dog owners take them for a walk to a place where there are no shadows or when the temperatures are very high.

 In case you think your dog may be suffering from dehydration, some of the symptoms he will show include excessive urination and drooling, dry mouth, sunken eyes, lethargy, loss of appetite weak pulse, loose skin, among others.

 In order to prevent your dog from being dehydrated, you can spread some bowls with fresh water around the house and avoid walking him when the temperatures are too high. In case you really need to do it, choose a path that has many shades as well as water sources.

#3: Burnt Feet:

 As you probably already know, dogs feel the heat through their paws. So, when the temperatures are high, just taking your dog for a small walk can burn their paws, depending on the pavement.

 What you can do to prevent this from happening is simply taking your dog for a walk early in the morning or later in the evening when the ground is cooler. Plus, you can also change the walking path. Instead of going through cobbles, and pavements, you can choose a way that includes more grass that is usually fresher.

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