Sun's out, pup's out! As summer sets in, you're likely spending more time outside. Whether it's in your garden, on the patio or at the park, you want to keep your canine companion as comfortable and content as can be. Learning how to keep a dog cool in summer will ensure that they're enjoying the warmer weather just as much as you — safely! Let's take a look at some health tips and fun things to do with your dog in the summer…

Keeping Your Dog Cool in Warm Weather

Let's cut to the chase and address the number one concern pet parents have in the summer: their dog getting too hot. It's hard to know when your dog is getting overheated since they can't tell you with words, but they can show some classic signs like open-mouth breathing or excessive panting. If you see these signs, your dog looks panicked while breathing, or they lay down and can’t walk, you should treat this as a medical emergency. Get your dog to the vet as soon as you can and in the meantime, do anything you can to cool their whole body. Thoroughly wetting them to the skin and keeping wet towels wrapped around them on the way to the clinic can mean the difference between life and death.

When we get too hot, we sweat. But, did you know that dogs don't perspire like us? But, dogs do have sweat glands in their paws! The major way that dogs cool themselves is through panting. It was always thought that panting just moved cool air over the tongue, but we now know that dogs have a complex system of bony turbinates in their nose. These turbinates have a huge blood supply and dogs inhale through their nose when they pant. This passes the cool air over the blood vessels in the turbinates and cools the blood. This is why dogs with flat faces really struggle to keep cool. Their noses are so short there isn’t enough room for these bony gems. Typically these types of dogs start panting at much lower temperatures than dogs with normal noses. Always avoid walks in the heat of the day, but it’s a definite no-no  if you have a flat-faced breed.

For any dog, remember that being left in the car, even on mildly warm days, still tragically kills far too many dogs every year. Even if you think you won’t be gone long and even if you’ve cracked the windows open, your dog could still die of heat stroke very quickly. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

Is your summer filled with weekend family getaways, dog included? If so, they will need an overnight bag, too! In addition to food and medicines, don't forget to bring along a few favourite toys and a copy of their latest vaccine records. It’s also important to pack all the necessities for the journey itself, and plan with their comfort and health in mind.

Did you know that some dog breeds endure warmer climates and summer weather more successfully than others? Why? Smooth- or short-coat dogs can better tolerate the heat than double-coated fluffy pets. If you're preparing to adopt a new pup, or move to a warmer region, this list of dogs is a must-read. If you do have a thick-coated or long-haired dog, have them clipped. We wouldn’t want to wear our winter clothes all summer, so let’s not expect our dogs to either. They may look a little different but it can make a huge difference to their comfort.