Summer Tips!

Dogs are cold adapted - they dont get on well with summers. Here are a few tips to help keep your buddy cool over the next few months.

How Dogs Keep Cool:

Dogs have a higher body temp than we do. The only effective ways they can cool is through panting, their ears, and a very limited amount through their foot pads and skin.

Panting:

Panting is the primary and most effective method dogs use to cool down. Here's how and why it works so well:

Evaporation: Panting is a rapid inhaling and exhaling through the mouth, causing moisture on the tongue, mouth, and upper respiratory tract to evaporate. This evaporation process dissipates heat and helps cool the dog's body.
Increased Airflow: Panting increases airflow over the moist surfaces in the mouth and lungs, which enhances the rate of evaporation and heat loss.
Heat Exchange: The cool air that the dog inhales during panting replaces the warm air expelled from the lungs, which further helps to reduce body temperature, so panting in a dry, cool environment is much more effective than panting in a hot, humid place.
High Efficiency: Panting is the most effective cooling system for dogs.
Temperature Regulation: Panting is generally sufficient to regulate a dog's temperature under normal conditions. However, in extreme heat, if a dog is exerting itself heavily or if it's a brachycephalic (short-nosed) breed like a Bulldog or Pug, panting might not be as effective, and the dog could be at risk of heatstroke.

Panting Limitations:

Humidity Impact: In high humidity, the effectiveness of panting decreases because the air is already saturated with moisture, making it harder for evaporation to occur.

Heatstroke Risk: If a dog’s body temperature rises too quickly or the heat is too intense, panting alone may not be sufficient, and the dog could overheat.

EARS:

Dogs cool themselves through their ears by utilising the blood vessels in their ears as part of their natural thermoregulation process. Here's how it works:

Vasodilation: When a dog gets hot, the blood vessels in their ears, especially in the pinnae (the ear flap), expand or dilate.
Heat Dissipation: The increased blood flow to the ears allows heat to dissipate from the blood into the surrounding air, cooling the dog's body temperature. The larger the surface area of the ear, the more effective this cooling process can be.
Air Circulation: In some breeds with large, floppy ears, the movement of the ears when they shake their head or flap their ears helps to circulate air around them, further enhancing the cooling effect. This is only effective if ear hair is short.

Panting Limitations:

Although dogs primarily cool themselves through panting, the ears play a secondary role in helping to regulate body temperature.

Sweat Glands in Paw Pads:

Dogs can cool themselves slightly through their feet, though it's not as effective as panting or other methods. Here's how it works:

Sweat Production: Unlike humans, dogs don't have sweat glands over most of their body, just a small number of sweat glands in their paw pads. When a dog gets hot, these glands secrete moisture, which can help with cooling through evaporation.

Evaporation Process: As the sweat evaporates from the paw pads, it removes heat from the surface, providing a minor cooling effect.

This only works well in short coated breeds, and if you have a labradoodle, make sure you ask your groomer to clip between the toes and pads over summer.

Blood Flow: The blood vessels in a dog's paws can also play a role in thermoregulation. When a dog is overheated, blood vessels in the paws may dilate, allowing more blood to flow closer to the surface, where heat can dissipate more readily.

Contact with Cool Surfaces: Dogs often seek out cool surfaces to lie on, like tiles or concrete, which can help transfer heat away from their body through their paws.

Limitations:

Limited Cooling: Cooling through the feet is relatively minor compared to other methods like panting or cooling through the ears. It provides a supplementary way to help regulate temperature, but it's not the primary means of cooling for dogs.
Seeking Cool Surfaces: Dogs instinctively use their paws for cooling by seeking out cool or damp areas to stand, sit, or lie down, which enhances heat loss through the paw pads.
In summary, while dogs can cool themselves a bit through their feet, this method is less significant than panting and other cooling mechanisms. It serves as an additional way to help manage their body temperature, especially in hot conditions.

Behavioural Cooling:

Dogs have limited ability to cool themselves through their skin compared to humans, as they do not have sweat glands distributed across most of their body. However, there are a few ways in which dogs use their skin to help regulate their body temperature:

Sweat Glands: Dogs have sweat glands primarily located in their paw pads and, to a much lesser extent, in their nose. These glands secrete moisture that can help with cooling, but this is not a significant method of temperature regulation.
Vasodilation: In hot conditions, the blood vessels near the surface of the skin can dilate (expand), allowing more blood to flow closer to the skin. This process, called vasodilation, enables heat to dissipate from the blood into the surrounding air. This cooling effect is more noticeable in areas with less fur, such as the ears, face, and belly.
Heat Dissipation: While this mechanism helps in cooling, it is less effective than sweating in humans. Dogs rely more on other cooling methods like panting and finding cooler surfaces to lie on.
Seeking Cool Surfaces: Dogs will often lie on cool surfaces, like tile floors or shaded ground, to help cool their bodies. By doing so, heat is transferred from the dog's skin to the cooler surface, aiding in reducing body temperature.
Insulation: A dog's fur coat acts as an insulator, protecting them from both cold and heat. In hot weather, a well-groomed coat can actually help keep a dog cooler by shielding their skin from direct sunlight and allowing air to circulate close to the skin.

Effectiveness:

Limited Role: Overall, cooling through the skin is not the primary method dogs use to regulate their body temperature. While there is some heat dissipation through the skin, it plays a relatively minor role compared to panting, which is the most effective cooling mechanism for dogs.

Helping Your Dog Get Through Summer:

Hydration: Constant access to cool, fresh water is important. We add ice cubes in summer.

Avoid Walks in the Middle of the Day: Dogs can suffer heat stress in relatively low temperatures - mid 20s can be a problem if they are walking on hot pavements. Walk your dog early morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. If you cant hold your hand on the pavement comfortably for 7 seconds, dont walk your dog on it.

Shade: Dogs must have access to good shade when outside.

Cooling Gear: Cooling gear of of indeterminate use, as dogs dont sweat, or loose heat easily through their skin.

Limit Exercise: Reduce strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day. Overexertion in the heat can lead to heatstroke.

Watch for Signs of Overheating: Keep an eye out for excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, or difficulty breathing. If you notice these signs, move your dog to a cooler area immediately and offer water.

Never Leave Dogs in a Hot Car: Even with windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can rise rapidly and become dangerous. Avoid leaving your dog in the car, even for a short time.

Grooming: Longer coats insulate, so clipping short over summer and making sure dogs are able to cool off well can help. However, avoid shaving double-coated breeds, as their fur protects them from sunburn and heat.

Ear Clipping: If you have a long-haired or non-shedding breed, keep the underside of their ear flap (Pinnae) shaved short, and hair clipped close to the bottom of the ear flap.

Use Sunscreen: For dogs with short coats or light skin, apply dog-safe sunscreen to areas prone to sunburn, like the nose, ears, and belly.

Cooling Treats: Offer frozen carrots or ice cubes as a refreshing way to keep your dog cool and entertained.

By following these tips, you can help your dog stay safe and comfortable during the hot summer months.