How To Keep Your Dog Safe In The Summer heat

My summer heat warning
             we carry extra water in ice chest and have 'doggy booties' for the 'kids'
                **   COLD water too fast into a hot mammal can cause heart failure **

Dogs, unlike humans, can only sweat through their pads (feet). They cool down almost exclusively by panting, or exchanging heat with their environment, which is not efficient. So, when the ambient or surrounding temperature is overly hot, dogs have difficulty cooling themselves. A dog’s tongue will lengthen and widen in an attempt to maximize its cooling capability.

That means that the temperature dogs can endure also depends on the humidity, because they can’t exchange heat as well if it’s humid. Outside, a dog in the deserts of California or Nevada (where the humidity is less than 10% on hot summer afternoons) can withstand a higher temperature than a dog in Virginia or New Jersey (where the humidity is 90% or higher in the summer).

A dog’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5°. If their body temperature exceeds 105°, and they aren’t otherwise sick, they are suffering from potentially fatal heatstroke, which can cause lethargy, their gums to turn bright red, excessive panting, and even vomiting or diarrhea.
What should you do if your dog gets too hot? First, move him somewhere cooler, like to shade or an air-conditioned room or the car AC.  If available, put him in a cool pool or tub of water or hose him with cool—not icy cold—water, focusing on his groin area, feet, and neck (you can wet his entire coat if you want, but most of that water will just roll off). Offer frequent sips of water. If he still doesn’t cool down, he needs to go to the veterinarian.

A good guide is, “If you think it’s hot, it’s too hot for your dog.”

the danger to your dog may vary by age  - overall health - stress level - cloud conditions vs sun shining on your car or camper. 
please please be aware just how fast that 4 minute nip into the store can affect your 4 or 2 legged friends - this mean grandma also!


                                      sand at the beach also heats up!
When traveling with your dog I’ll suggest never stopping at the rest area on the interstate. They can clean the people area but getting every last bit in the dog area is not possible.  Parvo for one can survive a wide range of temperatures for 6 months. Think of the number of dogs from who knows where traveling that may have been there?  Next worst place fast food or gas stations on the interstate.  We get off a side road a 1/8 mile or so and can usually find a closed business or some place to only worry about the local strays for the most part. Be polite and pick up after your dog…   I will mention we saw one of those ‘rescues’ walking a dozen obviously sick dogs behind a truck stop.  I feel sorry for the truckers that live with their dogs more than their family in the event their dog buddy picks up a disease from that situation. Err on the side of caution especially with a young pup whose immunity may not be up to full until a good 4 months old and puppy vaccinations complete.
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