In Vets Now's assessment of temperatures for walking your dog, they state that between 20 and 23 degrees has a six out of 10 risk rating and that rigorous exercise in this heat could lead to heatstroke. An eight out of ten rating is given for 24-27 degrees celsius and they advise that extreme caution must be taken.
Anything above 20C can cause your dog to become dehydrated and very hot very quickly. The hotter the temperature, the higher the risk to your dog. As the temperature increases, even by just 1C, the risk to your dog increases too. Any temperature over 25C is a definite NO when it comes to walking!
Planning on walking dogs in hot weather? It's generally safe in temperatures of up to 19°C (68°F) but be careful when the mercury rises above this. Even at temperatures as low as 20°C (70°F) dogs are at risk of heat stroke.
If you can't hold the back of your hand to the pavement outside for more than a few seconds, it's too hot for your pet. On hot, humid days, you should bring your pet inside if the indoor environment is cooler (for example, if you have air conditioning).
An ideal temperature doesn't exist for all dogs, since their normal body temperature will vary according to size. Most dogs begin to show signs of overheating when the air temperature is between 81 and 85 degrees F.
A quick way to check if the ground is too hot for your dog is to place your hand on it for 3 - 5 seconds. If it's too hot to keep your hand comfortably on the pavement, it's too hot for your pet to be walking on it.
Signs Your Dog is Overheating
Frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright-red membranes, and labored breathing are clear warning signs that your dog is overheated and may quickly progress to a metabolic meltdown as his temperature rises to over 106 degrees Fahrenheit and he can no longer cool themself.
In general, temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit can quickly get extra risky, so try to avoid going outdoors if it's anything hotter than that.
50-60 degrees and higher are safe temperatures for your dog. 85+ degree temperatures are a different beast in itself, but we're just talking about cool to cold temperatures here. 45 degrees or so are generally acceptable, but you'll still want to keep an eye on how your dog is handling itself in these temperatures.
Typically, for small breed dogs, temperatures below -5C can have be potentially life-threatening. For medium and large breed dogs, it's best to avoid temperatures colder than -10C, although this varies by breed.
In cold temperatures 20 degrees and above: Large dogs (50-80 pounds) should be outside no more than one minute per degree. Medium dogs (25-50 pounds) can be outside for 30 seconds per degree.
Once temperatures drop under 20° F, all owners need to be aware that their dogs could potentially develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia and frostbite.
Most healthy medium or large dogs with thick coats can take a 30-minute walk when temperatures are above 20°F. Small dogs or dogs with thin coats start to become uncomfortable in temperatures below 45°F. Consider limiting walks to 15 minutes for these dogs when temps fall below freezing.
Walking your dog in hot weather
Dogs need exercise, even when it's hot. We recommend walking your dog in the morning or evening when it's cooler to reduce the risk of heatstroke and burning their paws on the pavement.
The heat danger zone for dogs starts when their bodies reach temperatures greater than about 103°F (39.4°C). A body temperature of 104° to 106°F (40° to 41°C) is a compelling reason for concern because it indicates that a dog is suffering moderate heatstroke.
Because dogs primarily pant rather than sweat, they are much more sensitive to heat than humans are. Luckily, heat exhaustion is easily preventable—even in the dog days of summer.
As temperatures increase it's important to remember that dogs are susceptible to illnesses and injuries related to warm weather, like dehydration and heat stroke. Some dogs are more vulnerable to the heat than others, including those who have thick fur coats, flat-faces, are obese or elderly.
Put them on top of a cool wet towel, cooling mat or place them in the breeze of a fan. Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water. Pour cool water over the dog's feet, ears and head. Never use ice or very cold water as this can cause shock.
Your pet may seek shade, become restless, whine or become vocal, or appear to have trouble breathing. A rectal temperature of 104-106 degrees indicates heat stress. A temperature of 106 or over is consistent with heat stroke.
Wetting your dog's coat can help to lower their body temperature. This is especially useful for dogs suffering from heatstroke. To keep them cool, drench a towel in tepid water and drape it over your dog.
Our four-legged friends don't handle the heat like we do. Unlike us, dogs don't sweat out excess body heat. Though dogs typically release heat by panting, this may not always be enough to cool down. As a result, your beloved pooch can quickly become overheated, if not acclimated.
Turn off fans, lights and electronics
Fans cool humans by evaporating the sweat on our skin. But because dogs don't sweat, the air flow from a fan isn't going to make much of a difference for them in the summer. So, leave the fan off to save money and energy. Turn off the lights.
Most dogs are unlikely to develop heatstroke during the night, but on very hot muggy evenings your dog can feel just as uncomfortable as you, so why not try: Letting your dog sleep in an air conditioned room.
While small pups can spend a few hours outdoors in temperatures between 60ºF and 90ºF, keep outings in temperatures below 32ºF and above 90ºF to short spans of no more than 10 to 15 minutes, recommends Dr. Wooten.
As a general rule of thumb: at 45°F (7°C) and below, most dogs will dogs will start to become uncomfortable. at 32°F (0°C) and below, small, thin-coated, young, old and sick dogs should not be left outside for long. at 20°F (-7°C) and below, dogs become vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.