As long as you provide adequate shade and water, let your dog soak up all the sun they need. Not only will their health improve from the sun exposure, but their mood will too. When the weather is nice, get out with your dog and soak in some vitamin D.
Too Much Sun Can Be Harmful
Too much time spent in the sun can cause painful sunburns and even skin cancer. Short haired or hairless breeds are even more susceptible to the suns UV rays than other dogs so it's important to make sure you're properly protecting them.
It's important to provide your dog with access to shade and water at all times, especially during hot and humid weather. As a general guideline, you should limit your dog's sun exposure to no more than 30 minutes at a time, particularly during the peak sun hours between 10 am and 4 pm.
Dogs love laying in the sun because it feels good, and because it's a good source of Vitamin D. We love sunbathing, whether it's at the local beach or in our own backyard. Sunglasses on, sun tan lotion applied, and a nice warm towel on the ground. It's one of the simple pleasures of summer.
Dogs and cats love to sunbathe and often will search for patches of sunlight in the house to “nap on.” As they age, though, they actually may seek more warmth to get relief for stiff and achy joints.
For many dogs, outdoor activity at temperatures above 82°F can be dangerous, and for some dogs even temperatures in the 70°-77° range can be too hot.
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.
Just like humans, dogs need exposure to sunlight in order to metabolize certain fats and oils into Vitamin D. That substance is important in bone production and maintenance, and also plays a key role in the body's use of minerals; those are true for mammals, whether human or canine.
Letting your dog sleep in an air conditioned room. Keeping the windows open at night and direct a fan towards your dog. Letting them lie on a slightly damp towel to help keep them cool. Giving them access to water to help keep them hydrated.
They like to burrow into a snuggly blanket due to those tunneling instincts. Other dogs, like huskies, come from cold weather and harsh climates. Their ancestors would bury themselves under the snow in order to stay warm. Another reason why your canine likes cuddling with you is because they are pack animals.
Areas of the skin that are repeatedly exposed to the harmful rays of the sun are more prone to skin cancer, which makes it especially important to protect your pet from sunburn. Early detection can make a big difference in your pet's prognosis, so be sure to look over your pet's skin regularly.
Dogs need vitamin D to help absorb and regulate calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D helps the kidneys to conserve calcium. And dogs need calcium and phosphorus for building bones and muscle and nerve control. Many dog foods are vitamin D fortified, but dogs also enjoy laying in the sun just like people.
They have even fewer things to do when you're at work and they are alone for most of the day. Having the above in mind, it is not surprising that dogs love being outdoors and always want to go outside as for them this is where all the action happens.
While it depends on your specific animal and their breed, generally with lots of water, circulation of air, and shade, most pets will be fine in temperatures up to 90 degrees. But please remember there are no hard and fast rules here. Dogs don't sweat. They cool off by panting.
20-35 degrees is where large dogs need to have eyes on them, as these are potentially unsafe conditions depending on your dog's breed and unique needs. 15 degrees and lower is where you hit a danger zone, so you'll want to really limit your dog's exposure to the elements and keep them indoors as much as possible.
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.
Dogs Are Reading Us
They sense our moods, follow our pointing gestures, and read us for information about what's going to happen next. That means they stare at us a lot to gain knowledge about their environment. Essentially, they are waiting for us to do something that will impact them.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
This calming sensation triggers a specific reaction in their brain that responds to hair follicle stimulation. Dogs, like humans, also release endorphins and oxytocin through methods of touch, so rubbing a dog's belly can help with bonding and affection. Ultimately, dogs like belly rubs because they feel good!
It is important NOT to place the dog into cold water or put wet towels over them. The cold water can send them into shock and the towels can warm up and act as a barrier, making the animal even hotter.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin. They rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature. If they cannot cool down, they will quickly develop heatstroke.
She says excessive panting is one sign of heat exhaustion. "Others include lowered energy, unwillingness to move or walk, and rising body temperature," she adds. So beware, as unchecked heat exhaustion leads to heatstroke in dogs. With the tips below, you'll easily avoid putting your pup in the hot seat.
Residents are advised to bring their pets indoors and to limit outdoor time. District of Columbia law states that an animal cannot be outdoors for more than 15 minutes during periods of extreme weather without human accompaniment or adequate shelter. Extreme weather means temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since a dog's body temperature is normally between 100 and 103 degrees, this means that temperatures over 100 degrees can quickly cause problems for your dog, even if they are just sitting outside in the sun.