If a dog is on a raw or natural food diet, you can focus on incorporating cooling fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, oranges, pears, mango, cucumber and celery. Adding Kelp or Seaweed as a supplement can also cool down your hot dog. Neutral proteins like beef or salmon are also great in summer.
Incorporate fresh, raw, and cooling foods to your dog's diet in summer, like fresh fruit. Make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water at all times – they'll need more water in summertime. Find out how much water your dog really needs. Give your dog water that water is cool or room temperature – not ice cold.
The simple answer is that, just like humans, hot days can cause a loss of appetite in dogs during summer.
Heat and Dehydration: Hot weather can cause pets to become dehydrated more quickly, affecting their gastrointestinal health. Dehydration can result in loose stools and diarrhea.
Some dogs may also experience a decrease in appetite during their heat cycle. While this can be normal behaviour for some dogs, it's important to make sure that your dog is still eating enough to stay healthy.
If your pet is mildly overheated, splash cool water or use cool towels on their body, particularly on their neck, belly, armpits, and paws. Do not use freezing cold or ice water, as this can cause their blood vessels to constrict and cause their body to go into shock.
Generally, at temperatures above 89° Fahrenheit, most dogs are at risk of heat stroke and you should avoid walking your dog when it's 90°F or hotter. 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.
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!
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.
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.
Pour cool water over the dog's feet, ears and head. Never use ice or very cold water as this can cause shock. Gradually start to move cool water over their body but not too much that they start shivering. If possible, continue cooling your dog on the way to your vet.
The three stages of HRI are heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
If the body temperature did not become extremely high, most healthy pets will recover quickly if they are treated immediately. Some pets may experience permanent organ damage or may die at a later date from complications that developed secondarily to the hyperthermia.
Use wet, cool towels
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. Leave it on for short periods of time and make sure to remove it once the towel has dried as it may make your dog feel warmer.
Avoiding enclosed and poorly ventilated areas such as cars and conservatories. Avoiding strenuous exercise during hot weather by waiting until the cooler part of the day for their walks. Making sure they have access to plenty of cold water and provide shade in gardens and outdoor areas.
And in the summer, they may spend a little more time sleeping, maybe even exceeding the usual amount. While this is normal because summer heat can cause your dog to become tired, irritable, and less willing to exercise, you might want to visit the vet if they sleep more than 18 hours a day.
Dogs should only eat plain yogurt with no added sugar. Greek yogurt is the best choice for dogs. It has significantly less lactose than regular yogurt. Kefir, yogurt's smooth, drinkable cousin, is also low in lactose and safe for dogs.
How Long Can a Dog Go Without Food? Dogs can usually go three to five days without food, however, this is not ideal. If your dog has gone two days without food, it is highly recommended you call a veterinarian if you haven't already. More important than your dog eating is their water intake.
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. Do you know the signs of heatstroke and what to do if you spot them?
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.
Recovery and Management of Heatstroke in Dogs
Major damage can occur when the body's temperature reaches higher than 109 F. The prognosis is considered poor if multiple organ failure occurs. Most dogs that survive the initial 24 hours will live but will remain hospitalized on IV fluids and supportive care for 2-3 days.
Sometimes health issues like nausea or mouth pain can cause a picky appetite, so it's a good idea to book a veterinary checkup if your dog isn't eating well. Once you're sure there's no underlying health problem, you should try reducing treats and selecting one nutritionally balanced dog food and sticking to it.