Hi everyone, I’m starting this thread as I wanted to talk about my dog. I’ve noticed that over the last few days with the heatwave, he's been much more tired than usual. This is especially noticeable when I take him for a walk, even though I only take him out during the cooler parts of the day and always try to stick to the shade to keep him out of the sun as much as possible. He has a heart condition—a heart murmur he’s had since birth—and I’ve noticed he’s getting tired very quickly, often wanting to stop for a rest, and getting out of breath easily. He’s a Boxer cross Dogue de Bordeaux and is nearly 3 years old. I’d like to know if any of you have experienced this or if you’ve had any other particular issues with your dogs in the heat? Thanks in advance for your replies. Alex.
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I've got a black dog with loads of fur and a thick undercoat, and in the summer it's a total nightmare trying to fit in any long walks...
I've ordered a "cooling" coat for him (from Amazon) but I still haven't received it yet—let's hope it arrives before September lol!
It's the type of coat you soak in water before heading out, and as it evaporates, it creates a cooling effect and brings the dog's body temperature down by a few degrees. It had plenty of positive reviews...
It's made of a special material and just covers the dog's back.
Obviously, it's not going to be a "miracle cure" but it might help. I'm going to give it a go and see how we get on—I'll keep you posted if you like!
My 13-year-old Fox Terrier used to handle the heat really well until this year. Now he’s quite reluctant to walk too far when it’s hot and starts panting very quickly. As a result, I’m shortening our walks, even if it means going out for more frequent, shorter trips.
Just like people, dogs don't all cope with the heat in the same way. Plenty of factors come into play—age, weight, breed... Brachycephalic breeds like yours (and mine) are especially sensitive to the heat. Your dog needs to stay in the shade or indoors and only go out in the evening or very early in the morning when it's cool. I'd recommend a cooling coat if you have to go out during the day. I actually had to have air con installed last Thursday for my Mastiff. You could also try taking him for a swim in the evening when it’s really hot; it’ll help him stay cool all night. Personally, on top of the AC, my three dogs go for a dip every single evening!
My new boy, who's 2 and a half with medium-length hair, doesn't seem to mind the heat at all. We can walk for 2 hours or play fetch and it doesn't seem to bother him. That said, I'm still staying cautious because he’s the type who’ll keep going without a single complaint and then just crash a few hours later. As for my Jack Russell, she’s not coping as well with the heat this year. She’s fine on the way out, scampering along happily, but the walk back takes an extra 30 minutes because she keeps stopping for a rest. I think it’s just her age, though, as she’s 7 and a half now. So, at the weekend we’ve started heading out earlier, at 9am instead of 11am. We stick to the shady side of the path and we’ve changed our route a bit to stay in the shade as much as possible. I also allow extra time for the walk back, giving her 5-minute breaks in the shade, and I always have a big bottle of water and a collapsible bowl in my rucksack. We still manage to get our planned 2-hour walk in, though. And if we have to pop out again in the afternoon, we’re really careful about the pavements and roads getting hot, and those metal manhole covers that can be absolutely scorching.
Hi everyone,
I think you're right, some dogs really don't handle the heat well, especially when it first starts, and we have to adapt as well.
For instance, my Cairn Terrier Marley isn't a big fan of the hot weather; he eats less, drinks more and sleeps a lot, for example. So I just adjust things for him and then, bit by bit, he gets used to it and copes much better.
Best wishes to you all.
Hi there!
I've got a black dog with a really thick coat and undercoat, and in the summer it's a total nightmare trying to squeeze in any long walks...
I've ordered a "cooling coat" for dogs (from Amazon) but I still haven't received it yet—let's hope it arrives before September lol!
It's the kind of coat you dunk in water to get it really soaked before heading out, and as it evaporates, it creates a cooling effect and drops the dog's body temperature by a few degrees. There were plenty of positive reviews...
It's made of a special fabric and it just covers the dog's back.
Of course, I'm sure it's not going to be a "miracle cure" but it might help. I'm going to give it a go and see; I'll keep you posted if you like!
Well, a Boxer cross Dogue de Bordeaux, it’s no surprise he’s not a fan of the heat! :-)
These breeds struggle with the heat at the best of times, so if yours has a heart murmur as well, you definitely need to take it easy with him. Just cut back on the exercise and follow his lead. Never force him to be active if he’s naturally trying to rest. Obviously, he always needs access to a cool, shady spot and plenty of water. That said, any dog's energy will dip when the temperature suddenly spikes – it’s only normal (the same goes for us humans, actually). Even my girl, who is usually full of beans and has loads of stamina, slows right down the moment we head south! I barely recognise her for the first few days, but then her body starts to adapt.
Hi there, he probably isn't a fan of the heat and it's likely not great for his heart. Try to keep your walks shorter when it's hot out and make sure to take a travel water bottle with you... My dog isn't too keen on the heat either. A trip to the groomers for a trim might help him feel a bit more comfortable. You can also get cooling mats to pop under his tummy when you get back from a walk, as that's where they really feel the heat... If he's just feeling a bit flat because of the weather, it's probably nothing to worry about, but if it carries on, you might need to look into other possibilities (like nutritional deficiencies etc.).
