Dog Days: How to Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

Summer is the season best spent outdoors: out in the sun, lounging by the water, or hiking in nature. Of course, all these outdoor activities are also great ways to spend quality time with your pup. But for all the fun you’ll be having in the sun with your dog, it’s also incredibly important to know the dangers hot weather can pose. Summer heat can cause dogs to dehydrate, but it can also make pavement and asphalt scorching hot, which can seriously injure your dog’s paws.

While that sounds like a bummer, your dog can still have plenty of summer fun. It’s just important to be mindful of your dog’s needs so you can keep them at their healthiest and happiest.

Dogs need extra care when it comes to hot weather. Unlike people, who get to sweat all over their body, dogs pant to stay cool. When a dog pants, their saliva evaporates off their tongues, the inside of their nose, and even the lining of their lungs. As this moisture evaporates, air circulates through their bodies, which is what cools them off.

While it works to a degree, it’s also not exactly the most effective way to stay cool, which is why it’s so easy for dogs to overheat (and why you should never, ever, leave a dog in a hot car). However, there are plenty of ways to make sure your dog is staying cool this summer.