Here comes the sun
Summer care for dogs
Unlike places in the world that romanticise summers, Indian summers are not gentle. The sun is harsh, and the heat can be draining, both for you and your dog. Like humans require a change in their care and routine with the change in season, our dogs need to transition to summer-friendly habits too. Let’s see what we can do to keep our dogs comfortable as the mercury rises:
Changes:
Come summer, the number one cause of panic among dog parents is a change in their dog’s eating habits. It is totally okay if your dog does not want to eat as much as s/he was during cooler months. Trust your dog on this. Most dogs are not very active when it’s warm outside and do not require as much food to maintain health. You can gradually reduce their food intake a bit. Keep an eye on your dog’s BCS (read about BCS here) and manage it accordingly. If your dog is not eating at all, see a vet. Some dogs prefer not to eat during the warmer hours of the day. You can move their meals around and maybe give them cold snacks during the day and a larger meal once it’s a bit cooler.
With the changing weather, it is common for dogs to throw up some bile or have loose stools. You may see your dog eating grass too. Add probiotics and prebiotics to their food (if you don’t already). See how long this nausea/indigestion persists — if it is prolonged or accompanied by a decline in health, see a vet.
Food:
If you were feeding your dogs warmer proteins like chicken and lamb during winters, you should now move to neutral + cooling proteins. Chicken is widely believed to be a cooling protein since it is white meat, but it is actually one of the warmer ones. Avoid it during summers.
Rabbit, Whitefish (like cod) and Duck are cooling proteins. You can supplement these with Beef, Pork, Emu and Quail, which are neutral proteins. Among smaller fish, prefer sardines over anchovies, which are widely categorised under warm foods. Squash and sweet potato are common warming vegetables and should be avoided. Just because it is hot outside does not mean you cannot feed your dog anything warming at all. If you’re low on options, adjust the ratio of the warming meat according to how hot it is. If your dog is on a nutritionist’s plan, reach out to them for the best option for your dog with your constraints.
You can continue feeding your dog eggs (chicken eggs included), bone broth, etc., as snacks. You’ll need to reimagine the snack with the treats for summer. For example, instead of giving heated chicken bone broth or soup, give frozen bone broth popsicles made with cooling proteins. You can freeze eggs (raw or cooked) and fruits into treats. You must, however, be careful not to feed frozen or cold treats immediately after your dog has come inside from the heat.
Diluted goat milk kefir, buttermilk or curd are usually a good addition to cool down the snack. Seasonal fruits like watermelon, mango, cantaloupe are great in moderation. Ensure you remove the rind/peel and seeds/pits. Ensure all food transitions/introductions are done gradually.
Hydration:
Hydration is very, very important, so keep your dog’s bowl clean and filled with fresh, clean water (filtered — not tap water) at all times. Ensure all dehydrated food that’s a part of the regular diet is rehydrated. Some dogs like to catch ice cubes in their water. Many dogs love coconut water — you can give your dog a small amount as a treat. If your dog is fussy with drinking water, sneak some into the meal. If your dog prefers soupy meals, ensure they’re not hot, soupy ones.
You can check your dog for dehydration by pressing the gums (when you release pressure, blood should rush back, making them pink again) or checking the skin elasticity (pinch and lift the skin on the back and release it — it should quickly return to normal). Early signs of dehydration include excessive panting, dullness, apprehension, sunken eyes and a dry nose/ gums. Severely dehydrated dogs are unsteady on their feet and may faint. In this case, take your dog to the vet immediately. You can also monitor your dog’s poop and pee to check how hydrated s/he is. If your dog passes dark yellow urine after some time outdoors or orange urine, or if they have very dry stools/ constipation, you need to increase the water intake.
Activity:
Avoid walking your dog outside during the day, especially during warmer hours. If possible, avoid car rides too. Restructure your walk schedule to include the longer walks early in the morning and later at night and short walks (just to pee, if needed) during the day. You can skip exercising your dog during hotter hours and make up for it with indoor enrichment. You’ll be reducing food intake a bit anyway, and you can monitor your dog’s BCS if you’re worried about obesity. When you take your dog outside during the day, place your palm on the road/ ground and see if you can hold it there. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog. If your dog seems tired or is panting excessively on the walk, rest for a bit in a cool spot or bring them home. If you need to be outside with your dog for some reason, carry water for them.
Swimming is a fun summer activity for some dogs. Not all dogs enjoy it, though (Bailey hates it!). If your dog takes well to it, ensure you take them for a swim in the evening, not in the day (your dog will still be expending energy and can crash) and that they swim under professional supervision.
Temperature
This is pretty obvious by this point: please do not leave your dog outside in the yard or balcony during summers. Instead, make cool, dark spots for them to lounge around the house.
Your dog will probably prefer sleeping on the cool, tiled floor rather than in their bed. That’s okay. Allow your dog the freedom to move around and decide where to sleep so they can regulate their temperature according to their preference. Some dogs like sleeping in bathrooms when it is hot outside. If your dog is one of them, ensure they don’t sleep in a wet area.
Based on the breed of dog you have, you may need to keep the AC or cooler on all day. Be careful with cooling mats, though — they can leak the coolant gel and harm your dog.
A note on panting: Unlike humans, dogs do not have sweat glands all over their bodies. They pant to regulate their body temperature. It is perfectly normal for dogs to pant when stressed or excited. Being your dog’s parent, you should know how much panting is normal for your dog. Gauge whether your dog is panting too much accordingly. Excessive panting in dogs is often a sign of overheating/dehydration but it can also be a sign of diseases, injury/pain, respiratory issues or side effects of medication. If your dog is panting excessively or wheezing/ exhibiting discomfort, you should see a vet.
Grooming:
As the heat sets in, ensure you take your dog to the groomers or have a de-shedding session to get any compacted, leftover undercoat out. Do not shave down your double-coated dog, though. Their coats are designed to keep them warm in winters and cool in summers. In fact, you should not shave any dog down to the skin, as leaving the skin exposed leaves them vulnerable to sunburns and heatstrokes. Summers come with their own share of skin issues, so if you have been medically advised to shave your dog, do so, but try to limit the shaved area. You can get your dog a trim if you feel it is absolutely required but control the amount of hair you cut off — it is widely suggested you leave at least 1 inch of hair. Your dogs need their coats, even if looking at them makes you feel hot. Make sure you brush your dog often. This will maintain their coat and help you spot skin issues.
Unless it is required medically, you do not need to bathe your dog more often than usual. Bathing your dog more frequently than a few weeks to a month can dry out their skin and coat. On a hot day, your dog may go for a cooling bath in a puddle of water/mud. In such a case, bathe them but ensure no moisture remains trapped in the coat (be careful using a hot air dryer). Trapped moisture becomes hot and humid, and humidity can lead to skin issues, especially hotspots. Whenever possible, choose wipes over a full bath between your regular bath schedule.
As the weather gets hotter, pesky critters like ticks and fleas become more common. Keep an eye out for them and keep them in control. To read about preventing ticks and fleas, click here. Skin issues and allergies are also common during summers. Check your dog daily and seek help early.
Like us, our dogs need a period of adjustment as the weather changes. It is no secret that Indian summers are a challenge, even for the hardiest people. As the temperatures soar higher every year, it has become vital to take good care of your dog during the hotter months. Keep them inside, keep them close (enough to give them company while staying cool), be patient as they adjust to the weather and be proactive with the changes they need.
