Howling Heat: Keeping Your Dog Safe This Summer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The dog days of summer are back – and that means your furry friends may be in for a “ruff” time when outside.

“Anytime it’s over 80°, I’m keeping my dogs indoors,” says Dr. Lauren Birch, a vet with Commonwealth Animal Hospital in Plaza Midwood.

She says when the heat howls, take a look at their jowls.

“If their tongues are hanging down to the ground and they’re just really gasping, then that means that they’re getting pretty hot,” Birch explains, “And if they’re laying down on their walls and they’re trying to find shade to cool down, then I think we can tell that we need to get them back indoors.”

Making sure your dog has stays hydrated is key, but regular haircuts and de-sheds go a long way towards keeping your dog cool.

“Imagine wearing a winter coat and walking in this heat,” says Birch.

“That wouldn’t be real fun, would it?”

And the heat doesn’t only strike from above.

On extra sunny summer days in the Queen City, asphalt temperatures can reach as high as 150° – that’s enough to give your dog second-degree burns if you’re not careful. If you wouldn’t walk on it barefoot, neither should your dog.

Several dogs were having a ball today at Romare Bearden Park, like Romeo, celebrating his 13th birthday with his human, Britni Bennett.

“This blanket is actually a cooling mat, so it’s nice and cold,” Bennett exclaims as she sits with Romeo in the shade.

“When he sits on it at least his underbelly cools off a bit, and then he feels a little bit of coolness when he gets on here.”

But make no bones about it, your dog’s health ultimately comes down to you.

“Make sure to pay attention,” says Elijah Parker, who lives in Uptown.

“They’re dogs, they have instincts. But, at the end of the day, especially a new puppy or something like that, you need to make sure you’re watching them, because it does get hot.”

Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos can also cause health problems for dogs as they become more numerous in the summer. Make sure you keep your dog up-to-date with their vaccinations, and keep dogs from drinking or playing in warm, still water, like small ponds and puddles.