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The Dog Days of Summer
Did you know that there are actual dates for the Dog Days of Summer? I did not until a couple of minutes ago.
The term originally referred to the days when the star Sirius (the Dog Star) was visible in the sky before dawn.
It was bright enough that the ancient Greeks thought that it added heat to the Sun and caused the days to be the hottest of the year.
The 40 days around this event became known as the Dog Days of Summer.
But the Earth’s rotation isn’t fixed and so the positions of the stars change over time. The Dog Days are already a couple of weeks later than they were in the Greeks’ time and in about 10,000 years they will actually happen in winter!
It’s OK though, we have a little bit of time to work on a new name.
The more you know.
So, we’re slightly past this year’s Dog Days of Summer at this point, but that doesn’t mean it’s getting any cooler out there.
Are you still looking for how to cool down a dog this summer? Well I’ve got some easy tips for you!
Heat Concerns for Older Larger Dogs
Any dog can get overheated if you aren’t careful, but there are two types of dogs who have an even greater risk: senior dogs and large breed dogs.
If you’re here, then your dog is probably both of these.
Dogs don’t sweat like humans do. They only have sweat glands in their nose and the pads of their feet. They also have a higher baseline body temperature than us.
All this adds up to a more difficult time keeping cool.
In particular, large senior dogs are much more prone to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
The Obvious
We’re all reasonable people here so I’m sure that you don’t need me to say this, but I’m just going to throw it out there anyway.
Don’t leave your dog in a car when it’s hot out.
Even with the windows cracked. It turns into a sweaty greenhouse real quick in there and your dog can die. Especially if they are older or have health issues.
Just don’t do it.
Make sure that you are always providing your dog with fresh water and shade.
Limit outdoor time in the hottest parts of the day.
Use air conditioning of you have it. If you don’t, try one of these tricks to keep your big, old mutt cool this summer!
How to Cool Down a Dog
A Fan:
Nothing beats a cool breeze on a hot day. Even your dog can appreciate it.
A small personal fan pointed at your dog can help him beat the heat.
This won’t be quite as effective for your dog as it would for you due to the previously mentioned lack of sweat glands, but it will still help a little.
For an added bonus, place a cool damp cloth over the front of the fan to cool the air even more.
A Kiddie Pool:
Guinness wants nothing to do with the really nice kiddie pool that I bought him this summer. But if your dog isn’t a weirdo, a small pool can be a great place to keep cool.
Provided the sides aren’t too high, it can even be a relief on the old dog joints.
Plus, even an old dog can enjoy splashing around with some pool toys.
Just make sure you put it in the shade.
Pro-tip: Trim your dog’s nails before they use a soft-sided pool to avoid any accidental punctures.
A Dog Cooling Mat:
Once, I manifested a chill mat for Guinness. I don’t actually believe in manifestation. If I did, I would have tried for something better, but it’s a pretty good chill mat nevertheless.
I had been trying to find a reasonably priced one that would fit him for about a month. If you’ve ever looked at them you would have seen that the larger ones can get a little pricey.
I had finally found what I thought was the best combo of a sale and coupon that I was going to get and I was headed to the store right after I dropped my trash off.
Then I walked into my town’s give-or-take shed at the transfer station and there was a free one just sitting there for the taking.
The box was a little beat up, but the mat itself looked brand new. Guinness has been enjoying it every summer since.
It doesn’t have a brand name on it, but its similar to this one here.
I like that you don’t have to freeze it or wet it or do anything but put it down for your dog to lay on.
Frozen Treats:
Freezing your dog’s food into a Kong-type toy makes for a long-lasting cool summer treat. You don’t even have to make anything new, just scoop their regular food in there (provided it’s a little moist) and pop it in the freezer.
Or you can make separate cold treats apart from meal times. Your dog will be happy with some frozen homemade bone broth (store bought has a lot of salt), yogurt, or bananas.
Those frozen treats made in bone shaped molds are cute, but those are just for pics. Your dog doesn’t care if they’re cute as long as he gets to eat them and they taste good.
An old-fashioned ice cube tray will work just fine.
For some recipes, check out our Healthy Treats for Large Dogs board on Pinterest.
A Tile or Basement Floor:
Allow your dog to have access to areas of your house that naturally feel a little cooler.
If you have tile floors anywhere, you already know how cold they are on bare feet in the winter. Well, they also stay pleasantly cool for longer during hot days in the summer.
You’ve probably already noticed that your dog will gravitate towards them when it gets hot.
Additionally, most basements naturally stay cooler than the house above them. Consider letting your dog hang out down there during the hottest parts of the day.
A Final Word
If you think that your dog is overheating, get them to the vet right away. A senior dog can go from heat exhaustion to heatstroke very quickly and it can be fatal.
If you’re cooling them off and it doesn’t seem to be working don’t mess around with trying to take their temp—just get them to the vet ASAP.
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