Keeping your poodle safe from hot weather

Living in the south with all the hot summer weather can be an extremely dangerous time for your poodle. Dogs can’t handle heat as well as humans. We can stay outside for quite a while enjoying the heat and sunbathing. Our way of cooling off is sweating. Dogs cool off by panting, which is often inappropriate and can put them in a life-threatening situation if they overheat.

Dogs can develop heat stroke fairly quickly. Just going on his normal walk or letting your dog play in the yard is enough to cause your Poodle to overheat. The best time to walk your poodle or to play in hot weather is early in the morning or in the evening.

Never leave your Poodle in the car unattended during hot weather. It doesn’t take long to turn into an oven, even if you leave the windows open for a bit. If my husband and I are in the car with the dogs and we have to go to the store, one of us stays in the car with the air conditioning on with the dogs.

If your poodle’s hair is long, it is more susceptible to overheating. If your dog is overweight, has a heart condition, is old or a young puppy, he can also suffer from heat stroke more easily. If you’re not showing off your Poodle, having him trimmed into a nice short summer clip will make him feel more comfortable during hot weather.

Try to stay away from hot pavement in hot weather. It can burn your dog’s paws and raise his body temperature faster. Check the pavement temperature by hand. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your poodle! Try walking in the shade or on the grass.

If your poodle is kept outside during the day, make sure it has plenty of shade. Our kennel has a roof and a canopy around it. It is also located under the shade of the trees.

Make sure your poodle has plenty of clean drinking water. Our kennel has an automatic water dish. If you are traveling with your dog, bring plenty of water.

Some poodles like to play in the water. You may want to get one of those plastic kiddie pools for him to play in. My Poodle Bob likes to chew on the water that comes out of the sprinklers! Make sure they are supervised before doing any of these activities.

Recognizing heat stroke

Be alert to your poodle’s body temperature during hot weather. The normal temperature for a dog is around 101 degrees, much more that can cause problems and is an emergency! If it rises to 108 degrees, internal organs begin to break down and can cause long-term permanent damage or death.

If your dog begins to breathe rapidly, has a rapid heartbeat, a dry mouth, a nose, and gums that turn gray or red, these are signs of heat stroke. You should chill your poodle right away, by putting him in a tub of cold water or hosing him down, and then go to the vet quickly! Your poodle may still be in danger even if it looks good on the outside.

By following the tips above, you and your poodles can have a fun and safe summer season!