Renee Jones has seen her dog Spike struggle with the heat.
“There was one time Spike had gotten really sick on a hike. It was mostly my fault for not taking the hot temperatures seriously,” she said. “Midway through the hike Spike was overheating, I could hear his breathing become more exasperated. I immediately carried him back to my car to go to the vet and get him hydrated again.
“After that I know better to just be more aware and better prepared.”
Jones, and Spike, are not alone. Summer heat is especially tough on dogs. And living in the city presents unique challenges.
“I live on the sixth floor of my apartment complex,” said Jones, who spoke to Billy Penn at a dog park at 12th and Reed streets. “It’s hard when the temperatures are so bad I still have to walk Spike in the heat and his paws suffer. It’s so hard, I just let him pee on a pee pad if I can’t access the outside when it’s scorching.”
The dog park helps, but getting there can be problematic.
“I came here to cool off and get some grass to comfort Spike but it’s still a 15-minute walk from my apartment,” she said. “The concrete [walking here] can be excruciatingly painful for dogs.”
There are things you can do to lessen the risks for your pets, said Fionnuala Callahan, the medical director of Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) Philly, an emergency clinic with two locations in Philadelphia.
“We cannot forget our little or big loved dogs are just as much at risk [as people],” Callahan said. “Our pups are not an exception. There are ways to lessen the risk of heatstroke and severe hydration for dogs and other animals.”
Callahan said the first heat waves of the season are the most dangerous, and her ER saw a “fair number” of affected pets during June’s hot spell. It’s worth noting that Friday is expected to bring another spell of extreme heat.
The good news, Callahan shared, is that animals acclimate over time. Even so, you should know the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs. They include:
- Confusion
- Moving more slowly than usual
- Falling over
- Not acting like themselves
- Loss of interest in playing
- Sleepiness
- Struggling to get up
Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can be life threatening.
“Sometimes they will have collapse episodes if they’re really affected,” Callahan warned. “Other things to look for — excessive panting, if they can’t catch their breath or settle down or get comfortable.”
She also said that gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea or blood present in stool can be signs of real problems.
“If bruising and red spotting happens, bring them to the emergency room as soon as possible,” Callahan said.
There’s a lot you can do to avoid an ER visit.
Keep your pet hydrated, Callahan said, adding that for those living without AC, it’s important to set up fans to circulate air and be sure there is shade available.
If you can, Callahan said, it’s best to:
- Limit trips outside to mornings and evenings when the temperature is at its lowest in the day.
- Bring plenty of water.
- If the dog is small, consider carrying them to and from a grassy area rather than having them walk on concrete or pavement.
Doggie (heat-fighting) treats
Victoria Miller, an associate at Amelie’s Bark Shop on Passyunk Avenue in South Philly, sees dogs come in every day, for treats, for snacks and to cool off from the heat..
“On especially hot days, we keep the AC very high so the dogs just drop to the floor and cool off,” Miller said. “We keep our water for them inside too as it gets way too hot out.”
Miller shared some options available for pet owners, including cooling rags that wrap around a dog. She explained that since dogs don’t sweat, the damp rag serves as a similar function as sweat does for people. Victoria also recommended some dog popsicles to help them cool down.
Callahan said some dogs struggle more with the heat — especially ones historically bred in colder climates or those with short, pushed-in noses, flat faces and wide skulls. Their anatomy means they cannot dissipate heat as fast as other dogs, and can suffer swelling in their airways.
If a dog is panting loudly, bring them to the closest emergency clinic immediately, Callahan said.
Jones’ Spike is a Bernese Mountain Dog, which comes from the Swiss Alps. She knows to keep an eye on him.
“I love Spike, he’s my boy,” she said. “He loves to be active so it takes time to adjust to the heat but I don’t want my dog bored … It’s always better to think of your dog as a small child. You wouldn’t keep a small child putting their baby hands on the hot concrete floor. It’s the same with any animal.
“He’s so active it’s on me to make sure he takes it slow and steady once the heat hits so we prevent anything like what happened at the hike.”
