For the last week it has been extremely nice weather here in the Netherlands: a lot of sunshine and around 24 degrees Celsius. We have a long weekend due to Pentecost, and with this weather quite a few of us like to go cycling… and take our dogs.
I’d like to issue out a warning here. The only way dogs can lose body heat is through their tongues and through the pads of their feet. Sand and especially tarmac can become incredibly hot, which is unpleasant for the dog and it will become nearly impossible for him to lose his body heat when walking on a hot surface.
Furthermore, because the dog sweats through the pads on his feet, the hot surface (like tarmac) will cause his pads to wear and could sometimes even lead to bleeding.
A lot of cycle paths are tarmac paths, so walking beside your bike in weather with temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius should rather be avoided; even more so when the dog isn’t used to running beside the bike for longer periods of time. When you’d like to take your dog cycling you should gradually build up his stamina by sticking to a schedule.
Letting the dog swim when cycling isn’t such a good idea either since the water on the soles of your dog’s feet will act like a looking glass and heighten the effects of the heat.
When you do take your dog out on a (long) walk, make sure to bring water for him to drink along the way. Also make sure you know the signs of a canine heat stroke: lethargy, slow movements, high temperatures on the inside of the lips and ears, and excessive panting and drooling. Never throw a bucket of (ice) cold water on a dog that’s overheated; it could result in a heart attack. Instead, use a wet towel to cover the dog with and regularly wet the towel with cold (but not too cold) water. You should always bring an overheated dog to the vet.
On hot summer days your dog will probably enjoy a nice swim in the local park more.