How to Keep Your Senior Dog Cool In The Summer Heat?

As your dog gets older, there are more things you need to be aware of, including diet, lifestyle habits, exercise, physical fitness, and more. Even with the change of seasons, senior dogs face more severe conditions, especially high temperatures in summer and cold in winter. Winter often leads to dog joint muscle stiffness and pain, you can use a heating band for heat therapy, so what do senior dogs need to pay attention to in summer?
The deadliest thing that can happen to dogs in summer is heat stroke. Dog heat dissipation is basically the sweat of the tongue, however, the efficiency of heat dissipation is still low, so dogs are very heat resistant. As dogs get older, their metabolism slows and their physiological functions fail, leading to heat loss. Although they don't exercise as much as senior dogs, the heat is enough to cause heatstroke.

Here are our 5 favorite ways to help your senior dog beat the heat

One Word: Hydration

Hot summers can make older dogs more likely to lose water, and the ability to maintain water balance in the body is often reduced. If an owner notices that an elderly dog is suddenly anxious, licks his lips a lot, has dry teeth, and checks his water bowl from time to time, this is a reminder to rehydrate the dog.
In addition to dehydration, kidneys weaken as dogs age, requiring more water to flush out excess sodium and other substances. Please check the temperature regularly, if it becomes hot, please add cold water. You can also throw in some ice just in case.

Try this:

Add about ¼ cup of water to your dog’s kibble. Dry dog food typically falls short of how much moisture animals actually require in their diet, so this is an easy way to up their fluid intake. Plus, your pup will love the “gravy” this makes in their bowl.

Crank Up the AC Your dog may have been fine outdoors in his prime, but in their golden years it’s important they always have easy access to an air-conditioned space. Even if you leave, keep the house as cool for your dog as you would for yourself if you were there (and wearing a fur coat).

Try this:

Make sure your thermostat is always set at 76 degrees or cooler. If you don’t have air conditioning, get creative: set up a fan in front of a pan of ice, lay down a wet towel soaked in ice water for your dog to lie on, or place a few frozen gel packs inside the cover of their bed (where they can’t chew on it).

Cooling Foods Are Your Friend

Loss of appetite is common in senior dogs during humid, sultry summers. Dogs' metabolism also slows as they age, causing them to eat less. Loss of appetite can also be due to reduced gastrointestinal, liver and kidney function in older age. Owners can try adding other cooling foods to their dog's food to help cool them from the inside out. Try swapping their regular rawhide, biscuits, or jerky strips out for cool slices of cucumber or apples.to help them stay cool and lose weight at the same time.

Try this:

Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to their meals. This cooling oil will also give their skin and coat a healthy boost.

Walk Smart Even on a hot summer day, dogs need plenty of exercise, especially for senior dogs. The reason senior dogs exercise is not to kill their energy, but to prevent the dog from developing health problems such as obesity. When taking senior dogs out for exercise in summer, the owner should be ready to go out with enough water to prevent dehydration of senior dogs from heat stroke. Because old age is not heat resistant, so the owner took it out for a walk as far as possible in the shade and choose the evening or relatively cool time. In addition, owners should also be careful of senior dogs with scalds on their paws

Try this:

Wake up 15 to 20 minutes earlier to walk your dog and enjoy the cool of the morning.

Know Your Risk Factors

Try this:

Symptoms of mild heat stroke in dogs include fatigue, rapid breathing, purple gums, a rapid rise in body temperature, vomiting and diarrhea. Severe heat stroke can cause a dog to go into a coma. If the dog is not treated promptly, it can lose its life in a short time. Make sure the senior dog is kept in a cool, ventilated place at home.
If you spot any of these signs, get your dog to a cool environment where they can relax, provide plenty of water, and try splashing water on their coat. Take them to the vet ASAP if symptoms don’t subside.

One Word: Hydration

Try this:

Crank Up the AC

Your dog may have been fine outdoors in his prime, but in their golden years it’s important they always have easy access to an air-conditioned space. Even if you leave, keep the house as cool for your dog as you would for yourself if you were there (and wearing a fur coat).

Try this:

Cooling Foods Are Your Friend

Try this:

Walk Smart

Even on a hot summer day, dogs need plenty of exercise, especially for senior dogs. The reason senior dogs exercise is not to kill their energy, but to prevent the dog from developing health problems such as obesity. When taking senior dogs out for exercise in summer, the owner should be ready to go out with enough water to prevent dehydration of senior dogs from heat stroke. Because old age is not heat resistant, so the owner took it out for a walk as far as possible in the shade and choose the evening or relatively cool time. In addition, owners should also be careful of senior dogs with scalds on their paws