When temperatures climb over the summer, keeping dogs cool becomes a real concern, and hot spells often bring calls to use water carefully or even hosepipe restrictions. The good news is that you do not need sprinklers, paddling pools or a running hose to keep a dog comfortable in the heat. A few simple ideas will do the job just as well.
Keeping dogs safe when it is hot
The national RSPCA’s companion animal experts have shared some straightforward guidance, and as a local branch caring for animals across Oxfordshire and Reading, we wanted to pass it on to our own supporters.
The single most important thing is to avoid walking dogs during the hottest part of the day. On warm days, skip the midday walk altogether and head out early morning or later in the evening when the pavement has cooled. If the ground is too hot for the back of your hand, it is too hot for paws.
Please also stay alert to dogs left in cars. A vehicle heats up quickly and a dog can die in a matter of minutes, so if you see an animal in distress in a hot car, call 999 straight away.
Five ideas to help a dog beat the heat
None of these needs a hosepipe, and most use things you already have at home.
1. Water stations around the house. Put out a few extra bowls in different rooms so there is always cool water within reach. Dropping in a couple of ice cubes keeps it chilled and gives curious dogs something to investigate.
2. A homemade cooling mat. Dampen a small towel, chill it in the freezer, then lay it flat on the floor for your dog to lie on if they choose to. Never drape it over them, as that traps heat rather than releasing it.
3. Frozen treats. Pop a puzzle toy in the freezer, or make a quick frozen snack by spreading a little mashed banana and xylitol-free peanut butter across a shallow tray, scattering a few treats through it and freezing. Always supervise your dog while they work at it.
4. Brain games instead of a walk. Mental exercise tires a dog out just as well as a walk. Cut the flaps off a cardboard box, fill it with empty toilet roll tubes and hide a treat at the bottom of one for a simple scent game. Teaching a new trick in a cool room works too.
5. Shade and a breeze. Hang a few sheets across a sunny window or a spot in the garden to block direct sun, and set up a fan to keep the air moving. A shaded, airy corner is often all a dog needs to settle.
Caring for animals close to home
RSPCA Oxfordshire is a separately registered, self-funded charity that receives no funding from the national RSPCA. Everything we do to help animals across our area is paid for locally, by our own community. If you would like to support that work, every donation goes directly towards the animals in our care.
