10 days ago we had our hottest day in 80 years in Sydney. It was a total stinker and we were worried about keeping Maxx cool. He stayed mainly in his large playpen with a large mobile fan pointing in. We also put ice cubes in his water and he had fun pawing them out, rolling them around the hardwood floor and lying tummy-down-four-paws-out in the resulting puddle. He wanted to go out to his pee-patch so we carefully guided him along the shaded areas so he wouldn’t burn his little paws on the footpath or red-hot deck. Of course he managed to wriggle away from us and let out a yelp as his paws hit the hot path but we snatched him back up within 2 seconds. In a way it was good as now he now carefully winds his way using only shaded areas when it is hot and sunny. We weren’t sure about the air conditioning. We put it on sporadically as the humans were cooking, but we were worried Maxx might get too cold. Are we being ridiculous or is there a potential for that? Are there any other things we should do when it get so hot? There is another heat wave coming this weekend unfortunately but thankfully nothing like the last one.
If he’s panting then he’s hot. If he is comfortable - being himself, not panting, not listless - then he’s likely fine. If you’re hot, he’s likely hot. I offer my boy ice packs from the freezer to lie on. He’ll start on them after a walk, but move off them after a short while. He’s started swimming in the pool - only taken 6 years to get brave enough to launch himself off the step! But it’s so hot he’s desperate to immerse his whole body (we have a drought and our pool level has dropped hugely - Cape Town). Yesterday he swam before his walk and he was so bouncy on the walk - obviously felt wonderfully cool! So you might consider wetting your pup before taking him out. I know some people use cool cloths (like a wet shammy) tied around the neck or back when out walking to keep their dogs cool - but must check they don’t get warm. I have cool mats for my boy - he sleeps on them. It’s a gel that gets very cold when a hot body touches it. If you’re using air con, make sure you provide sufficient water - my boy, who is seldom thirsty, sometimes drinks in the night when we sleep with air con on. He does love the air con, but we leave the balcony door open and he does go outside - so I guess if you use air con, give your pup the option of moving away to another warmer area if he wants to.
We provide plenty of shade and won't allow Vanilla to be in the sun. Have plenty of parasols/umbrellas (depending on where you from) around the lawn area. She will just lay down in the shade, also have a paddling pool. The plenty of frozen toys for play. Plus blanket is down towards the lawn from the deck etc. Ad way to hot to walk on. Inside aircon will be on, plenty of water. Then have cool mats, and she also gets frozen fruit or icepops. Plus a nice piece of water melon always goes down a treat. All walks etc. Is once it has cooled down a bit, but that sometimes does not happen here until about 5amish. Plus a nice swim at the beach as long as the sand is not burning. Rule is back of hand down for 3sec and if it burns way to hot for little paws
Your pup certainly won't get cold with the air con on. If it's comfortable for you, it's fine for him.
