Keeping Dogs Cool??

[DrummerDeanna]

Well it's finally hit the 90s here - and I've got a "free-thinking-artist" as a landlord - and irresponsibilty/extreme procrastination seem to be a major trait. He hasn't gotten around to installing my air conditioner - and for some reason people in Rochester seem to think that even with temps in the 90s plus humidity an a/c is not needed.

Anyway -I'm not worried about me - but I am worried about my dog. She is miserable! Poor thing...I'm really scared that she'll have a heat stroke or something - she's an indoor dog, but I think it's hotter inside than out (at least it feels that way)

So my question - anyone know of a way to keep a dog cool/ cool it down? Can you just dowse it in water?

Any hints will be helpful :o) Thanks

[jannieC]

You can dowse him in water and obviously make sure he has plenty of cold drinking water on hand. I've heard that dogs are more suseptable to heatstroke than humans. As long as he's out of the hot sun though, he should be okay. Dogs "sweat" by panting- isn't that cool? When you come home from work can you play with him with the hose or something? My dog loves that!

[jannieC]

Sorry, I kept saying "he" instead of "she". :rolleyes:

[DrummerDeanna]

Sorry, I kept saying "he" instead of "she". :rolleyes:


That's ok - she gets that all the time ;)


Thanks - she's really never in the sun, she's an indoor gal. The last two days I've come home to find her laying in the bathroom - after managing to drap my bath rugs out of the way (I guess the tile is cooler).

Poor girl is just panting non-stop and I got worried, as I'm just sitting here and can't stop sweating....I'm going to put her in the tub...hopefully the cool porcelain and cool water will help her out :o

[catinthedark]

That's ok - she gets that all the time ;)


Thanks - she's really never in the sun, she's an indoor gal. The last two days I've come home to find her laying in the bathroom - after managing to drap my bath rugs out of the way (I guess the tile is cooler).

Poor girl is just panting non-stop and I got worried, as I'm just sitting here and can't stop sweating....I'm going to put her in the tub...hopefully the cool porcelain and cool water will help her out :o


dogs are smart - they find the coolest places in the house. the cool bath is good - tile floors are definitely cooler, too. my dog lies in the bathroom or on the kitchen tiles when she gets warm (mind you, i turned on the AC tonight when i got home - it was 33 celcius here today! probably 38 with humidex).

another thing i did before i had AC - put several bowls of water around the house for her. like one in each room she ever goes into.

i used to feed my dog ice cubes - she loved them!

close all your drapes to try to keep the house cooler during the day.

get a fan - point it towards a place you know she likes to sleep.

hope that helps.... maybe you should ask your landlord how he thinks you should keep her cool! :D

[HomerMcvie]

My dog is really smart(and that's not just a proud Papa talking!), but he insists on sleeping in my(our) bed when I'm gone, even though my downstairs is at least 10 degrees cooler. When it's really hot(the past two days have been 90+ here), I have a small fan on my dresser, that I face towards the bed. He goes to the edge of the bed, closest to the fan, and lies there.
Yes, I have A/C, but only really CRANK it down when I go to bed....

[irishgrl]

I was going to suggest a fan but I see other people already have. That, plus the water for her to drink, are the only real solutions I can see for when you arent there. Good Luck :)

one thing that occurs to me: with all this extra water she'll be drinking, is there someone to see to her bathroom needs?

[DrummerDeanna]

Wait. I'm supposed to give my dog water?? :p

Thanks for the suggestions - I did put out extra water when it got hot, and have a fan pointed right toward the, or HER couch, and today I actually took all the rugs out of the bathroom so she won't have to do any work to get to the floor. Poor thing.

I'm taking her for a haircut tomorrow.

[JazmenFlowers]

bless you heart! you need to go tell your landlord you are going to break your foot off in his ass if he doesn't get you some air. :wavey: that's just ridiculous.

I remember worrying about this when Katrina hit, but never lost power, thank god.

[DavidMn]

Ont thing I hate is people that let their dogs ride in the back of open pickups or leave their windows too far open. UGH!:mad:

[DrummerDeanna]

Ont thing I hate is people that let their dogs ride in the back of open pickups or leave their windows too far open. UGH!:mad:

:shrug: Okaaay. And that has what to do with anything said??? :cool:

[DavidMn]

:shrug: Okaaay. And that has what to do with anything said??? :cool:I'm sorry. I guess I shouldve stayed more on subject. I was trying to say that I agree with you that animals need to be treated with care in all situations.

[HomerMcvie]

:shrug: Okaaay. And that has what to do with anything said??? :cool:
*snicker*:rolleyes: :lol:

[DavidMn]

*snicker*:rolleyes: :lol:Yeah, there you go again!:laugh: JK. Youre allright.:)

[amber]

Deanna, you should have her shaved for the summer by a dog groomer. It will grow back, and she'll feel a lot better. I see tons of people that do it. :shrug: She has long fur, right?
Yeah, that's what I would do. :nod:

[DrummerDeanna]

Deanna, you should have her shaved for the summer by a dog groomer. It will grow back, and she'll feel a lot better. I see tons of people that do it. :shrug: She has long fur, right?
Yeah, that's what I would do. :nod:

That was my first thought - but then a bunch of people are saying the don't recomend it and that you shouldn't shave a dog...yet no one can offer me a reason as to why you shouldn't :shrug: I'm going to the vet tomorrow to pick up some flea stuff - I'll inquire there.

As of now though - my landlord is on his way up with the air conditioner. WooHoo!

[sara1998]

It's said that if you shave your dog, they don't have protection from the sun. Their fur supposedly protects them from the sun, or sunburn. But if your dog is not out all the time, I don't see the harm in it. I have Max shaved all the time. He's a cocky- er, cocker spaniel, though.

[DrummerDeanna]

It's said that if you shave your dog, they don't have protection from the sun. Their fur supposedly protects them from the sun, or sunburn. But if your dog is not out all the time, I don't see the harm in it. I have Max shaved all the time. He's a cocky- er, cocker spaniel, though.

Ah - that makes sense - and I have (until now) always had outside dogs - but Clancy and me? We don't go out into the sun too often - still, I will probably just have her fur cut really really short - rather than shaving her....I'll see what the vet has to say...:)

[catinthedark]

It's said that if you shave your dog, they don't have protection from the sun. Their fur supposedly protects them from the sun, or sunburn.


that's one (very good) reason - another is that the fur on some dogs actually works to keep them cool (think of all-season duvets - the same feathers that keep you toasty warm in winter keep you cool in the heat). it goes against what we would think, but it's true. i have a golden retriever - and you should NEVER shave a golden retriever. they have special oily skin, an undercoat, and a top coat, and all that works to actually protect them from getting overheated. i cry inside when i see shaved goldens. i don't know anything about irish setters' coats (or undercoats, or skin), but i'm sure your vet could advise.

very glad your landlord is getting on the AC thing! :nod: