Record-breaking heat is already baking parts of California —San Francisco airport hits unprecedented 100 degrees this week. While it may be hard for you to stay cool, don’t forget that your furry friend needs some protection from the heat too! We have some easy expert tips to keep your pup safe during the dog days of summer.

1. Bringing Outdoor Dogs Indoors

It’s not a good idea to leave your dog outside in hot weather, even in the shade. Dogs just sweat through their paw pads and basically pant, so it’s much harder for them to stay cool.

“Also keep in mind dogs that don’t shed and don’t have protective coats,” Beverly Ulbrich, California Dog Trainer and Certified Behavior Therapist suggestion. “Hairy dogs sometimes even have double coats and oils to protect their skin from the weather, and these dogs don’t feel the heat on their skin right away like humans do.”

Some breeds that have hair instead of fur include:

• Schnauzer
• Shih Tzu
• yorkshire
• Poodle

2. Keep the water flowing

Staying hydrated is an important part of staying safe. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of water. If you’re out for a walk, a portable water cooler is the way to go. You can usually find them at discount stores like TJMaxx or Marshalls. Amazon always has great deals too!

Your dog can lick ice, but you need to be careful in some cases: Hard ice can break a dog’s teeth, and ingesting ice (or water) too quickly can cause swelling. We detail how to ice your dog in our collaborative article Via Rover.com’s blog, The Daily Treat.

Coach Tips: Use an ice pack from the refrigerator and place it under a blanket or towel for your dog to lie on. “It’s a great, safe way to cool them down,” Ulbrich said.

3. Protective paw pads

Your dog’s paw pads are no match for the hiss of asphalt.

“Asphalt and other unnatural surfaces can easily get over 125 degrees, which can burn your dog’s paws,” Certified Consulting Meteorologist Jan Null explain. “Veterinarians say burns occur when surface temperatures exceed 125 degrees. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t stand bare feet, don’t let your dog walk on them!”

Null took measurements on various surfaces during the Bay Area (California) heat wave, recording temperatures of 141 degrees on asphalt, 133 degrees on sidewalks, 113 degrees on sunny grass, and 82 degrees on shady grass.

It’s best to avoid hot ground altogether, but if your dog must go outside, stay on (preferably shady) grass.

you can Invest in dog shoes, but some puppies have difficulty adapting to walking in it at first.Try it a few times in the house before heading out – don’t be surprised if your dog walks so funny It is the first time among them!

Coach Tips: Touch the ground with your hands and stay there for a few seconds. “If you’re uncomfortable, you’re probably hurting their paw pads,” Ulbrich said.

4. Wet their fur

Keeping your dog’s coat moist in the heat will help lower body temperature through a process called evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling basically sucks heat away from the body – when water “dries”, it actually just changes phase, evaporating from liquid water to water vapor, which causes heat to transfer from the body to the air.

“It’s the same cool feeling you get out of a pool,” Null says.

A cooling vest doubles the cooling by reflecting the sun’s rays And keep the dog’s coat moist to keep evaporative cooling constant.

5. Don’t leave your dog in the car

Not for five minutes, not even with the windows down—absolutely not! Well, maybe with the engine running and the A/C on, but that’s about it!

Cars are like ovens, even with cracked windows. The temperature outside the car is 85 degrees, and the temperature inside the car will soar to 104 degrees in ten minutes, which is the critical temperature for heatstroke. Add to that the mix of your dog’s fur coat and basically being unable to sweat, and it’s dangerous for our pets.

“People always underestimate how cars heat up and how quickly they reach potentially lethal temperatures,” Null added.

6. Get to know your dog

It’s true that some dogs can tolerate slightly warmer temperatures better. Sudden extremes can be concerning, especially in certain breeds with short noses, such as:

• Bulldog
• pug dog
• boston terrier
• Shih Tzu
• boxer

“These dogs were affected by heat faster and worse than other dogs with typical proboscis,” Ulbrich explained.

Watch how your dog reacts to heat — and be careful!

“If you’re concerned, check to make sure their gums aren’t pale or dry,” adds Ulbrich.

If you think your dog may be suffering from heat stroke, seek medical attention immediately.

the bottom line

It’s not just us trying to escape the heat – our dogs need to stay cool too! Use common sense when it comes to keeping your dog safe: if you don’t want to, your dog won’t either!

This article is not a substitute for professional veterinary or training advice. Seek professional help if you think your dog may have suffered heat injury.