Cocker Spaniel dogs are clever, loyal, and obedient. They are always energetic, and they love to play. These dogs are famous for their friendly and energetic nature, but they can be sensitive to hot weather. A Cocker Spaniel can succumb to heatstroke during a heatwave, sadly. Heatstroke in dogs is a fatal condition that occurs when the pet’s body temperature suddenly rises. It commonly affects dogs who exercise outside during summer. Additionally, heatstroke can strike if you lock your dog in the car and leave no ventilation. It can kill your dog, so you should be careful. During temperatures rise because of heat waves, it’s necessary to take extra precautions to ensure the well-being of your furry friend. In this guide, we’ll explore some tips on helping Cocker Spaniel through the heatwave to stay cool.
Symptoms of Heatstroke in Cocker Spaniels
It is necessary to understand the body language and identify signs of heatstroke in your Cocker spaniel. You can tell when you have an emergency and act fast to save your pet. Signs that will often affect dogs that are more prone to hyperthermia are:
- First, your dog may look lethargic, restless, and unhappy. It can also start drooling and panting continuously. If you fail to act, your dog’s symptoms might worsen.
- If you notice the following signs, your dog requires emergency veterinary help. Severe heatstroke signs include rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, overheating, seizures, blue, purple, or bright red gums, unconsciousness, dizziness, and collapse.
Dogs that May be Prone to Heatstroke
Some dogs will succumb to high summer heat more quickly than others. You can see signs of heat stress in dogs. Before helping Cocker Spaniel through the heatwave you need to consider the following points:
- Dogs with dark coats can feel hot faster. If yours is black or dark brown, it can get hot quickly during summer.
- If your pet has light brown hair, it may develop sunburns. The same is the case for a dog with a pink nose. You can apply natural carrier oil like coconut oil to its nose to protect it from UV rays. Even if the dog licks the oil, no harm can happen.
- Cocker Spaniels with trimmed coats are likely to get hot quickly during summer. It would be wise to retain their double coat, as it can control the dog’s normal body temperature system more appropriately. But make sure you groom the coat often to look neat.
Helping Cocker Spaniel Through the Heatwave (Protection from Heatstroke)
There are things you need to understand about dogs. Their bodies take longer to cool down after being out in the hot sun. It is because their bodies do not have many sweat glands. More of these glands are in their paws. That is where they sweat the most.
Humans need some sun to help their bodies make vitamin D. Dogs’ bodies do not need this at all. When it is hot outside, your dog had better stay indoors to avoid heatstroke and the discomfort it comes with. It does not mean that your Cocker Spaniel should miss its exercise. You only need to be more cautious. If you are helping Cocker Spaniel through the heatwave do the following things.
- Take it for a walk very early in the morning before the sun rises. The Cocker Spaniel can’t be out in the sun. Dawn hours are ideal because the weather feels cool and less humid. Alternatively, take it out for walks in the evening when the sun is almost setting. Avoid any midday outdoor activities because the heat might cause fatigue, restlessness, panting, and other signs of heatstroke.
- As aforementioned, your Cocker Spaniel’s paws sweat the most. To protect their paws from hot pavements, touch the surface first with the back of your hand. If you cannot stand the warmth, even your dog’s paws cannot. So it would be best to keep your pet indoors than take him out for play.
- If you go out hiking with your dog, let it rest under a shade when it gets hot. Also, build a shaded area for your dog at home.
- Never leave home with your Cocker Spaniel without a bottle of cold water. If the weather in your area changes too fast, you might not tell when it might get too hot for the pet. You can let your Cocker Spaniel drink water to rehydrate and pour some of it over its paws and stomach to help its body cool down. At home, make sure your dog can access fresh drinking water. You can put cold water in bowls and place it where you leave your pet.
- If you travel with your Cocker Spaniel and have to park your car, do not leave him inside. While in a parking lot, you are worried about burglars as it is not all parking lots provide adequate security. The car can get hot when completely locked and during summer there is a lot of heatwave so the heat can affect your dog. So it would be better to go out with it.
- If you choose to exercise your dog, make sure you do it in moderation. This is regardless of the time of day you do it. Dogs’ bodies do not cool down quickly and can overheat during warm spells. So it is better to control exercise during summer.
- During the hot season, even indoor spaces can feel too warm and uncomfortable. Do not lock your Cocker Spaniel inside a hot room. Instead, open all windows to allow free circulation of air and to keep your stone floor cool. If you do not have stone floors, get some cooling pads or mats for your dog.
- It is necessary to take your pet for a swim when it feels cooler than when it feels hot to prevent heatstroke. It can happen so fast when it is hot, so it is good to be alert.
Final Word
If your Cocker Spaniel dog has health issues, like heart disease or lung disease, it has a higher risk for heatstroke. By recognizing the signs of heat stress, providing the necessary amount of water, creating a cool environment, and taking required steps during outdoor activities, you can be helping Cocker Spaniel through the heatwave to stay safe. So, take good care of dogs with special needs during the hot summer season.
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