Keeping your dog cool in the summer
The warmest months in Hawaii are vastly upon us with temperatures reaching over 80F degrees and over 50 percent humidity. What does this mean for your dog, they do not have the luxury of taking off their fur coat. Humans have the ability to regulate their body temperature by sweat glands located throughout our bodies. When we sweat the evaporation of our sweat cools our body. Unlike humans, dogs’ do not have sweat glands located throughout their body. A dog’s sweat glands are mainly located between the pads of their feet. A dogs’ primary way of cooling themselves is by panting and breathing. Excessive play on a hot day or lack of water and shade can lead to dehydration, heat stroke or even heat exhaustion which can cause death. A dogs’ normal body temperature is 100.5F degrees to 102.5F degrees. A dog body temperature that is overheated will exceed 104F
