Keeping Our Beagles Cool During Hot Weather

We're having one of those incredibly hot summer days here in the UK, and thankfully, living near the coast means we occasionally get a welcome sea breeze.

The kids headed off to school in their PE kits armed with plenty of water and sun cream, but my biggest concern at home was Kiwi and Poppy.

Our poor Beagles were not enjoying the heat.

And there was absolutely no way I was taking them out for their usual walk.

Sometimes It's Just Too Hot for a Dog Walk

As much as our dogs enjoy getting outside, there comes a point when it's simply too hot.

On particularly hot days, I'd much rather skip a walk and keep Kiwi and Poppy safely at home where they can find somewhere cool and shaded.

Apart from dogs potentially overheating, hot pavements can become uncomfortable or dangerous for their paws.

Missing a walk isn't going to ruin their day – and judging by Kiwi and Poppy's reaction to the heat, they weren't exactly standing at the door begging me to take them out anyway!

Encouraging Poppy to Drink

Poor Poppy was also in season at the time and was really struggling to settle in the heat.

She'd been restless throughout the night, constantly getting up and moving around trying to find somewhere comfortable.

I also noticed she wasn't showing much interest in her water bowl.

Breakfast?

Absolutely.

She's a Beagle.

Food is everything.

But water wasn't getting quite the same level of enthusiasm.

One little trick that worked for Poppy was adding a tiny splash of milk to her water. The different smell and taste encouraged her to investigate the bowl and have a drink.

That's something that happened to work for her, rather than something I'd suggest every dog needs. If your dog isn't drinking normally – particularly during very hot weather – it's worth speaking to your vet for advice rather than relying on tricks to encourage them.

Cooling Mats? Absolutely Not!

We have tried cooling mats.

Kiwi and Poppy were not impressed.

Apparently, nobody consulted the Beagles before deciding cooling mats were a good idea.

They simply weren't interested in lying on them.

A paddling pool wasn't much better because neither of our girls particularly enjoyed getting wet.

So, as is often the case with dogs, it was a matter of figuring out what actually worked for them.

Pea Bobbing – Beagle Style

Something Kiwi and Poppy did enjoy was frozen peas.

I'd put some cool water into a bowl and throw in a handful of frozen peas.

Some dogs might happily stick their whole face into the water and go pea bobbing, but Kiwi and Poppy weren't going to take things quite that far!

Instead, I used a shallow enough bowl that they could easily get to the peas without having to immerse their noses too much.

And because there was food involved...

Well, suddenly the Beagles were interested.

Funny that.

Frozen Treats

I also prepared some frozen treats for later in the day.

Kiwi particularly loves blueberries, so freezing some dog-safe fruit with water gave the girls something cool to enjoy while we were all trying to escape the heat.

When giving fruit to dogs, I always make sure it's something that's safe for them to eat and keep portions sensible.

Finding Somewhere Cool

One of the simplest things we could do was make sure Kiwi and Poppy always had access to somewhere cool and shaded.

Inside, that meant letting them find the coolest spot in the house and making sure fresh drinking water was always available.

Outside, shade was essential.

We were also preparing to go camping, so I started looking at raised dog beds with canopies that could give the girls somewhere shaded and off the hot ground to relax.

How to Tell if Your Dog Is Getting Too Hot

One thing I always worry about during a heatwave is knowing when Kiwi and Poppy are simply uncomfortable and when the heat might actually be becoming dangerous.

Dogs can't tell us when they're feeling unwell, so it's important to keep an eye on how they're behaving.

Heavy panting, excessive drooling, unusual tiredness, weakness, vomiting or seeming unsteady on their feet can all be warning signs of overheating or heatstroke.

And heatstroke in dogs is a genuine emergency.

If I suspected either Kiwi or Poppy was overheating, I wouldn't wait to see whether they improved on their own.

The advice from the RSPCA and PDSA is to move the dog somewhere cool, begin cooling them immediately with water that is cooler than their body temperature, keep water away from their nose and mouth, and create airflow with a fan or breeze. Contact a vet urgently and follow their advice about getting the dog to the practice.

It's also important not to force a dog to drink or cover them with a wet towel, which can trap heat.

Even if a dog seems to recover, veterinary advice is still important because heatstroke can cause serious complications.

Thankfully, Kiwi and Poppy were simply finding the hot weather uncomfortable when I originally wrote this post, but it's something I always want to take seriously.

For more detailed information, the RSPCA's advice on heatstroke in dogs is worth reading.

How We Helped Our Beagles in Hot Weather

What worked for Kiwi and Poppy wasn't particularly complicated.

We skipped walks when it was too hot, made sure fresh water and shade were always available and found cooling activities they actually enjoyed rather than trying to convince them to use a cooling mat they clearly wanted nothing to do with.

Frozen treats and their little bowls of peas proved much more popular!

And, of course, dogs should never be left alone in a hot car, even for a short time.

Most importantly, I keep an eye on the girls and how they're behaving. If either of them seemed unwell, unusually lethargic, distressed or showed signs that they might be overheating, I'd contact a vet rather than trying to manage it at home.

Every dog is different.

Kiwi and Poppy might turn their noses up at paddling pools and cooling mats, while another dog might think they're the best thing ever.

Sometimes keeping them comfortable is simply about finding what works for your dog.

How do your dogs cope with hot weather? Do they love a paddling pool, or are they more like Kiwi and Poppy and refuse to get their paws wet?

If you enjoy reading about Kiwi and Poppy, I've also shared more about life with an older Beagle, including the mischief that Kiwi still manages to get up to!