Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot – How Does Summer Affect Our Greyhounds?

You may be a sun worshipper. To you, global warming might sound idyllic. What does it mean for your hounds? Do they love summer as much as you do?

Do Greyhounds Enjoy Being in the Sun?

A simple answer would seem to be ‘yes’. Greyhounds often seek out the sunniest spots in the house or garden in which to stretch out. However, this comes at a cost – they often lie in the sun until they overheat and start to pant – which is fine if they are resting and not doing any work, and if they can move around into shadier spots when they get too hot.

Why Are Greyhounds Vulnerable to Hot Weather?

It really is exercise in the heat that is the big problem. Don’t think just of dogs shut in hot cars as prone to heat-related illness or HRI (what used to be called ‘heatstroke’) – it is common in dogs that have exercised in very hot weather too.

According to vet Emily Hall, a researcher on HRI in dogs, most HRI events in dogs are triggered by exertion (exercise), sometimes in temperatures as low as 160C. Unfortunately, the greyhound is one of 9 dog breeds with a higher risk of HRI compared to the labrador (unsurprisingly, the others are dogs with short noses and lots of hair).

Signs of Heat-Related Illness in Greyhounds 

Mild HRI has signs of excessive panting that does not stop when the dog is moved into the shade, lethargy and stiffness/unwillingness to move. As the owner of a greyhound who was prone to this condition in his younger days, I can recognise these signs. It is important that you spot the condition at this ‘mild’ stage and initiate treatment BEFORE contacting the vet (think ‘WET’ then ‘VET’ as Emily Hall advises). 

What to Do If Your Greyhound Overheats

The ‘old’ advice was to use tepid (lukewarm) water to cool dogs down, or soaked towels; however, this has been updated following Dr Hall’s recent research.

Now, treatment should involve rapid cooling using either cold water immersion (e.g. a pool or bath), or evaporative cooling using a cold-water spray (e.g. a garden hose) and a fan to disperse the air. As things improve, you can then contact the vet to arrange a check-up.

Drive to the vet in a well-ventilated car, with air conditioning on full blast, or with windows open throughout the vehicle.

How to Prevent Heat-Related Illness in Summer

Prevention involves avoiding exercise in hot weather – walks should happen before 8am and after 9pm in hot months, if that is possible for you. Keep your house as cool as possible using fans and window blinds. Ice cubes in water bowls are a good idea, as well as the use of cooling mats. I’m not sure about ‘cooling coats’ – it seems odd to put an extra layer on, and coats prevent air circulation. However, some people find them useful, especially coats you can soak in cold water before using them.

Enjoy the summer and stay safe!

References:

Bradbury, J., Hall, E., Carter, A., & O'Neill, D. G. (2023). Canine heat-related illness–new perspectives from recent research. Companion Animal, 28(7), 2-5.

Hall, E. J., Carter, A. J., Chico, G., Bradbury, J., Gentle, L. K., Barfield, D., & O’Neill, D. G. (2022). Risk factors for severe and fatal heat-related illness in UK dogs—a VetCompass study. Veterinary Sciences, 9(5), 231.