How to Keep Your Dog Cool in an Indian Summer

Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, which becomes far less effective as humidity rises. In much of India, the dangerous combination is not peak temperature alone but heat plus humidity.

Change the clock, not just the route

Walk before sunrise and after sunset. Press the back of your hand to the pavement for seven seconds — if you cannot hold it there, it will burn paw pads.

Highest-risk dogs

Flat-faced breeds (Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus), overweight dogs, thick double coats (Huskies, Golden Retrievers), puppies, seniors, and any dog with heart or airway disease.

Warning signs of heatstroke

Frantic panting, thick drooling, bright red gums, unsteadiness, vomiting, or collapse. This is an emergency.

First aid on the way to the vet

Move to shade, wet the body with cool — not ice-cold — water, especially belly, armpits and groin, and get air moving over it. Do not wrap in a wet towel, which traps heat. Do not force water into the mouth of a semi-conscious dog. Go to a vet even if the dog seems to recover; organ damage can appear hours later.