Why Do Black Dogs Get Hotter Than Other Dogs In The Sunlight?
A black dog’s coat absorbs more light than dogs with lighter coats. The energy from that light is converted into heat, which is then absorbed by the dog’s body and radiates off of their coats, heating them up at a faster rate than dogs with lighter coats.
Black dogs only get hotter than other dogs when they are in the sunlight or other extremely bright situations.
How To Tell If Your Black Dog Is Too Hot
Most dogs will start to feel warm when people do, around 75-80 degrees F. For black dogs, you will need to consider their exposure to sunshine more than for lighter dogs.
When they are inside or on very cloudy days, black dogs will get hot at the same rate as other colored dogs of a similar size who are engaging in the same level of activity.
If you’re hot, your dog is likely hot too. Especially if they are running around in the sun.
Your black dog will likely show the following symptoms if they are overheating:
Black dogs will experience the same symptoms of overheating as other dogs, but they are likely to experience them sooner if they are in the sun.
How To Keep Your Black Dog Cool
This is the most important factor when it comes to keeping your black dog cool. They are particularly prone to overheating when they are in the sunshine, so making sure that they have access to shade is the best way to keep your black dog cool.
Making sure that your dog has water, especially cool water if you can, is essential. Your dog should always have access to water so they can stay hydrated and drink whenever they want to, but this is particularly important on hotter days.
If your dog is engaging in a lot of play, you may need to get their attention and bring them to the water bowl to get them to drink. Never force your dog to drink water, but you should make sure that you encourage them to do so frequently.
Besides encouraging them to drink, encourage your dog to get wet. If you can coax them into a body of water, great! Spraying them down with a hose or simply wetting them down with a bottle of water can help too.
On the hottest days, it is best for your dog to stay inside in an air-conditioned house. This gets them out of the sun’s rays and eliminates any possibility that they will get overheated. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your dog.
But just because your dog is inside doesn’t mean they have to be bored and even dogs that don’t love toys can be kept happy inside.
Dogs are likely to heat up more quickly if they are engaging in heart-pumping play like running, hunting, jumping, or even swimming.
If your dog is engaging in a lot of activity, especially a black dog in the sunshine, it may be necessary for you to limit the amount of activity that they do.
Keep in mind that your dog likely has no idea that getting too hot is potentially dangerous, so it’s up to you to call it a day when you think your dog is getting too hot, even if they want to keep playing.
Some areas are better off avoided if you are worried about your dog getting too hot.
Parking lots, particularly ones made of black asphalt, are often way too hot for a dog to even be around.
Walking on hot asphalt is a very common injury during the summer, mostly because well-meaning pet parents do not realize how hot the concrete they are walking on is for their poor dog’s pads.
Similarly, wide-open fields without shade or closed-in areas that do not get a breeze should be avoided during the summer months.
Also, I would like for it to go without saying but it does need to be said: never leave your dog in a parked car. Not even with the windows down. A dog simply does not have the ability to cool themself off faster than the car will heat up, making it a perfect scenario for heatstroke to set in.
Making sure that you limit your time outside to the cooler times of day is a great way to beat the heat, especially if you have a black dog who can easily overheat even on a 15-minute walk on a hot, sunny afternoon.
This may mean you’ll need to reorganize your schedule to get your dog out for a walk early in the morning before the day has had enough time to heat up. Or waiting until late afternoon or early evening to take your dog for their daily walk.
Generally, the hottest parts of the day are between 2 and 5 pm, when the sun is at its highest point and has been up long enough to heat up the environment.
If you have a dog with a thick coat, it may be a good option to shave them down during the hottest months of the year.
Removing their extra fur can help to strip extra insulation from them, allowing cooling air to reach their skin and blow away the heat radiating off of them.
Be warned though, that many dogs who have very thick fur will also have extremely sensitive, pale skin if you shave them down.
If you go too close, exposing too much of their skin, you risk getting your dog a sunburn.
It is best to bring your dog to a professional groomer so they can ensure that they do not cut down too low.
You’ll also want to be careful to avoid shaving dogs with double coats like German Shepherds or Rottweilers since shaving double coats can actually make the problem worse.
What is Black Dog Syndrome? | Topic
Shade. This is the most important factor when it comes to keeping your black dog cool. They are particularly prone to overheating when they are in the sunshine, so making sure that they have access to shade is the best way to keep your black dog cool.