HEAT POLICY

RAD Hot Weatherr Policy

Keeping Cool in the Heat

At RAD the welfare of our dogs is paramount to us, especially when working during the summer months. The type of breed your dog is makes a huge difference to its ability to work safely in hotter conditions. At RAD we have set maximum and minimum temperatures of different type of breeds.   

-       Brachycephalic breeds* (flat faced dogs)–  Max working temperature of 18 degrees in London and 20 degrees elsewhere. These dog breeds find it harder to cool down and their risk of developing heat stroke is higher. These types of dogs can develop heat stroke faster than other breeds.

-       Mesocephalic** (medium sized skull) and dolichocephalic breeds*** (long faced) – Max working temperature 22 degrees in London and 25 degrees else where in the country.

There may be times when you need to attend an appointment when it is very hot. Your dog will need to walk from the car to inside. In this scenario the RAD dog should not be vested, should be wearing a cooling vest or bandana and should be wearing boots to protect feet. 

-       Brachycephalic breeds – max working temperature is 22 degrees.

-       Mesocephalic and dolichocephalic breeds the max working temperature is 30 degrees. 

Please take your dog’s breed into account when deciding on whether you should take your dog with you. Burnese mountain dogs, huskies, Newfoundlands for example were bred for colder climates and will naturally struggle in hot temperature. Those with a double coat will also find the heat more difficult, eg Golden Retrievers.

*https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/brachycephalic

https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2020/06/flat-faced-dogs-such-as-bulldogs,-french-bulldogs-and-pugs-most-at-risk-of-heat-stroke,-study-shows

**beagles, golden retrievers, German shepherds, Labradors, spaniels

***greyhounds, collies, setters, dachshunds, great Danes, Italian greyhounds

Please see below some information about keeping your dog cool in the heat. 

Keeping cool in the heat

While many of us enjoy being out in the sun, it is important we take into consideration our dogs. Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin to cool down, they rely on releasing heat though their paw pads, nose and by panting. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke within minutes. 

How to keep your dog cool

When the weather is hot we need to take into consideration the times of day we work them and for how long. You should take your dog's breed into consideration also, some breeds cope with the heat better than others for example Huskies are bred to cope with minus temperatures and so will struggle in hot weather more than a dog with a short coat.

• Make sure your dog has access to water. You can buy travel bottles for dogs that you can take out with you and collapsible bowls
• On hot days take your dog out during cooler parts of the days.
• Using cool mats in the house or garden can and paddling pools can help dogs cool down at home.
• If you need to go out when it is hot to ensure the dog's feet are protected, we also recommend a cool jacket. This should be for unavoidable scenarios like hospital appointments and the dog only being walking a short duration in the heat. Walk in the shade as much as possible.

• Make frozen treats such as kongs, frozen carrots or dog ice creams.
• You need to be especially careful with short nose breeds such as bull breeds and boxers. Also be extra careful with old dogs and puppies.
• Be careful letting your dog swim- while this can be a great way for dogs to cool down and have fun we need to consider strong currents, algae and bacteria in the water.

YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED IN A CAR ON A HOT DAY. Even if the car is parked in the shade and the windows open the dog can still become distressed and suffer from heatstroke.

Heatstroke

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a potentially fatal condition brought on when the dog gets too hot, the dogs normal body temperature is between 38-39°C (100.4-102.2°F), if their temperature going above 40°C then they are at risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke is an extremely dangerous condition. It can cause seizures, organ failure, internal bleeding, coma and worst of all death. The quicker you get the dog to the vets and cooled down the better their chances of recovery are.

Causes

Around three quarters of heatstroke cases occur from dogs playing or being exercised in hot weather, as dogs cannot sweat to cool down, it can also be caused by sitting somewhere warm such as a conservatory, car or a warm room with no ventilation.

Any dog can develop heatstroke, but flat-faced, overweight, giant-breed, thick-coated, very old and very young dogs are most at risk.