My dog loves chewing on fresh vegetables but I know there are some vegetables I need to keep far away from him. I did some research to find out what vegetables are dangerous for dogs and why, and here’s what I found…
Dogs can eat most vegetables in moderation, but there are some vegetables that a dog should never eat, such as corn on the cob, garlic and all onions. These are either toxic to dogs and even a small amount can make them ill, or there is a risk that the vegetable may choke the dog or block its intestine.
Always consult your veterinarian for advice before adding vegetables to your dog’s diet. Dogs do not need to eat vegetables if they are on a balanced diet. Too many vegetables can do more harm than good, especially if your dog has health issues such as diabetes or kidney stones.
Table of Contents
Can dogs eat corn on the cob?
Dogs can eat corn kernels (the yellow fleshy pieces of corn) in moderation but not the corn cob (the hard, white core that the kernels grow on). If a dog swallows a corn cob, it could choke or the cob could get stuck in the dog’s bowel and require surgery. It is simply too risky to feed a dog corn on the cob, especially if the dog eats quickly and has a tendency to gulp down their food – click here to see my article on how to slow down greedy eaters (I have one too!).
Corn cobs are not safe for dogs to eat, but dogs can safely eat the soft kernels off the cob.
Can dogs eat garlic?
Garlic is toxic to dogs so dogs should never eat it. Eating some garlic can cause vomiting and diarrhea. A lot of garlic can make a dog’s red blood cells burst, making the dog anemic so oxygen doesn’t get carried around the body as it should. An anemic dog tires easily, loses their appetite, and loses blood through the stool, urine, vomit, or nose. A little garlic now and then probably won’t have any harmful side effects for a dog. But a lot of garlic at once or garlic eaten over a period of time could cause problems. We know that onions are poisonous to dogs (see below). Garlic actually falls into the onion family, but it’s five times more toxic than regular onions. It’s best not to give any garlic to a dog.
Can dogs eat green tomatoes?
Green, unripe tomatoes and all green tomato leaves and stems are not good for dogs to eat. They contain alpha-tomatine, which is poisonous to dogs in high amounts. The highest levels of tomatine are in the tomato plant’s flowers and small green stems.
As tomatoes ripen, and turn from green to red, tomatine levels decrease and may disappear completely in a red tomato that’s been on the plant for several days.
But it does take a lot of green tomatoes to have any effect on a dog. The first signs of harm from green tomatoes are vomiting and/or diarrhea. These are a dog’s natural reactions to get the tomatoes out of its system.
If the vomiting and diarrhea persist, the dog may need the help of a vet for a check.
Green tomatoes and the stalks and leaves of tomato plants are toxic to dogs. Dogs should never eat green tomatoes.
Can dogs eat leeks?
Dogs should not be given leeks. Leeks are part of the onion family and may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and/or diarrhea in dogs. Large amounts may damage a dog’s red blood cells and need a vet’s assistance. Want to know something interesting? Japanese dog breeds tend to be more sensitive to the negative effects of leeks than others. Some examples of Japanese dog breeds are Hokkaido, Akita Inu, and Shiba Inu.
Can dogs eat onions?
Onions are toxic to dogs if a dog eats a large amount in one go or eats onions over a long period of time. Symptoms of onion poisoning could show up several days after the dog eats the onions. Onion poisoning may cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, but more severe poisoning may burst red blood cells in the dog, making the dog anemic.
Signs of anemia in dogs include:
Pale gums
Lack of energy / lethargy
Weakness
Elevated heart rate
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It’s best to never feed a dog any onions, even a small amount of onions that might be hidden in food you give your dog as a treat.
Can dogs eat potatoes?
Raw potatoes and potato plants can be toxic to dogs. If a dog eats enough of any part of a raw potato or its plant, the dog could start vomiting or get diarrhea and abdominal pain. If the dog eats a lot of raw potato or plant, and the dog is small and/or has health issues, the dog could experience more dangerous side effects.
These side effects could include heart problems, hypothermia (low body temperature), paralysis, or seizures.
If a dog swallows a whole raw potato or large chunk of raw potato, the potato could choke the dog or get stuck in the dog’s intestine.
If you want to give your dog some potato, be sure to cook it beforehand. Don’t use any fat, seasonings, or salt.
Dogs should not eat rhubarb. This red vegetable often causes diarrhea, vomiting, and/or shivering from sugar overload if a dog eats a lot of rhubarb in one go. But if a dog eats too much or any of the green rhubarb leaves there could be much more serious side effects.
Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid, which is poisonous to dogs. If a dog eats enough leaves, the oxalic acid may give the dog seizures, tremors, kidney failure, and other health problems.
Can dogs eat shallots?
Dogs cannot eat shallots. Shallots are part of the onion family and all onions are toxic to dogs. Shallots can cause vomiting and panting in dogs. If enough shallots are eaten in one sitting or over time, the dog may become anemic.
Symptoms of anemia in dogs include:
Pale gums
Lack of energy / lethargy
Weakness
Elevated heart rate
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Onion poisoning symptoms may take up to 5 days to show in a dog, so if your dog has eaten shallots keep a close eye on them. If the above symptoms start to show, it’s best to take your dog to the vet for help.
Can dogs eat wild mushrooms?
Dogs cannot eat wild mushrooms. While only a few wild mushrooms are poisonous, the ones that are poisonous can kill a dog very quickly. It’s better not to take a chance and keep dogs away from all wild mushrooms.
Wild mushrooms include mushrooms on walking trails, in forests, near lakes, and in your own backyard! ‘Wild mushrooms’ are any mushrooms that are not bought at a store for consumption.
Different mushrooms cause different symptoms and reactions in dogs when eaten.
The most common symptoms of mushroom poisoning are:
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Drooling
Seizures
Lethargy
Watery eyes
But toxic wild mushrooms can cause a coma, liver failure, kidney failure, and even death.
It’s best to watch your dog closely when out walking and always remove mushrooms from your backyard.
Vegetables may be good for us but what about our dogs?
Dogs can safely eat most vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and pumpkin, but vegetables should not make up more than 25% or less of their daily diet. Feed raw vegetables to your dog if you can, otherwise bake, boil, or steam them lightly. Vegetables can also be used as healthy training treats.
Many guidelines to keep your dog safe and healthy when eating vegetables are the same as when a dog eats anything from this list of dog-friendly fruits. So let’s take a look at what’s important to know before we get to the list of vegetables:
Remove any seeds and skin, and cut vegetables into slices, small pieces, or puree the vegetables before feeding them to your dog.
Buy organic vegetables that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides or wash the vegetables well or peel them before giving them to your dog. If you have a garden, you can grow many of these vegetables from seeds or scraps.
Never add salt, herbs, spices, fats, or oils when cooking vegetables for your dog.
Mix up the vegetables you feed your dog and don’t feed a lot of the same vegetable every day. Even if dogs can eat vegetables, all vegetables are best eaten in moderation and in variation (don’t feed the same vegetables every day).
Slowly introduce vegetables to your dog’s diet. If your dog gets diarrhea after eating vegetables, simply feed less vegetables.
Always consult your veterinarian for advice before adding vegetables to your dog’s diet. The list below is for information purposes only. Dogs do not need to be given vegetables if they are on a balanced diet, and too many vegetables can do more harm than good, particularly if your dog has health issues such as diabetes or kidney stones.
Here’s an alphabetical list of vegetables that dogs can eat in moderation, with some notes:
VEGETABLES DOGS LOVE
NOTES ON FEEDING VEGETABLES TO DOGS
Asparagus
Dogs can eat raw asparagus if they like to chew on a hard, healthy treat. But raw asparagus may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or gas. Baking, boiling or steaming asparagus lightly minimizes this effect and is softer to eat. Cooking for too long may destroy many nutrients in this vegetable.
Beets
Dogs can eat beets in moderation. They’re acidic and too many beets may cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. Cut up all beets before giving them to your dog as they are a choking hazard or may get stuck in the bowel if not chewed before swallowing. Don’t give beets if your dog has bladder issues.
Bell Peppers / Capsicum
Dogs can safely eat green, red, orange, and yellow bell peppers in moderation. Red bell peppers have the highest nutritional value. Remove the seeds and stalk before feeding. Slice raw pepper to make a crunchy treat for your dog, or cook lightly to make it easier to digest. Never add seasoning, garlic, or onion.
Bell peppers are safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
Brussels Sprouts
Dogs can safely eat brussels sprouts in small amounts. All brussels sprouts must be sliced or chopped into small pieces to prevent choking. Steam, boil, or bake sprouts before giving them to a dog as a treat or in their food. Brussels sprouts can help with digestion and constipation, but may also cause flatulence.
Butternut Squash
Cooked butternut squash is a healthy treat for dogs. Don’t feed a dog raw butternut. Roast, steam, or boil fresh squash, and don’t add any seasonings. Remove the skin and seeds before giving it to a dog as a treat or mixed into their food. Butternut squash can help dogs with digestion and diarrhea.
Broccoli
Dogs can eat broccoli stalks and florets in small amounts. Cut up the broccoli into small pieces so it isn’t a choking hazard, and don’t add seasoning. Feed raw broccoli as a crunchy treat, or cook broccoli lightly before feeding. Too many broccoli florets may give a dog gas, nausea, or diarrhea.
Cabbage
Small amounts of cabbage and cabbage leaves are good for dogs, but large amounts can impact the thyroid. Cut cabbage into small pieces so it isn’t a choking hazard, and don’t add seasonings. Feed raw cabbage as a crunchy treat, or cook it lightly to make it easier to digest. Cabbage may give a dog flatulence.
Carrots
Dogs can safely eat carrots and carrot leaves. Limit the number of carrots eaten at a time, to avoid vomiting or diarrhea. Feed raw carrots as a healthy treat and teeth cleaner, but watch your dog while they eat it. Lightly cooked carrots without any seasoning can be fed with a dog’s meal to boost nutrition.
Cauliflower
Dogs can eat all parts of cauliflower, including the stem and leaves. Serve raw as small crunchy treats, or cook it lightly and add it to your dog’s meal. Don’t add any seasonings. Cauliflower can help with inflammation and arthritis in dogs. Too much cauliflower in one go can cause diarrhea.
Celery
Dogs can eat safely eat celery raw or cooked as an occasional treat. Dogs can eat celery stalks and leaves, but wash these well before feeding to remove pesticides. Celery is a diuretic and eating too much at one time can cause excessive urination.
Corn
Dogs can safely eat corn kernels in moderation and without butter or seasoning. Feed the corn raw as a juicy treat or cook lightly by boiling or steaming. Always cut the corn kernels off the cob: Don’t ever give a dog the cob as it’s a choking hazard.
Cucumber
Dogs can safely eat raw cucumber in small amounts. Cucumber skin may cause diarrhea, so peel the cucumber before slicing it up to feed a dog as a treat. Because whole cucumbers and thick slices are a choking hazard, cut cucumber into small pieces that are easy for your dog to chew.
Edamame / Soybeans
Dogs can safely eat raw, steamed, or frozen edamame beans sprinkled over their food or as a treat. Edamame pods not toxic, but are tough to digest and are a choking hazard for small dogs. Edamame is a rich source of protein and fiber. Don’t give a dog edamame snacks or edamame beans with soy sauce, salt, or any other seasonings.
Edamame beans (soybeans) are safe for dogs to eat in moderation. The pods can be tough to chew and most dogs won’t want to eat the pods.
Eggplant
Dogs can safely eat small amounts of eggplant, without any seasoning. Eggplant can be served raw in small, bite-sized treats. Or cook eggplant lightly by baking, roasting, or grilling it. Some dogs are allergic to nightshade vegetables, so first test your dog with a small amount of eggplant and watch for any physical reactions.
Green Beans
Plain green beans are safe for dogs to eat and are a healthy addition to a dog’s diet. Fresh and canned green beans are fine, without seasoning or additives. Feed raw green beans, or cook them lightly by steaming them. Too many raw green beans may cause an upset stomach or diarrhea.
Kale
Dogs can eat kale in small amounts and as an occasional treat. Large amounts of kale may cause kidney and bladder stones. Serve kale raw or lightly cooked to make it easier to digest. Don’t add any seasoning, and always feed kale with a protein such as beef or chicken.
Lettuce
Dogs can safely eat iceberg, romaine and arugula lettuce in moderate amounts. Serve lettuce raw and pulled into strips. Some dogs love eating the crispy parts. Lettuce is mostly water and can make a low-calorie treat for overweight dogs.
Mushrooms
Washed white button mushrooms from the store are safe for dogs to eat, but some wild mushrooms are poisonous. Serve mushrooms plain and sliced, without seasoning or sauces. Dogs can eat raw or lightly cooked mushrooms as a treat or mixed into their food.
Parsley
Parsley root is safe for dogs to eat in moderate amounts. Chop the parsley root into bite-sized chunks and give it to a dog raw or lightly cooked and added to a dog’s meal or baked treats. Don’t add any seasoning to the parsley. Parsley root can help with digestion, but too much may cause excessive urination.
Parsnips
Dogs can safely eat parsnips in moderate amounts. Use fresh parsnips or the scraps after cooking. Serve parsnips raw in small pieces, or cook lightly by steaming, baking, or boiling to make it easier to digest. Parsnips are one of the most nutritious root vegetables and help a dog’s kidney function, metabolism, and nervous system.
Peas
Green peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas, and garden peas are safe for dogs to eat in moderation. Plain fresh or frozen peas are best as canned peas have salt added. Serve peas as a healthy treat or mix them into a dog’s meal for extra nutrients. Feed in small amounts as occasional treats, as too many peas may cause kidney and bladder stones over time.
Potatoes
Dogs can safely eat a cooked potato without the skin. Don’t give a dog raw potato as it may be toxic. Boil peeled potatoes in plain water, drain, mash with a fork, and wait for it to cool before giving a little to your dog. Don’t add butter or seasoning.
Pumpkin
Dogs can safely eat pumpkin pulp, roasted and grinded pumpkin seeds, and baked pumpkin skin. Fresh pumpkin can be served steamed and mashed or boiled in bite-sized pieces. Or use 100% canned pumpkin without any seasoning (never pumpkin pie filling). Use pumpkin in dog food, as a treat, or in Kongs. Pumpkin helps dogs with diarrhea and constipation.
Radishes
Dogs can safely eat radishes in moderation. Radish sprouts and greens aren’t toxic but may upset a dog’s stomach. Chop up radish roots before feeding, as whole radishes are a choking hazard. Serve radishes raw as a teeth cleaner or boiled and added to a dog’s meal. Don’t add any seasoning or fats when cooking radish for dogs. Dogs can safely eat white or daikon radish root. Dogs cannot eat horseradish or pickled radish because of their ingredients.
Rutabagas / Swedes / Swedish Turnips
Dogs can safely eat rutabagas in small quantities. Rutabagas have a high sugar content and should be an occasional treat. Peel off the skin and trim the top and bottom. Dogs can eat rutabagas raw in bite-sized pieces to clean their teeth or lightly cooked, mashed, and mixed into their meal. Cook rutabagas by steaming, baking, roasting or boiling them, but don’t add any seasoning or oils.
Spinach
Dogs with healthy kidneys can eat spinach in small amounts occasionally. Too much spinach over time may damage their kidneys. Lightly steam spinach to make it easier to digest, and never add seasoning to spinach for a dog.
Summer Squash
Dogs can safely eat summer squash, such as patty pans and zucchini. Remove the skin, seeds, and top and bottom of the squash before cooking the flesh for your dog. Squash is best cut steamed without seasoning, cut into small chunks, then mixed into a dog’s meal.
Summer squashes, such as these zucchini (left) and patty pans (right), are safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
Tomatoes
A small amount of red tomato probably won’t have any negative effect on a dog, but tomatoes shouldn’t be given to dogs as part of their daily diet. A thin slice of raw tomato or a spoon of cooked tomato can be an occasional dog treat. Green, unripe tomatoes and the tomato leaves and stems are all toxic to dogs and should never be given to a dog.
Red tomatoes are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Green tomatoes, tomato stalks and tomato leaves are not safe and are poisonous for dogs.
Turnips
Dogs without thyroid issues can safely eat turnip roots and leaves in small amounts on occasion. Wash the leaves, steam lightly and chop before feeding a dog. Dogs can eat raw turnips chopped into bite-sized pieces, or cooked turnips that are mashed and mixed into food. Never add any seasoning when cooking turnips for dogs. Turnips are high in fiber and eating too much may upset a dog’s stomach.
Yams / Sweet Potatoes
Dogs can safely eat cooked yams in small amounts – start with 2 or 3 teaspoons and watch how your dog reacts. Peel the yams to make them easier to digest, and don’t add any seasoning. Steam, bake, or boil the yams before mashing and adding them to your dog’s meal. Large pieces of raw yam can get stuck in the digestive tract or upset a dog’s stomach, so be sure to always feed cooked yams or sweet potatoes.
I have two dogs that are more or less the same height. One dog has a slender, agile build and the other is stocky and robust. I’ve started noticing how other dogs at the dog park all have different chests, so I looked into it and found out that there are three types of dog chests:
A dog can have a deep chest, a barrel chest, or a round chest, depending on the shape of their rib cage. Deep-chested dogs have narrower, taller ribcages. Barrel-chested dogs have wider, shorter ribcages. Most dogs have round chests that are not tall enough or short enough to be deep or barrel chests.
Dogs were bred for different reasons, which is why they have different chests. But chest shape has nothing to do with the dog’s size – a small dog will just have a smaller chest than a bigger dog, even if both dogs have a ‘deep’ chest.
There’s no one size fits all here so let’s explore where a dog’s chest is, how to determine the chest type, why dogs have different chests, and the differences, traits and health concerns of deep-chested and barrel-chested breeds…
Where is a dog’s chest?
A dog’s chest runs from the bottom of the dog’s neck to the stomach. The chest includes the dog’s ribs, the dog’s spine from the shoulders’ points to the end of the ribs, and the dog’s breastplate that connects some of the ribs together in the ribcage, opposite the spine.
In the picture below, you’ll see a red area towards the front of the dog. This red area shows where a dog’s chest is found:
What is a round-chested dog?
Most dogs have round chests. When looking at these dogs from the front, their ribcage is round in shape, like a circle. Their chests may be slightly deep or barrel shaped, but not enough for them to be classified as deep- or barrel-chested dogs.
The red circle on the Labrador in the following picture shows how a typical round-chested dog looks from the front:
Round-chested dogs were bred for many different jobs, such as herding, swimming, or acting as companions. Some dogs that are typically round-chested are Corgis, Golden Retrievers and Labradors.
Many people wonder if Labradors are round-chested or barrel-chested dogs.
Labradors are round-chested dogs, but some breeders have introduced barrel chests into their breeding lines over time. This is why some Labradors appear more barrel-chested than round-chested, though this is not true to the breed.
We know that dogs were bred with certain chests depending on what the dog was used for.
Labradors were bred to help fisherman by carrying nets, swimming in and fetching fish from the icy ocean, and keeping fishermen company. None of these ‘jobs’ needed a deep or barrel chest, so Labradors were bred with broad, round chests.
What is a deep-chested dog?
A deep-chested dog has a narrow, tall ribcage that is egg- or oval-shaped from the front. The height of a dog’s ribcage is called the ‘depth’. A ‘deep chest’ means that the ribcage is higher from top to bottom than it is wide, from left to right. Deep chests fall as low as, if not lower than, the dog’s elbows in its front legs.
Here is a picture of a deep-chested Great Dane dog – see how the chest has an egg-like, elliptical shape to it, with a lot of space between the top and bottom of the ribcage?
The following picture shows the same deep-chested Great Dane from the side – see how low the chest falls compared to the dog’s elbows?
A dog’s size doesn’t determine its chest type. Any size dog can be deep-chested, even small- and medium-sized dogs. A deep chest is narrower and taller than a round or barrel chest.
Dogs with deep chests were often bred for running, speed and endurance. The shape of the deep chest gives the dog’s lungs a lot of space to expand, so the dog can take deeper breaths. Deeper, slower breaths provide more oxygen to the dog’s muscles, which gives the dog energy to run faster or over long distances.
But all the space in a larger dog with a high ribcage makes it easier for the dog’s stomach to fill up with gas or fluids, then turn over. This is commonly known as bloat or GDV (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus). GDV is a life-threatening condition and requires medical attention.
You’ll also need to take extra care to manage and monitor what your dog eats if your dog develops pica – an eating disorder where dogs eat non-food items. Here’s more info about pica and how to manage it.
Dog breeds and breed types that are usually deep-chested
Akitas
Basset Hounds
Bloodhounds
Boxers
Dachshunds
Dobermans
Doberman Pinschers
German Shepherds
Gordon Setters
Great Danes
Greyhounds
Irish Setters
Irish Wolfhounds
Labradors
Newfoundlands
Old English Sheepdogs
Retrievers
Rottweilers
Saint Bernards
Sighthounds
Standard Poodles
Weimaraners
What is a barrel-chested dog?
A barrel-chested dog has a wide chest in front, which is shaped much like a barrel. The top and bottom of the chest area are fairly straight and even, with wider rounded shoulders on the sides. The bottom of the chest is usually in line with or above the elbows of the front legs.
Barrel-chested dogs usually have thicker necks and their front legs are further apart than deep- and round-chested dogs.
Here is a picture of a barrel-chested Boxer – see how the chest has a barrel shape to it?
A dog’s size doesn’t determine the type of chest they have. Any size dog can be barrel-chested, even small- and medium-sized dogs.
Bigger barrel-chested dogs often have a lot of strength and power in the front of their bodies, where a lot of their muscle sits. Medium and bigger dogs with barrel chests were often bred for baiting, hunting, fighting, digging, or guarding.
But some smaller barrel chests, such as pugs, were simply bred to be companions.
Dog breeds and breed types that are usually barrel-chested
Boston Terriers
Boxers
English Bulldogs
French Bulldogs
Keeshonds
Mastiffs
Pit Bulls
Pugs
Rottweilers
Staffordshire Bull Terriers
How to determine if a dog is deep-chested or barrel-chested
The easiest way to determine if a dog has a deep chest or a barrel chest is to look at a standing dog from the front and side. From the front, look at the shape of the chest area. From the side, check where the rib cage ends in relation to the dog’s elbows and how the stomach looks.
Not every dog has a deep or barrel chest. Most dogs have round chests that aren’t classified as deep or barrel chests, though they may have slightly deeper or slightly more barrel-shaped chests than other dogs.
It gets very hot and humid where we live, which makes it difficult to keep our dogs’ drinking water cool enough. I know how important cool water is in helping dogs regulate their body temperature, so I decided to look for all possible ways to keep the dog water bowl cool in the heat.
A dog’s body is 80% water, which makes water vital to their health and happiness. Making sure a dog has fresh, cool water to drink is an important part of taking good care of your dog.
But sometimes temperatures rise so much that it feels like there’s not much you can do to keep your dog’s drinking water cool.
Here are all the tips and tricks I found to keep your dog’s water bowl cool, no matter how hot it gets…
Place the water bowl in the shade or in the coolest spot
To keep a dog’s drinking water cool, keep the water bowl in the coolest area possible, to stop the water from getting too warm.
If you have an outside dog, put the water bowl in the shade and in the coolest spot you can find.
If the water bowl is kept inside the house, place it on a cool surface, such as on tiles, and keep it close to the air conditioner if you have one.
Just be sure that this is somewhere where there aren’t many bees around, or they could be attracted to the water.
If you feel the water starting to warm up or you know it’s going to be a hot day, put a few ice cubes in the water to cool it down. Ice melts faster on a hot day, so you might need to add more cubes more often on hotter days.
If you don’t want to add ice cubes to your dog’s water, freeze water in small bottles or small plastic containers. Put a bottle or container in the water bowl to keep the water cool, just make sure your puppy or dog doesn’t get hold of it and chew on it.
Keep a spare water bowl in the freezer
Have two water bowls for your dog that you rotate.
Give your dog water in one of the bowls and keep the other one in the freezer.
You can safely freeze most metal, glass, or plastic bowls. Ceramic and clay bowls may crack in the freezer. This is because they are porous and absorb water, and they tend to crack when this absorbed water turns to ice and expands.
Once or twice a day, take out the frozen water bowl and fill it with water. Then replace the water bowl that your dog is using with the cold bowl of fresh water.
Empty the warm bowl, rinse it out, and put it in the freezer to cool down for the next round.
To keep the bowls colder for even longer, tape ice packs around them before freezing them. If you don’t have ice packs, make your own by putting some water in resealable plastic bags, such as these double zipper ziploc bags from Amazon, and squeezing all the air out of them before zipping them closed.
If you freeze the cooling pad or bowl for a couple of hours, the gel can keep water cool in the bowl for up to eight hours.
There are two things to note here about these gel cooling bowls:
These bowls are small and hold only two cups (16 ounces) of water when filled to the brim. They won’t hold enough water for larger dogs or for a dog that’s outside the whole day.
Some customers say that the gel pads leak over time with certain brands or that their dogs chew the bowls and release the gel. Even though the gel is non-toxic, it’s not something you want your dog drinking so this is something to watch out for with these bowls. If the gel starts leaking, throw it away immediately.
To activate the cooling crystals, just put some water in the interior cavity and freeze the bowl overnight. These bowls can keep water cool for up to 15 hours and might be a better and safer option than the gel water bowls above.
Get an automatic water filling bowl
To keep an outside water bowl full of cool, fresh water, you could try a water bowl that comes with or attaches to a hose.
These bowls fit on a standard garden hose, so you can connect it to the faucet and let the bowl refill itself with fresh water whenever your dog drinks from it.
Remember to place the bowl in a cool, shaded area to keep the water cooler. Some people put the bowls inside their house but there’s always a chance that they might leak or overflow.
Get a step-on dog sprinkler
These fun step-on dog sprinklers are great for outdoor dogs that you don’t mind getting wet.
Teach your dog how to stand on the step to activate the water fountain of fresh water. Because these sprinklers provide fresh water, the water is cooler than water that stands in a bowl for a long time.
If your dog gets too hot, they can always cool themselves down by playing in the water.
These sprinklers work better than traditional water fountains for dogs when it comes to keeping the drinking water cool. Normal water fountains just move the water around, but these step-ons provide fresh drinking water to the dog whenever he/she needs some.
It’s still recommended that your dog has access to a bowl of fresh water.
Freeze your own water bowls
If you have space in your freezer, you can make your own ice water bowls.
Take a large steel or plastic bowl and put some ice cubes in the bottom of it.
Put a smaller bowl in the bigger bowl, on top of the ice cubes.
Put some cans or heavy items inside the smaller bowl, to hold it down. You can also use tape to hold it in place.
Fill the gap between the two bowls with water and put the bowls in the freezer overnight.
When you’re ready to use your ice bowl, take it out of the freezer. Remove the tape and heavy cans/items, then put some very warm water inside the small bowl, to release it from the ice.
Carefully lift out the small bowl.
Now put the bigger bowl in some warm water to loosen the ice inside. Gently turn the bowl over on to a towel, and release the ice bowl.
Fill the ice bowl with water and give it to your dog. Be sure to put the ice bowl on a towel or a surface where the ice can melt without damaging your floors.
Your dog’s water will stay cool for hours and hours, and your dog can lick the ice to cool down even quicker.
If your dog isn’t drinking enough water – 1 ounce of water for every pound of body weight per day and more if they’re active – encourage them to drink more water by making the ice bowl out of beef or chicken broth, or use the water after boiling chicken.
Warm summer days can be wonderful, but with them come hot summer nights that make it difficult for dogs to cool down. I wanted to find out every possible way to cool down my dogs at night inside the house, then share them with you so you can use these tips too…
To keep a dog cool at night inside the house, cool down the room’s temperature with an air conditioner or an open window and fan. Give the dog something cool to lie on, and make sure the dog has plenty of water to stay hydrated.
These are some of the basic tips to keep dogs cool at night, but there are many things you can do to keep your dog’s temperature down and prevent heatstroke. It’s also good to be aware of what makes your dog more prone to overheating, so you can keep an eye on them for heatstroke.
Here are all the tips and tricks to keep your dog cool and comfortable at night…
How to keep a dog cool at night inside the house
1. Turn on the air conditioner to cool down a dog
To keep a dog cool inside the house in summer, keep the air conditioner on. Set the thermostat to maintain a temperature of around 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius). Bigger dogs need it cooler at about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). Smaller and short-haired dogs can be comfortable in a warmer house up to around 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius).
If you have an air conditioner in the house, summer is a great time to use it.
Dogs get used to the temperature of the area they spend a lot of time in. This is called acclimatizing. It’s best to keep the temperature inside the house closest to what your dog is acclimatized to.
Don’t have any major or sudden changes in the temperature inside the house. Sudden changes in temperature make it difficult for a dog to regulate its body temperature, which can lead to overheating.
2. Get cool air moving in the house with a fan
Fans do not cool down the air in a room, but fans do help dogs cool down in other ways. Fans circulate air, which can cool down a dog’s coat where heat gets trapped. Fans also help dogs cool down faster when they pant, which is a dog’s natural way to cool down.
The only way to cool down a room with a fan is to provide a source for cooler air that the fan can circulate:
Turn on the air conditioner. Use a fan to spread cold air from the air conditioner to cool down the area
If you don’t have an aircon, open a window and run a fan next to the window to let the fan circulate fresh air coming in
If there’s no aircon or cool air coming in from outside, freeze water in plastic soft drink bottles. Place these frozen bottles full of ice in front of a running fan, to cool down the air and the room
A water mister is a great way to keep a dog cool inside the house and can bring down the temperature in a room by up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (16.5 degrees Celsius), depending on the humidity. The less humidity there is, the better a water mister will work.
Water misters cool the air through evaporation. A mister has nozzles, which sprays water out in a fine mist or fog. These water droplets quickly evaporate, which cools down the air.
A fine mist will evaporate quickly, cooling down the air more without wetting things around it. The finer the mist, the better the cooling results.
If you want to cool down your dog with a water mister, you could try:
Calling a professional to give you advice and install a misting system
Or building your own misting machine by following a tutorial on YouTube and adapting it to your own space. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to build a misting machine in 15 minutes:
4. Give a dog fresh, cool water to regulate body temperature
Drinking water helps a dog cool down because cool water can cool down the dog’s stomach and nearby internal organs, bringing down the dog’s core body temperature. Water also helps a dog control their body temperature by providing moisture for a dog to use its natural cooling system – panting.
When panting, dogs breathe in air. Moisture is added to this air in the dog’s nose and lungs. The dog then breathes this out with an open mouth and tongue hanging out. The hot moisture on the dog’s tongue evaporates and releases heat from the dog.
Did you know? A dog’s body is made up of 80% water. A human body is made up of 60% water.
It’s best for a dog to drink cool water in small amounts throughout the day, rather than a lot of water at one time. A dog should never be forced to drink water.
Have more than one drinking bowl available and encourage our dog to drink enough throughout the day. If your dog tips over one water bowl, they will still have access to drinking water in the other water bowls.
To keep your dog’s drinking water cool, put some ice cubes in the water, keep the water bowl inside the house where it’s cooler, and use a ceramic or clay water bowl, which stays cooler than other materials.
If you’ve heard the false scary stories that putting ice in your dog’s water bowl is dangerous, then here’s a real vet’s take on the matter:
‘Bottom line – a few ice cubes in their drinking water isn’t going to trigger the out of control rise in temperature … There is NO evidence that giving a dog ice cubes in hot weather increases their risk of heat stroke.’
To keep a dog cool at night, keep the room your dog sleeps in cool by blocking out sunlight during the day. Do this by keeping the windows, blinds and/or curtains closed in that room during the day, or at least during the hottest times of day.
It’s best to keep the heat out of a room than to try cool it down later.
6. Give your dog a cool surface to lie on
To keep a dog cool at night, make sure there is a cool surface to lie on. A crate, dog bed, or blankets could quickly warm up your dog. A cooler surface, like tiles or wooden flooring, will help your dog to stretch out and stay cooler.
Another option for your dog to lie on is a cooling mat, such as this one from Amazon. Cooling mats work by absorbing the dog’s body heat when the dog lies on it. The mat can absorb body heat for up to 4 hours at a time.
Having space to stretch out at night and move around to cooler areas will really help your dog stay cooler.
If your dog is really struggling to sleep in the heat, wet a blanket or towel with cool, not cold, water. Let your dog lie down on the cool, wet material, if they like it.
7. Cool down the dog’s bed
There are a few ways to cool down a dog’s bed at night:
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water and put it in the dog bed
Freeze water in empty soft drink bottles and put the iced bottles around the bed to cool down the air
Icy snacks can cool down your dog’s stomach and help a dog control their body temperature. Frozen watery snacks can also keep a dog hydrated and provide moisture, which a dog needs to regulate their body temperature through panting.
There are 3 ways to give your dog healthy, frozen snacks to keep them cool:
Freeze water in plastic containers to make large ice cubes. Run warm water over the plastic container to loosen the ice and pop it out. Give a big ice cube to your dog to lick and chew on.
Freeze your dog’s dinner in some water or in a kong (Amazon link).
Freeze healthy snacks and give your dog a cube whenever the temperature rises. Be sure to cut the food into small pieces, space it out in an ice cube tray, then fill with water and freeze. You can freeze and safely feed your dog carrots, broccoli, boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and apples in moderation. If you want to use plain liquid, make icy dog treats with the water after boiling rice or chicken, or freeze bone broth.
Be sure to supervise your dog if you do give ice as a treat or a meal.
9. Let your dog sleep downstairs
To keep a dog cool at night in a house with more than one level, keep the dog’s bed downstairs on the first floor or in the basement for sleeping in.
The upstairs area in a house is usually hotter because hot air rises to the second floor and cool air sinks to the lower first floor. Also, a house without an attic or an insulated roof will be even warmer upstairs.
The basement is usually the coolest area in the home because it is underground and doesn’t get sunlight like the rest of the house.
The cooler basement temperature might be a relief for your dog in summer, but make sure it doesn’t get too cold there for your dog in winter – if it’s too cold for you then it’s too cold for your dog to spend time there.
10. Keep your dog groomed
To keep a dog cool at night, make sure their fur is clean, mat free, de-shed and brushed regularly. Clean hair is soft and moves around easily, letting air through to cool down the skin underneath. If there are knots in a dog’s fur, air can’t pass through easily and it’s harder for the dog to cool down.
Dogs with long or curly coats need regular trims to prevent matting, but no dog should ever be shaved to stay cool.
A dog’s coat is designed to protect their skin from the cold, the heat, and the sun, so shaving it off removes this important protection and can permanently damage the coat.
11. Wet your dog’s paws
Dogs let out some body heat through sweat glands in their paws, so wetting the paws may help a dog cool down at night. But this won’t have any major impact on the dog’s core body temperature as dogs are designed to mainly cool down through panting and their skin.
Some dogs enjoy having their paws wet with cool water, standing in a shallow bucket or dog pool with cool water, or standing on a wet towel to cool down.
If your dog enjoys this, then there’s nothing wrong with helping them get their paws wet on hot nights.
12. Wrap the dog in a wet towel
One of the quickest ways to cool down and keep a dog cool at night is to wrap them in a wet towel. Dampen the towel with cool, not icy, water. Wrap the towel around your dog, making sure the fur and skin get wet. Then put your dog in front of a fan or give them access to an open window or the outdoors, where there’s air to cool them down.
Don’t force your dog to stay there – let them move to where they are most comfortable.
Wrapping a dog in a wet towel cools a dog down quickly for 2 reasons:
The cool water has an immediate cooling effect on the dog’s skin. When a dog gets hot, their veins dilate and become larger, carrying more warm blood close to the surface of the skin. When the skin is cooled the blood in these veins is also cooled. The cooler blood is then carried through the veins to the rest of the body, cooling it down.
The moving air from the fan or wind speeds up evaporation of the water on the dog, which helps to cool the dog down even more.
13. Have a calm evening routine for your dog
Keeping your dog calm with a peaceful evening routine will help to keep your dog cool at night. A routine will teach your dog that night-time is the time to relax and wind down. A calm dog uses less energy and has a lower body temperature than a playful dog that is running around.
Keep exercise and play for daytime and avoid anything energetic or too exciting in the evenings.
Have phrases that you say to your dog to prepare them for the evening and getting into bed.
14. Give a hot dog space to relax
To keep your dog cool at night, leave your dog alone to sleep and relax. Make sure your dog has fresh water and a cool spot to lie in, then let your dog decide how much they want to move around and where they want to sleep.
In nature, animals that are hot spend a lot of time sleeping and relaxing. This helps them stay cooler and not use energy being active, which makes them hotter.
What is a dog’s normal temperature?
A dog’s normal, healthy body temperature ranges between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 and 39.2 degrees Celsius). Some dogs keep their body temperature a little higher or lower than this, which is fine. But anything above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) is dangerous and needs medical help.
A human’s average body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), which is a little lower than a dog’s. So, if your dog feels a bit warmer than you, then this is normal.
A dog’s body temperature can change for a few reasons, such as shock, because of a vaccine, overheating, or heat stroke.
Here are the signs that your dog is overheating or has heatstroke:
Constant, fast and shallow panting – this is the first symptom
Drooling more than usual or thick saliva
Lethargy
Weakness
Fever
Glazed eyes
Seizures
Muscle tremors
Dizziness
Uncoordinated movement
Inability to urinate
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Bright red or bluish gums or tongue
Fast heartbeat
Collapsing
The only way to accurately tell a dog’s temperature is by taking it with a thermometer.
How hot is too hot for a dog inside?
There is no rule for what temperature is safe for all dogs because each dog is different. Most dogs are usually okay in a house temperature up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) with access to cool water and air from an aircon, fan or open window. But humidity can make it difficult for a dog to cool down, even at a ‘safe’ room temperature.
Dogs pant to cool down. If the temperature gets too high and the air is humid, panting does not work and the dog may overheat.
Also, certain traits and breeds are more sensitive to heat than others and they cannot survive in the same temperatures as other dogs. See below for more details on why some dogs overheat much more easily than others…
Why some dogs overheat so easily
There are certain physical factors, traits and dog breeds that tend to overheat easily. These dogs need to be monitored and kept cool, especially on hot nights.
Dogs that …
have a thick coat or long fur coat
are very young or are still puppies
are old
are flat-faced, or brachycephalic, breeds, such as Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Boxers
are overweight
have medical issues, especially ones that cause breathing issues
are very active, such as working or hunting breeds
I'm Monique. I love animals and everything about them. "Ayo" means happy, and this is where I share all I know about having happy, healthy pets so you can have happy pets too.
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