Help Your Pointer Keep His Cool in Hot Summer Temps

Panting helps keep your Pointer cool in two different ways. For one thing, the saliva evaporating from his tongue and inside his mouth cools your dog off the same way sweating cools you. Panting also helps exchange the warm air inside your dog’s lungs with the cooler air outside his body.

And your dog’s a Pointer, so there’s no doubt that he’s smart. If he’s outside, he’ll look for some cool shade to hang out in. But that’s just about it as far as what your Pointer is able to do to stay cool when the temps start going up. He’s literally unable to sweat.

You, though, can do a few things to help keep your Pointer safe and cool:

• Keep him inside the house as much as you can. If he must be outside, make sure he has some shady areas and a plentiful supply of water that’s kept in the shade.
• Try to keep him calm, especially during the hottest part of the day. An excited dog is usually hot.
• Never, EVER, leave your Pointer alone inside your car. Not for even two minutes, and not even when the windows are partially open.
• As the temperatures start rising in late spring and early summer, acclimate your Pointer gradually. Don’t let him get too rambunctious until he gets used to the heat.

You should also watch for signs of possible heatstroke. If you see your dog panting heavily, with reddened skin, diarrhea or extreme fatigue, drive him to the vet immediately with your car air conditioning on. He might be just overheated, but heatstroke is potentially fatal and it’s better to be safe than sorry.