Keeping elderly dog cool

[40somethingJBJ]

She’s 13 and really, really struggling :( She’s not been walked for two days as she just can’t cope. She’s being wet regularly, is on a cool mat on top of her bed in the coolest room in the house (still 27 degrees), with a cool coat and her own fan. She’s not panting as such, just laying there breathing ridiculously fast. She always suffers in the heat, but it’s getting worse the older she gets. She’s being clipped on Tuesday, although she’s not exactly long, but I keep her short because of the heat and because she’s a bit incontinent and it’s easier to keep her clean. We’ve even been out for a drive with the air con blasting (my fingers were freezing!) and she’s still struggling. Not sure what else to do, I’m worried about her to be honest :(

She’s eating and drinking fine, but she’s just so bloody miserable. Am I missing something else I should be doing?

Really sounds like you are doing all that you can for her. Perhaps get a second cool mat and pop one in the fridge - switch them out every hour or so. Or switch with a cool damp towel as an interim .
Poor souls, it’s very hard on them.

We’ve got several cool mats dotted around. Reluctant to put them in the fridge though as she’s incontinent but she does move around from her bed to the mat by the door etc, so they’re getting rested. Just feel so sorry for her.

Curtains closed.
Ice cubes in water
Paddling pool.
Spritz with water or bottle of iced water in front of fan to cool.
Freeze carrots.
Pray for cooler weather!!

I sympathise. My boy is almost 16 and a big old shaggy lad.

I make him electrolyte popsicles out of chicken flavour oralade hydration fluid

I started out just freezing it in yoghurt pots, but I’ve now bought some silicone popsicle moulds off Amazon, which are great, because it means I can give him enough to cool him down at regular intervals throughout the day.

It seems to be far more effective than all the external cooling options we’ve tried.

He also seems to get relief from one of these cooling towels around his neck.

I use kongs ( or those bones filled with meaty stuff once she's finished them - she's not a chewer so they're not broken) fill them with dog food pate and freeze them. She has them regardless of the weather because they're a nice slow treat that she has to work at but it really settled her after yesterday's hot walk. My dog walker fills silicone bowls with salt free stock and puts veg in it too. Seems to help.

Brilliant, thanks. I’ll definitely try freezing some stuff for her, I didn’t think of that. Damn this weather! I’m not a fan at all. We were booked to go away this weekend in the caravan but I cancelled because it’s just too hot for her.

Two years ago I did absolutely possible to keep my best friend ie JRT cool ,I used a fan , cool mat ,wet tea towels…poor Mille who was 12 years old and had Cushing disease had to sadly be PTS …absolutely heartbroken.I hope your doggie will be ok .💐

I freeze dog treats in a ice cube tray for my elderly Jack Russell, plus he loves to shower, and loves the watering can in the garden under the shade!

Have you had her checked at the vets as it does seem a bit abnormal , my sister has a 19 yr old dog and she’s fine in a coolish room with a fan going .

She’s been at the vets regularly and she’s in great health. She always suffers in the heat, so it’s not abnormal for her, it’s just getting worse each year.

I bought an aircon unit last year for the really hot days. Its a good investment B&Q or screw fix. A decent one will set you back nearly £300 but you can use it ever year. Its 16c in my room now outside its a different story.

A bowl of iced water in front of her fan will give her, her own air con.

I make him electrolyte popsicles out of chicken flavour oralade hydration fluid

That is such a great idea...I'm going to store that for future reference!

Armpits are the places on dogs that have the most blood vessels close to the surface without being near any major organs. A cold flannel in her armpits will help lower her blood temperature - like humans putting cold water on our wrists.

It's rough - I also have an old boy and where we live it's 34 degrees at the moment - but it sounds like you're doing all you can.

Very cold water in a rubber hot water bottle is sometimes better than a cool mat as you can refill it as it starts to get warm. Open the windows but close the curtains to keep the sun out.

Cool towel? Wet to activate and wrap around ddog..cost me a few quid...

She’s been clipped today and seems much happier now. She’s not breathing as fast and is wagging her tail a lot more. Bloody hate this weather!

Pic of newly clipped dog, on her cool mat doing her best sad eyes

Oh that face. A very patterdale look!!

@Wolfiefan

Oh that face. A very patterdale look!!

She’s border collie x poodle, but she does look very patterdale in the face when she’s clipped short.

She's such a cutie!

Put her feet in cold ( not freezing) cold water. It really helps.

Haha. That is such a manipulating look. “I'm hot. I'd feel soooo much cooler if I ate some fresh steak. You would if you loved me, mum.”

Ah border terriers. The original judgy dogs.

You can get dog cooling vests that you dampen with water and it cools them down

Awww, love her!! That face!!🥰
My long haired German Sheherd has moulted (every bloody where) in the last fortnight, and follows me round panting - which then makes me feel too hot😕
I have fans all over the house and keep the curtains closed but the daft mare goes outside chasing flies!!
It’s awful for most animals at the moment, hopefully the heat will ease off soon.
Love and cuddles to your Ddog, you’re doing all you can for her🐾