Greyhounds in Hot Weather: Keeping Your Hound Cool
They'll lie in a sunbeam until they're too hot to touch. That doesn't mean they're built for a heatwave.
Every greyhound owner knows the sunbeam shuffle. The patch of sun creeps across the living room floor and the hound creeps with it, inch by inch, until by mid-afternoon they're wedged against the patio door like a croissant warming in the oven.
They adore warmth. They're also surprisingly rubbish at coping with heat.
Why heat catches greyhounds out
Greyhounds carry very little fat and a thin, short coat, which is exactly why they need pyjamas in January. In summer, the same dog that shivers in a light breeze can overheat alarmingly fast, especially once they start running.
And they do run. A greyhound doesn't jog. They go from sofa to full speed in a couple of seconds, and they'll happily carry on long after they should have stopped, because nobody told them it's 26 degrees.
What the research says
A UK study of more than 900,000 dogs under vet care in 2016 found that pet greyhounds had 4.26 times the odds of heat-related illness compared with Labradors. Greyhounds were one of nine breeds at higher risk in that study. Older dogs, and dogs heavier than average for their breed, were also more likely to be affected.
The same researchers found that most heatstroke in UK dogs isn't caused by hot cars. In their study, 74.2% of cases were triggered by exercise. In other words, the walk is the risky bit.
"Most heatstroke in UK dogs isn't caused by hot cars. The walk is the risky bit."
How we handle hot days
- Walk early or lateDawn and dusk walks in summer. Midday is for lying on cool tiles.
- Check the groundWe press the back of a hand on the pavement for a few seconds. If it's too hot for us, it's too hot for paws.
- Shorter and slowerA gentle, sniffy stroll beats a run. No ball, no zoomies, no "just one more lap".
- Shade and waterFresh water at home and on the walk, and somewhere shady and cool to flop.
- Cooling matsSome of our hounds love one. Others treat it as a personal insult and lie next to it.
- Skip it altogetherOn the hottest days, a missed walk does no harm. Your greyhound will forgive you. They'll probably thank you, from the sofa.
- Never leave them in the carNot even for five minutes with the window down.
Signs a hound is overheating
These are the signs we watch for on a warm day:
- Heavy, fast panting that doesn't settle with rest
- Drooling, or a very red or dark tongue and gums
- Restlessness, wobbliness or seeming confused
- Lying down and refusing to move
- Vomiting, diarrhoea or collapse
The old advice to use only tepid water or damp towels is out of date and doesn't cool a dog as quickly. Many retired greyhounds are older dogs, so the second option is often the one we'd reach for.
The good bits of summer
Summer with a greyhound is mostly lovely: long lie-ins, cool floors and early walks while the rest of the street is still asleep. Keep them out of the midday sun, let them have the coolest spot in the house and save the running for cooler days.
They'll be back chasing the sunbeam by October.
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Sources
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10:9128. (greyhounds 4.26 times the odds compared with Labradors; nine higher-risk breeds; older and heavier dogs at greater risk). Link
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Dogs don't die just in hot cars: exertional heat-related illness (heatstroke) is a greater threat to UK dogs. Animals, 2020, 10(8):1324. (74.2% of cases triggered by exercise). Link
- Royal Veterinary College. The RVC urges owners of hot dogs to "cool first, transport second". Link
- Royal Veterinary College. Heatstroke in dogs and cats (fact file). (cold water immersion for young, healthy dogs; evaporative cooling for older dogs or those with health problems). Link
