How Heatproof Is Your Dog?

Adjusting to heat and humidity can be challenging for some dogs. Dogs with a heavy coat are slightly more intolerant of heat than short-haired dogs. But because dogs don't sweat much through their skin, characteristics other than coat length play a greater role in a dog's ability, or inability, to dissipate heat.

One such characteristic is the short, contorted oral and nasal anatomy of pug-faced dogs, whose facial features diminish the surface area available for evaporative cooling. Another obstacle to effective heat dissipation is disease. Animals with respiratory or heart disease are predisposed to heatstroke because these systems play important roles in heat dissipation.

Also, obese dogs are seriously compromised by low surface-area-to-body-weight ratio and by excess layers of heat-trapping fat. If you have a dog with any of these characteristics, always keep it in cool, well-ventilated areas and out of environments with high heat and humidity.

On the other end of the heat-dissipation continuum are dogs with a high ratio of body surface area to body weight. These dogs are quite effective at dispersing heat. Examples include young dogs (with all that extra skin to grow into) and slender, light-boned dogs such as greyhounds. Just remember, though, any dog can develop heatstroke, but you should help prevent it from happening.