Summer Dog Care in India: Grooming Through the Heat

From Delhi’s dry 45°C afternoons to Chennai’s sticky humidity, Indian summers are hard on dogs. (Winter brings its own challenges - see winter dog care in India.) They can’t sweat the way we do – they cool down mostly by panting and through their paws – and they’re walking on surfaces that can be far hotter than the air.

Good summer care is less about special products and more about timing, shade, water and a sensible grooming routine.

Walk early, walk late

• Walk in the early morning and after sunset, when the ground has cooled.
• Keep midday outings short – a quick toilet break, in the shade.
• Shorten walks on the hottest days, especially for flat-faced breeds (Pugs, Shih Tzus, Bulldogs), puppies, older dogs and heavy-coated breeds.
• Carry water on longer walks.

Hot pavements and paws

Tar roads, paving and parking areas soak up heat and can stay hot long after sunset.

The seven-second test:place the back of your hand flat on the pavement. If you can’t hold it there for seven seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

• Walk on grass or shaded paths where you can.
• Check the pads after walks for redness, blisters or peeling.
• Clean the paws after every walk with a no-rinse Paw Cleaner – street dust, grit and residue all come home on the pads. (More on paws.)

Keep them cool at home

• Fresh water, always – refill it often, and keep a second bowl in another room.
• Shade and airflow – fans, open windows, and a cool tiled floor to lie on.
• Never leave a dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes, even with the windows down.
• Avoid strenuous play in the heat of the day.

Grooming a double coat in summer

Brush out the undercoat

For Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Huskies and many Indies, regular brushing is the most useful summer grooming you can do. Removing loose undercoat lets air move through the coat and keeps it from matting.

Trim – don’t shave

Shaving a double-coated dog is generally not recommended: the coat helps regulate temperature and protects the skin from sun, and it can grow back unevenly. A tidy trim of the feet, belly and feathering – or a shorter cut for single-coated breeds like Shih Tzus – is a better summer choice. More in Golden Retriever grooming and hair fall vs normal shedding.

Bathing in the heat

A bath can be a welcome refresh, but summer doesn’t mean bathing every day. Bathe when the coat genuinely needs it, with lukewarm to cool water and a gentle, sulphate-free dog shampoo such as Furrytail’s Gentle Daily Shampoo.

Then dry the coat thoroughly – a damp undercoat in humid heat is how skin trouble and musty smells start. Between baths, a waterless Dry Foam Shampoo freshens the coat without soaking it. See how often to bathe your dog.

Ticks and fleas peak in the warm months

Warmth and humidity bring more ticks. Run your hands through your dog’s coat after walks, especially around the ears, neck and between the toes, and use a plant-based tick and flea spray before walks in tick-active areas. Read ticks, fleas and the Indian dog.

Know the signs of heatstroke

Heatstroke is an emergency. Watch for:

• heavy, frantic panting and drooling;
• bright red or pale gums;
• weakness, wobbling or collapse;
• vomiting or diarrhoea;
• confusion or unresponsiveness.

If you see these, move your dog to a cool, shaded place, offer small amounts of water, wet the coat with cool (not ice-cold) water, and get to a vet immediately.

A summer care checklist