Question on keeping your dog cool?

[bonitaMoss]

If most of your heat is released through the top of your head, is a dogs heat released through its back? Would shaving a strip down your dogs back help keep it cool? What do you folks think?...shane

[rmcallister]

All I know is that would look really pretty odd.

[FemaleCheetah]

You could take your dog to the groomer to be shaved or at least have their fur cut shorter to make them more comfortable.

I do not think shaving just a line down the back will keep them cool.

[MokeyBird]

It has always been my understanding that dogs lose a lot of thier heat from thier chest, thier feet and from panting. When you see a dog lie in water to cool off, they will always soak thier stomachs. You don't see them spending a lot of time on thier backs (unless you have a dork of a dog like one of mine) in water or anything to cool thier backs.

I think my obedience instructor mentioned that the only place on a dog that sweats is between the toes, and sure enough, when working in a concrete floored building one night, Basil's toes left moist paw prints on the floor, so I believe it. Hah.

Let me find the topic I made a while back about keeping dogs cool in the summer.

[MokeyBird]

http://www.petshub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73400

There you go!

[DragonSpirit]

Ice really works. Maybe a swim in the pool or pond. Or spray them with the water hose. Crank up the cold.