In this week's issue, here's what we are sniffing out

• Why our old dogs won't tell us they're overheating - and what's changed in their bodies that makes summer riskier

• Seven small changes that keep a senior dog safe through a heat wave

• Plus: the signs of heatstroke every owner should know by heart

It’s that time of year. The time when we all have to watch our old dogs to be sure they’re not overheating before we even realize it. An old dog won't reliably tell you he's too hot. He'll lie in the sun too long because that's his spot. He'll follow you out to the mailbox at noon because he always has. He'll keep going on the walk because you're on it, and he'd rather be with you than comfortable. Our senior dogs don't complain - they compensate. And in July, that devotion can get them into real trouble before we notice there’s a problem.

Here's what's changed under the surface. An old dog regulates his body temperature far less reliably than he used to. His thirst signals fade with age, so he drinks less right when he needs more. And the heart or lung conditions many seniors live with - sometimes undiagnosed - make heat that much harder to manage. Add a coat that's gotten heavy or matted, and a hot afternoon stops being uncomfortable and starts being dangerous.

The good news: heat is one of the most preventable dangers our old dogs face. As their advocates and family members, it’s our job to make a few small changes for an enormous difference.

Seven things that genuinely help:

1. Move the walks to the edges of the day. Before 8 a.m. and after sunset are the safest windows for most of us, but you’ll need to go even earlier and later during heat waves. Before you set out, press the back of your hand to the pavement for 5 seconds - if you can't hold it there, it's too hot for his paws.

2. Make water impossible to ignore. Extra bowls around the house, a splash of water or a little low-sodium broth over his food, a few ice cubes in the bowl, or as a treat, maybe a pet fountain. A senior who won't seek water out will often drink when it finds him. If your dog will eat watermelon, cucumbers, or tomatoes, those are great water-filled snacks. Frozen pupsicles are a great mental and cooling activity!

3. Give him a cool place to land. Tile or a cooling mat, a fan down at floor level, shades drawn through the hottest hours. Fold a blanket over a floor vent for an air-conditioned bed.

4. Learn his gums now, while he's well. Lift his lip and press your finger to the gums- moist and pink is normal. Pale, dry, or tacky gums on a hot day is a red flag that he needs water and, maybe, a vet. When you press your finger into the gums, the color will drain, but should refill very quickly. If the white spot you pressed in takes more than 2-3 seconds to go away, that’s abnormal.

5. Never, ever leave him in the car. Not for a minute, not with the windows cracked or even wide open. On a warm day the inside becomes an oven faster than most people believe, and old dogs have the least ability to cope with it.

6. Know the emergency signs - and cool first. Heavy, frantic panting, bright-red gums, drooling, wobbliness, vomiting, or collapse can all mean heatstroke, a true emergency. The current veterinary guidance is cool first, then travel: get him out of the heat and pour or soak him with any water that's cooler than he is - cool or even cold is good, just not ice-cold - while a fan or breeze moves air over him, then head straight to the vet. (Ice-cold water can actually slow cooling, and the minutes you spend cooling him before the car really do matter.)

7. Don't leave an old dog outside unattended. Dogs with dementia aren’t able to problem-solve going back inside because they’re overheating, and some can’t find the door like they used to. And an old dog lying in the heat isn't always relaxing. Sometimes he has a hard time getting up, so he stays put - and then he’s overheating in a flash.

Part of advocating for your old dog is about being the one who notices - because he won't say a word until it's serious, and by then the easy fixes are behind us. In summer, we do the noticing for him.

A word for groomers

This is our season to speak up. We're the ones with our hands in the coat - we feel the mats that trap heat against the skin, and we know that shaving a double coat can actually hurt a dog's ability to regulate rather than help it unless the coat is already damaged from a lifetime of shaving. We also know the dog's baseline: the panting that's normal for him versus the panting that isn't. Keep the shop cool, offer water on and off the table, work with seniors in shorter stretches, and don't be shy about sending them home with a plain-spoken word: “It's dangerous out there this time of year, really watch his comfort in this heat.”

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

🔥 Many of us are experiencing record high temperatures, dry summers, and increasing fire risk. This is too important to skip - and one to bookmark year-round: the emergency team at VEG ER for Pets put together a genuinely excellent guide to pet fire safety, both for summers and winters. It walks through building an escape plan that includes your dog, packing a grab-and-go bag, and putting a pet-alert sticker in your window so firefighters know someone's still inside. Read more at VEG ER for Pets

🔬 And a genuinely fascinating one: Morris Animal Foundation shared an update on its canine-aging research, including early findings that male and female dogs may age differently, and that certain therapies might one day help slow the aging process itself. Slow, patient science like this is how “he's just getting old” gradually becomes something we can understand — and maybe even shape. Read more at Morris Animal Foundation

Senior Dog Meme of the Week

About the Author

Angela Dinsmoor is the Founder of Grey Whiskers and a passionate advocate for senior dogs and the people who love them. With years of hands-on grooming experience and a deep commitment to compassionate, age-appropriate care, Angela created Grey Whiskers to raise the standard for senior dog grooming through education, certification, and community. Her mission is simple: help senior dogs live more comfortably. To join the free Grey Whiskers Community for professionals and owners, click here.