How can I keep my Coton de Tulear cool during this hot summer?

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How can I keep my Coton de Tulear cool during this hot summer?

by Judith
(United States)

This is my first summer with my Coton Poukee, I have him in a puppy cut to help him be more comfortable, but what is the scoop on their gorgeous coat and one hundred degree Temperature?

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How can I keep my Coton de Tulear cool during this hot summer?

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Aug 18, 2010
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Too hot
by: Anonymous

I just had to chime in because I just opened the back door to take my dog out and he barely got his nose out the door and did a u-turn right back into the house. He is just not having any of this hot weather. (Had to pick him up and take him to his spot outside)

During the summer he spends the majority of his time sleeping right on the kitchen floor tile to keep cool. He only does that in the summer - during the winter he's a couch potato :)

Aug 14, 2010
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cooling my Coton on hot summer days
by: Iris Miller

I agree with Gale, and also want to add, the Coton has very pink skin, very prone to sunburn so if you feel warm, he is feeling it more (since a dog's normal temperature is higher than a human's) and they do not perspire to cool themselves down, only panting.

I get a wash cloth and soak it in cold water, then squeeze out the excess water and play with Tuffy by wiping his head and body down with it, then we play tug of war with it, so I can get a few more swipes of the cool wash cloth on him. Then I spread the cool damp cloth over a towel on the floor, he loves to lie on it.

Staying in with the air conditioning on is the best for us both on these hot muggy days.

Aug 14, 2010
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Cool Cotons
by: Gale

Extremely hot weather is rough on ALL dogs and the Coton is no exception. The Coton is more prone to sunburn due to their white coats so they shouldn't be overexposed to the sun. If your dog is going to be exposed to the heat for any length of time you can put sunscreen on his nose and tips of his ears.

It's been said that the long coat of the Coton was orignally intended to protect them from the heat of the sun in their native land of Tulear. So it isn't necessary to shave your Coton or keep him in a very short cut in the summer. The puppy cut does make grooming easier though.

But, having said that, Coton dogs are definitely not to be left outdoors for long periods of time in extreme heat. But there are things you can do to make the heat more safe and comfortable for your Coton:

Make sure to give him plenty of water
Watch out for signs of heatstroke (excessive panting, increased salivation, bright red tongue, increased heart rate, weakness, lethargy, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea)
If you want to play outside with your dog, try swimming or hosing him down
There are great products available such as cooling beds, bandannas, and collars to help keep his temperature cool
Walk your dog on the grass or dirt so he doesn't burn his paws on hot pavement.
And, of course, NEVER leave your dog in the car - this is deadly.

My dog Luc loves to be outside, but even he would rather be inside during the very hot days we're having here in Florida right now. We do most of our playing indoors during this time of year. I try to limit his outdoor exposure to early morning and late evening (except for brief potty breaks).

How do you keep your dog cool in the heat?

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How can I keep my Coton de Tulear cool during this hot summer?

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