25/05/2026
“Dogs in hot countries do just fine”.
A message about the heat from Nelly Noodle Nam.
Please share for other dog lovers 🐶🥰
I was born in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019 where I continued to live until 2023, when I moved to Warminster with my mum. When I arrived in England, my coat was very thin and I was shivering a lot. I had never seen snow before and I did not like it (still don’t TBH).
You see, in Hanoi, temperatures regularly exceed 40c with over 95% humidity; it’s hot hot. Like walking around in a sweaty oven hot. And, because I was born there, I am able to regulate my temperature much better than a dog that was born in England, for example. Also in Vietnam, temperatures don’t often go much less than 20c. In England, we regularly see jumps or drops of 20c+ in less than 24h which means none of us (dogs included) have had a chance to acclimatise to the heat.
Since living in Warminster, my coat has grown thicker so I shiver less, and my mum has bought me a whole wardrobe of coats. But I am still genetically different from dogs who were born here.
Firstly, I am essentially less domesticated than most England born dogs because my direct ancestors were street dogs. Because of this, I have some of those survival instincts. That means I am better able to make choices which will keep me alive, but also means I am considered more ‘anxious’ or ‘alert’ than an English dog.
A fully domesticated English born dog, like a spaniel, labrador or corgi, would be less likely to survive in the wild than me. That is not just because of my life experiences (though they do help) it is genetic instincts. That means, on hot days like today, those English dogs may choose to go for a walk or lay in the sun, when what they really need is to go inside. It’s not their fault, they have always been domesticated so their survival instincts aren’t as strong as mine.
So when humans say “if they didn’t want to be out in it they wouldn’t be” that isn’t strictly true. Our dog brains are less developed than human brains, that’s why we need you to take care of us. Sometimes that means making choices for us, like you would for a child who doesn’t want to have suncream put on. Because our brains are quite similar to a 3 year old child actually, and yours are better able to choose for us sometimes.
Secondly, while we are talking about genetics, mine are much better suited to a warm climate. I don’t drink very much water (never have) and I rarely pant, even in the heat. This is because of my physiology and biology, but also my early experiences living in Hanoi for 4 years. I have spent more of my life in a tropical, climate than a cold one.
So when people make posts saying dogs shouldn’t be walked in this heat, they aren’t wrong. However, it is a bit more complicated than saying all dogs should not go out at all in the heat and depends on many factors. Here are some factors that can contribute to whether a dog is more or less likely to get heatstroke:
🐾Breed and genetics - some breeds are more or less susceptible
🐾Country of origin - were they born here?
🐾Health conditions - underlying health conditions make dogs more susceptible
🐾Age - older dogs or puppies more susceptible
🐾Size of dog - small and larger dogs more susceptible
🐾Weight of dog - overweight or underweight more susceptible
Heatstroke kills dogs, often, and this will only get worse as our climate changes. The symptoms of heatstroke are:
🐾Heavy panting
🐾Excessive drooling
🐾Reddened or sticky gums
🐾Restlessness - this one is important as you think your dog is bugging you to go for a walk, when actually they may be starting to experience heatstroke.
If you see signs of heatstroke, get them somewhere cool, use a fan, cold water submersion (for otherwise healthy dogs) and call the vet urgently.
If you aren’t sure whether your dog will be ok in the heat, it’s better to skip a walk than to risk their life. You can test the pavement temperature with the back of your hand to make sure we don’t burn our paws. Also, early morning and late evening walks are safer.
So next time someone says "dogs in hot countries do just fine," remember Nelly. Born in Hanoi, built for the heat, and I know when to stay inside. Your English spaniel? Maybe not so much. Keep them safe this summer, and when in doubt, leave them out... of the heat, that is.
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Stay cool, from Nelly and his mum 🐾
