Keeping your dog cool in a Kerala summer

From March to May, Kochi is hot and humid, and dogs feel it more than we do. They cool down mainly by panting, which works poorly when the air is already wet.

Move walks to early morning and after sunset. Before you step out, press the back of your hand on the road for seven seconds. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for paws. Walk on grass or in the shade where you can.

Keep water everywhere: a bowl in every room your dog uses, a travel bottle on walks and fresh water twice a day. A cool, tiled floor and a fan help. Do not shave a double-coated breed; the coat insulates against heat too. Regular brushing to remove the undercoat is better.

Learn the signs of heatstroke: heavy panting that does not settle, a bright red tongue, drooling, wobbliness or vomiting. Move the dog to shade, wet the body with cool, not ice-cold, water and call your vet at once. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, older dogs and puppies need the most care.