walking Kitty in 36 degrees

Kitty is 12 now and she still wants her walk every morning, even when it is basically a sauna outside. We go out at 6 am, which is the only time it is bearable in Bang Sue. By 7 the sidewalk is already too hot to put a hand on.

I learned this the hard way last month. She was walking slower and slower near the park and then sat down in the shade and would not get up. I carried her home, wrapped her in a wet towel and put her on the tiles for a while. She was fine after about 20 minutes but the vet said it was too close to heat stress and I should have turned around earlier.

So now the rules are simple. Walks are short, about 10 minutes, and we stay on the grass or the shady side of the road. I carry a bottle of water and a small collapsible bowl. I check the pavement with my wrist, if I cannot hold it for 5 seconds it is too hot for her paws. Kitty does not care about any of this, she just wants to sniff every tree on the way.

She also does not like the cooling mat I bought, she lies next to it and gives me the look. Then in the evening she sleeps right on the tile floor by the AC anyway, so I guess the mat was just for me.

The vet mentioned a cooling vest for senior dogs. I have not got one yet. Maybe next summer, if she is still around for it.