Spring has sprung in many areas of the country and it is heading into just plain hot in others. Now is the time to get out after a long cold winter and enjoy the great outdoors with your dog. However, just as the summer heat can be hard on you, it can be deadly for your dog. As humans we can do a lot to combat the effects of summer heat and humidity. We can dress cooler, carry water, get in the shade or air conditioning and best of all we can sweat. Sweating is our body’s natural cooling system. Dogs have much less body area that can be cooled in this way. The pads of their feet and noses are cooled by evaporation and they can pant, which also helps cool them. Older dogs and short faced dogs have an even harder time staying cool. Rising humidity makes it harder for us to stay cool as the air is moist and evaporation does not occur as quickly. The same is true for dogs. On top of all this is the fact that many dogs have a long coat that works against the cooling process.
So what do you do with your dog in the summer? Lock them up in air conditioning all day, move to Canada, shave them down? No, no and NO!!! There are some simple things all dog owners can do to make it a safe and fun summer outside with your dog. The number one thing all dog owners can do to protect against heat stroke in their pets is NEVER leave them in a car unattended. Sounds so simple to many of us, yet dogs die every year because people just don’t think about how hot it can get in a car in just a few minutes. Even on a day we would consider mild, the temperature in a car can soar to over 130 deg. in a short period of time. Also make sure that your dog has access to plenty of cool water during all outside activity. Water left in the sun can quickly become too hot to drink. If your dog stays outside for extended periods then make sure they also have access to shade. It is also a good idea to limit running and other strenuous activities to early morning or late afternoon. That’s a good thing for you, too.
Many people think that shaving a dog down in the summer is the best way to keep them cool. However, unless you have a dog that is typically shaved down, like poodles, cockers or schnauzers, I would have to respectfully disagree (and sometimes strenuously so) with that school of thought. If you have a long haired dog with an extremely think coat and you feel you must trim them for summer don't shave them down to the skin. Leave some coat (1.5" at least) so that they don't also risk sunburn. Your best course of action is to keep them well groomed during the summer. Make sure they are brushed and combed often to keep the undercoat from matting against the skin and allowing air to circulate through the coat to cool the skin.
Some signs of heat stroke in dogs are:
- Rapid panting
- Bright red tongue
- Red or pale gums
- Thick, sticky saliva
- Depression
- Weakness and/or Dizziness
- Vomiting and/or Diarrhea
- Shock leading to Coma
If one or more of these should occur it is imperative that you treat immediately, before taking the dog to the vet. A ride to the vet can take 10 to 15 minutes and those are minutes you can't spare. You must find water to cool the dog's body by wetting it thoroughly. Make sure the water is cool and not cold. Cold water constricts the blood vessels which is opposite of what you want to happen. You need to fan the dog or get it in a car with the air condition turned up. The goal is to get cool air circulating around the dog. If the dog is conscious give cool water to drink, but don't force it or try to get an unconscious dog to drink as chocking will occur. Once the body temperature is 103 deg. F it is time to get them to the vet as soon as possible.
Check out this video for an overview.
Check out this video for an overview.
Make it a safe summer everyone. Stay cool and hydrated and make sure you help your dog do the same. There are many product on the market that you can use on your dog to keep them cool to start with. Kool Collar make a great product that you can add ice to the inside of the collar if outside or the freezer packs if inside and you don't want the dripping water mess. There are bandanas that you soak in water and beds that have a cool gel inside. All of these are great products to use in the summer heat.
As always .... Enjoy Life - Have Fun With Your Dog.
