Brought to you by: Doody CallsIt’s a beautiful day, sunny and warm. You park your car, with your dog inside, and dash into a store. “Hey, it will only take a few minutes,” you say. Even a few minutes is sometimes all it takes to fry a dog’s brain or kill him. Cars heat up fast. On an 80-degree day, a parked car can become twice as hot in minutes. Parking in the shade or rolling down a window or two may not help much. One expert advises that if the temperature is over 60 degrees, don’t even think about it. If you put in him in danger in this way, in some states, you’re breaking the law! And as for jogging in the summer sun: Don’t take him running on a hot steamy day. Remember what dehydration does to you and your children. Dogs need water – and, sometimes, plenty of it. Remember: dogs get heat stroke too – this isn’t just a people thing!
Heat stroke (hyperthermia) happens when the body can no longer successfully regulate its temperature. This occurs when air temperature exceeds body temperature and the body sends excessive amounts of blood to the surface of the skin. This deprives critical internal organs of adequate blood supply. The vital organs then begin to shut down. This process is accelerated when the body lacks sufficient fluid. The signs of heat stroke are easy to spot: excessive panting, blackened tongue and/or gums, anxiety, lethargy, vomiting, disorientation, dizziness, rapid pulse, confusion, uncontrollable thirst, glazed eyes, and uncharacteristic clumsiness or lack of coordination. If you see one or more of these symptoms and it’s hot, suspect heat exhaustion. The first thing you should do is cool your dog off: squirt some cool water into his mouth, give him a bowl of water (not ice cold water), wet his body, especially chest, neck, and throat (but do not cover him, even with a wet towel), and you might even immerse him in cool water. And, of course, move to a cool location. The point is to get his temperature down and hydrate him. Then call your vet – in severe cases hydration or the use of drugs may be necessary. The very best way to “treat” heat stroke is to be an intelligent dog owner and NOT allow it to happen. If it does, it’s hard to think of an instance when it won’t be your fault.
Dog’s perspire a little around their paws, but their primary means of controlling body temperature is panting. They wear a coat throughout the year, and they simply cannot control their temperature as well as humans. While you may be perfectly comfortable, your dog may feel awful. Young, old, sick, or overweight animals or breeds with narrow nasal passages are particularly sensitive to the heat. The latter include the Bulldog, Shihtzu, and Pekinese. Overweight dogs have a problem because heat does not quickly escape through the extra layers.
Dogs, of course, are both sensitive and tough. The trick is not to ask them to do things in the hot weather that evolution has not designed them for or that conditioning has not prepared them for. No dog would ever choose to be locked in a hot car – he’d instinctively know that he could get really sick or die in there. If you and your dog are out running or walking, give him small amounts of water regularly – this is far more beneficial than a long drink each time you think one of you is thirsty. Be a good friend: carry a bowl and a water bottle just for him. Also, swimming or running in water is a pleasurable way to exercise a dog in warm weather. And, of course, place his dog house in a nice cool, shady, breezy location – raising it off the ground on a platform that air can flow through will help keep it cool.
For additional information on the proper care of your dog in the summer heat, visit the following Web sites:
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