JUNE 29, 2012 - DOGS AND THE HEAT
Summer is the season most of us look forward to
for outdoor activities, but dogs don't do as well in hot weather as people
do. Sometimes it's kinder, and far safer, to keep your dog at home. But
whatever you do and wherever you go, keep these tips in mind:
Be aware that not all dogs handle heat in the same way. Dogs lose heat through evaporation from their nasal
passages and tongue. This means that dogs with flat faces are less able to lose
heat. As a rule, the bigger the dog and the flatter the face, the more prone
they are to overheating. Overweight and old dogs have an even greater risk, as
do dogs with thick fur.
Fur coats can be hot. Fur provides some amount of protection from the sun, but thick fur
prevents body heat from escaping and promotes overheating. It's a myth that
shaving a dog's coat makes him hotter. Shaving it to the skin can make him
vulnerable to sunburn, but cutting the fur to about one inch can help
him stay cooler. If you don't want to shave him, brush as much undercoat as you
can out, and be sure no solid mats are there to trap heat and moisture.
Don't exercise your dog when it's warm. He wanted to run, so you took him jogging. You only noticed
he was in trouble when he started to stagger, then fell. His breathing is
rapid, his gums red, and he has thick, profuse saliva. He's in full blown heat
stroke, and you must act fast to save his life. See later in the article for
instructions.
Unfortunately, veterinarians see far too many dogs in this
situation every year, many of which succumb. Dogs overheat before people do, so
even though you may be just a little warm, your dog can be lethally overheated.
On warm days, exercise your dog first thing in the morning, late at night, or
only where he can cool off in water. And beware of hot asphalt!
Keep your dog out of parked cars. You only meant
to be gone a minute. But once in the store, you got distracted, you forgot just
how hot it was outside, and by the time you came back, a crowd was around your car.
This time you were lucky. A broken window, the scowls of onlookers, but your
dog is alive. Next time he might not be.
Studies show that the temperature inside cars can heat to lethal
temperatures within 30 minutes even if the weather outside is relatively cool.
Regardless of outside air temperature, cars heat up at a similar rate - gaining
80 percent of their final temperature within 30 minutes. Cars that start at a
comfortable 72 degrees F (22 degrees C), for example, soar to a deadly 117
degrees F (47 degrees C) after 60 minutes in the sun. Cracking the windows
scarcely affects the temperature inside.
Nobody keeps statistics on dog deaths from being left in cars, but
about 30 to 40 children die in parked cars each year. Considering that dogs
aren't allowed in most places children are, and that dogs overheat more quickly
than children, it's likely that hundreds of dogs die in closed cars every year.
Be prepared for travel emergencies. You're driving with your dog on a hot day, enjoying the air
conditioning. Suddenly the car dies. As you wait for help, the temperature is
rising, and your dog is starting to get overheated. If you have water, offer
some to him, and pour some over him. Next time, prepare by bringing a cooler
with ice and a small car-battery-powered fan. Soak your dog and a towel in ice
water, have him sit on the towel, and aim the fan at him. Air blowing over your
dog's wet skin and fur cools him just as your sweat in a breeze cools you.
Provide for comfort at home. You left your dog in the yard, but the day turned out hotter
than you expected. Next time, provide for your dog's comfort before you leave.
Be sure he has a place that's shady all day long. Buy a kiddy pool and fill it
with water so he can soak in it and cool off. If possible, aim a fan at him
from a sheltered place so he has a breeze. If your dog is left inside, you may
need to run the air conditioning, or at least a fan. If the weather is very
hot, you may need to find a way to guard against electrical outages while
you're away. Some pets have died when the electricity, and thus
air conditioning, unexpectedly went off during the day.
Spring can be just as hot. Just because it's
spring (or fall) don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Many people
who are aware of summer heat hazards fail to take the same precautions in
spring, when their dogs may still be wearing their thick winter coats. Don't be
caught off guard!
Cooling a Hot Dog. Don't plunge an overheated
dog into ice water. This causes the peripheral blood vessels to contract,
actually trapping the overheated blood at the body's core -- just where it does
most harm. Instead, cool the dog slowly by placing him in cool water, or by
draping him with wet towels and aiming a fan at him. Offer him plenty of cool
water.
If you have a thermometer, cool him until his temperature reaches
103 degrees F (39 degrees C), then stop, as it will continue to decline. As
soon as you have him cooling, race him to the veterinarian. Even if he appears
to have recovered, he needs to go to the veterinarian because some delayed but
deadly effects can still occur even days later.
Not All Dogs Can Swim! Although swimming is a great exercise in warm weather, make
sure your dog can swim first! Some breeds, such asbulldogs, French bulldogs and
Pekingese, have the swimming ability of cinderblocks. And even good swimmers
can drown in backyard pools if they don't know where the steps are to climb
out.
Dogs and UV Rays. Dogs, especially light-skinned dogs, can get sunburn and
melanoma. If you dog likes to sun worship, rub a sunblock on his belly and the
top of his nose, the most common sites for sunburn.
