| Reading this article could save your dog's life! | | | | plastic dish (metal gets hot) & leave your garden |
| Summertime brings longer days, warmer | | | | hose slightly running into the dish. A vet bill can be |
| temperatures and a need for safety. Whether | | | | much higher than a water bill. |
| you live in the far north, the deep south, the | | | | *An ice cold beer is not the answer for your dog |
| coast or the desert, the more you know about | | | | on a hot summer day!! Alcohol is poison for your |
| hot weather safety, the better. | | | | dog. Give your dog lots of cold, clean water. |
| For example, at temperatures of 40, 50, 60 or | | | | Some dogs like ice cubes. Give it to them. |
| even 70 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on | | | | *Please don't tether your dog outside when it's |
| humidity levels) leaving your dog in the car can | | | | hot. Dogs easily get the tether wrapped around |
| turn into a fatality. Dog heat stroke happens fast. | | | | various objects and end up in the sun. This is a |
| Many places have laws about leaving an animal | | | | recipe for dog heat stroke. |
| unattended in a vehicle and the places that don't, | | | | *Remember your dog doesn't wear shoes and |
| should. | | | | asphalt, concrete, etc. get very hot in the |
| Think about it! If it's 70 degrees, humidity is low | | | | summer sun. Burnt puppy pads are very painful |
| but all the car windows are rolled up with a 1-3" | | | | and can become a serious infection issue quickly. |
| opening, the car is in the direct sun, or even the | | | | Imagine yourself walking barefoot on asphalt in |
| shade, and you're leaving your dog in the car for | | | | the summer. I did that a few times when I was |
| more than 10 minutes, could this be a problem? | | | | young; what a mistake. Ouch! Walk your dog |
| Maybe it's 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit and you | | | | when it's cooler outside and preferably in shaded |
| leave your dog in the car. Take the moment and | | | | areas. |
| ask yourself, is this safe? Ask yourself if you | | | | *When you're out and about with your dog, don't |
| would be safe left in the conditions you plan to | | | | let your dog drink from stagnant water sources. |
| leave your dog in. Would a baby be safe? If your | | | | These often have bacteria and mold that will |
| answer is no, then your dog won't be safe either. | | | | make your dog very sick. Vomiting dog is horrible. |
| Would a police officer, animal control officer, or | | | | *Never, ever leave your dog unsupervised around |
| veterinarian scold you or possibly ticket you for | | | | a swimming pool. They can easily drown. If you |
| leaving your dog? If the answer is yes, then don't | | | | have a pool, train your dog where the stairs are |
| do it. If you have any doubt about your dog's | | | | located so they know how to get out. Just like |
| safety, listen to that and act accordingly. | | | | children, keep an eye on your dog, at all times, |
| In the spring & summer months, dog heat | | | | when they're in the pool area. |
| exhaustion & heat stroke is the main focus. | | | | If any of the following occur, immediately call your |
| Believe me, watching a dog succumb due to heat | | | | veterinarian or animal emergency hospital: |
| exhaustion/stroke is heart breaking. They refuse | | | | *Rapid breathing with an increased heart rate. |
| water and food, are lethargic, breath rapidly, can't | | | | *Your dog has discolored gums--Dogs with heat |
| get up, are disoriented, vomit continually, have | | | | stroke have dull gray or pink gums instead of the |
| uncontrollable diarrhea and slowly die. | | | | normal red-pink color. |
| To protect your dog from heat exhaustion/heat | | | | *Your dog is disoriented--they are unaware of |
| stroke, read the following:: | | | | their environment. |
| *Don't leave your dog in the car unless you plan | | | | *Your dog isn't listening or obeying commands, |
| to leave the air conditioner running. | | | | seems lost or scared. |
| *Don't let your dog run and play in the middle of | | | | *Your dog has a wild or panicked expression. |
| the day. Take your pooch our in the early | | | | If you suspect your dog may have heat stroke, |
| morning or at night when it's cooler. | | | | first call your veterinarian or animal emergency |
| *Keep in mind if you live in a highly humid/tropical | | | | center. Secondly, to help bring your dogs |
| climate the actual heat index is 10-15 degrees | | | | temperature down do the following: |
| higher than what the temperature gauge states. | | | | *Gently place a cool wash cloth on the unhaired |
| Exercise your dog when humidity is very low. | | | | belly area. Keep rinsing the cloth with fresh cool |
| *Take stock if your dog has dark colored fur. | | | | water and applying until your dog is calmer (this |
| They will get hot faster (black absorbs heat | | | | should only take about 5 minutes). |
| where white repels it). | | | | Nothing in this article is a substitute for getting |
| *Be especially careful with short snouted dogs like | | | | your dog to the veterinarian or animal emergency |
| pugs, bulldogs, mastiffs and shih tzu's. These | | | | hospital. Get your dog checked out if you have |
| breeds overheat much faster and are highly | | | | any doubts. |
| susceptible to dog heat stroke. | | | | With the temperatures rising all over, be aware & |
| *Provide shade for your dog. Buy a tarp or a | | | | make adjustments when necessary to take the |
| sheet from the thrift store and put it up if | | | | very best care of your dog. If you have |
| necessary. It's a lot cheaper than a vet bill. | | | | questions or concerns, talk with your veterinarian |
| *Always have fresh, clean water available for | | | | or veterinary technician. It could save your canine |
| your dog. Dogs need hydration. Have a large | | | | family member's life. |