Keeping Your Dog Safe In Hot Weather
Topics: dogs, dog heat stroke, dog heat exhaustion, dog hot weather, dog safety, dog training, hot weather
Reading this article could save your dog’s life! Summertime brings longer days, warmer temperatures and a need for safety. Whether you live in the far north, the deep south, the coast or the desert, the more you know about hot weather safety, the better.
For example, at temperatures of 40, 50, 60 or even 70 degrees Fahrenheit (depending on humidity levels) leaving your dog in the car can turn into a fatality. Dog heat stroke happens fast. Many places have laws about leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle and the places that don’t, should.
Think about it! If it’s 70 degrees, humidity is low but all the car windows are rolled up with a 1-3″ opening, the car is in the direct sun, or even the shade, and you’re leaving your dog in the car for more than 10 minutes, could this be a problem?
Maybe it’s 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit and you leave your dog in the car. Take the moment and ask yourself, is this safe? Ask yourself if you would be safe left in the conditions you plan to leave your dog in. Would a baby be safe? If your answer is no, then your dog won’t be safe either.
Would a police officer, animal control officer, or veterinarian scold you or possibly ticket you for leaving your dog? If the answer is yes, then don’t do it. If you have any doubt about your dog’s safety, listen to that and act accordingly.
In the spring & summer months, dog heat exhaustion & heat stroke is the main focus. Believe me, watching a dog succumb due to heat exhaustion/stroke is heart breaking. They refuse water and food, are lethargic, breath rapidly, can’t get up, are disoriented, vomit continually, have uncontrollable diarrhea and slowly die.
To protect your dog from heat exhaustion/heat stroke, read the following::
*Don’t leave your dog in the car unless you plan to leave the air conditioner running.
*Don’t let your dog run and play in the middle of the day. Take your pooch our in the early morning or at night when it’s cooler.
*Keep in mind if you live in a highly humid/tropical climate the actual heat index is 10-15 degrees higher than what the temperature gauge states. Exercise your dog when humidity is very low.
*Take stock if your dog has dark colored fur. They will get hot faster (black absorbs heat where white repels it).
*Be especially careful with short snouted dogs like pugs, bulldogs, mastiffs and shih tzu’s. These breeds overheat much faster and are highly susceptible to dog heat stroke.
*Provide shade for your dog. Buy a tarp or a sheet from the thrift store and put it up if necessary. It’s a lot cheaper than a vet bill.
*Always have fresh, clean water available for your dog. Dogs need hydration. Have a large plastic dish (metal gets hot) & leave your garden hose slightly running into the dish. A vet bill can be much higher than a water bill.
*An ice cold beer is not the answer for your dog on a hot summer day!! Alcohol is poison for your dog. Give your dog lots of cold, clean water. Some dogs like ice cubes. Give it to them.
*Please don’t tether your dog outside when it’s hot. Dogs easily get the tether wrapped around various objects and end up in the sun. This is a recipe for dog heat stroke.
*Remember your dog doesn’t wear shoes and asphalt, concrete, etc. get very hot in the summer sun. Burnt puppy pads are very painful and can become a serious infection issue quickly. Imagine yourself walking barefoot on asphalt in the summer. I did that a few times when I was young; what a mistake. Ouch! Walk your dog when it’s cooler outside and preferably in shaded areas.
*When you’re out and about with your dog, don’t let your dog drink from stagnant water sources. These often have bacteria and mold that will make your dog very sick. Vomiting dog is horrible.
*Never, ever leave your dog unsupervised around a swimming pool. They can easily drown. If you have a pool, train your dog where the stairs are located so they know how to get out. Just like children, keep an eye on your dog, at all times, when they’re in the pool area.
If any of the following occur, immediately call your veterinarian or animal emergency hospital:
*Rapid breathing with an increased heart rate.
*Your dog has discolored gums–Dogs with heat stroke have dull gray or pink gums instead of the normal red-pink color.
*Your dog is disoriented–they are unaware of their environment.
*Your dog isn’t listening or obeying commands, seems lost or scared.
*Your dog has a wild or panicked expression.
If you suspect your dog may have heat stroke, first call your veterinarian or animal emergency center. Secondly, to help bring your dogs temperature down do the following:
*Gently place a cool wash cloth on the unhaired belly area. Keep rinsing the cloth with fresh cool water and applying until your dog is calmer (this should only take about 5 minutes).
Nothing in this article is a substitute for getting your dog to the veterinarian or animal emergency hospital. Get your dog checked out if you have any doubts.
With the temperatures rising all over, be aware & make adjustments when necessary to take the very best care of your dog. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your veterinarian or veterinary technician. It could save your canine family member’s life.
Miss Debra Rae has been around animals her entire life and shares this knowledge about dogs on her website at www.goodpoopy.com. You’ll find tons of information for your furry canine family member.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Making Great Hunting Dogs (1)
There are many places to find good dogs but I personally recommend and have had the most success purchasing through a breeder. A reputable breeder will easily be able to show you purebred documentation, but you should not hesitate to ask questions about their experience in dog breeding.
Time Sharing Your Vacation Home (2)
They want to go out of their comfort zones, venture out into another country and spend the rest of their lives (or part of it) there. They want to learn more the culture of that country.
Discovering Rare Collectibles (3)
Most of the pewter supplied to Marshall Fields came from Richard Mundey, a major pewter dealer in London in the middle of the 20th century. The labels you have will probably be typed on brown luggage tags, using a combination of red and black ink, and some underlining - I know this because they are the product of Mundey's own typewriter!
The 10 Steps To Safely And Effectively Hang A Tree Stand (4)
Once you have located a 'hot spot', the next task is to find the most suitable tree that will put you in the correct position for the shooting lanes you have identified.
Are You Considering Online Motorcycle Shopping? (5)
You may want to sue the seller; at what and whose costs? If you turn out to be unsuccessful, how about your time and efforts spent? All these would have been employed towards another profitable activity.
Golf Swing Technique - Tips To Improve Your Swing (6)
Golf Swing Technique - Total Body Involvement Next time you shape up to drive, take note of the parts of your body being used to execute the shot. You'll be surprised.
Creative Ways To Display Art Work (7)
People choose to use colored mats as additional accents for the frames and these colors add to the quality of the decorative art design that has been created on a wall.
Vacation Home Rentals Compared To Staying At A Hotel (8)
If you go out it's an average of $10 a meal per person, that's $750 USD. Save the money eat half your meals at home. It's a nice change to have your own pool to swim in and a private 2 car garage to pull your car into.
How To Have An Unforgettable Tour (9)
This way, you will have no worries when you get out of your house and having the time of your life in some other place. Prepare for Take-off Leaving your sanctuary bare of people and life is definitely not a good idea if you don't feel good about it.
Training Your Dog - Pros And Cons Of Control Tools (10)
An ordinary leash and collar, or even a chest halter may be preferable. 'No-bark' collars will occassionally help with those dogs that continue to bark long after the initial impetus is gone.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
What You Must Know About Bear Hunting And The Dogs That Help Hunt Them (1)
A 5-day hunt usually cost around $1,250 for you and your hunting dogs. Bear hunting is indeed a very lucrative buiness. Just look at Colorado. Hunting business are worth an estimated $180 million annually and risng.
Behind The Fine Print Of Online DVD Rental Companies: Which Are The Best Buys? (2)
In reality, the two plans are almost identical in price. Blockbuster's most popular plan of 3 DVD's out at a time rings in the same as Netflix's comparable plan at $17.99 per month.
New Pets For Little Children (3)
Parents worry about their children being too aggressive with the pet and parents really worry when a little child picks up a kitten the wrong way because the kitten is most certainly going to scratch them.
Phuket Focus On Kamala (4)
More secluded resorts nestle higher up amongst the trees on the headland, capitalizing on the wonderful sea and mountain views, and only a few minutes walk to a sandy white beach on the northern end.
Bullfighting In Barcelona. Culture Or Cruelty? (5)
About 100 bulls are killed in Barcelona each year. A bullfight, or "corrida de toros" is a three part process, with each segment signalled by a horn. In the first round, two Picadores enter the arena on horseback.
The 13 Factors That Determine Your RV Insurance Rate (6)
Make sure you know what your out-of-pocket-expense tolerance is before you start discussing this factor. Knowing what you can afford will save you the agony of having to make a snap decision that could have a big affect on your future financial situation.
How To Shop For Treadmills - Save Your Money (7)
Commercial club units are reliable and well constructed so do look into a home version if you like how it operates. Probably the most important thing to look for in a treadmill is to know how sturdy it is.
5 Points To Choose A Moving Truck Rental Company (8)
Here are some points that you can consider. 1. Check if they have various sizes of trucks. You should know what sized truck you require before you go to pick it up.
ATV Crashes - The Eye Opening Statistics (9)
Excessive speed as well as areas of operation that are not rideable can end up being deadly. You will find that many individuals use their ATV on roads that are public which creates a higher risk of a two vehicle accident.
Choosing Thailand As Vacation Destination (10)
Luxury villas on the east coast offer the kind of peace and quiet that is more akin to Samui or Krabi. There is a sense of remoteness here, with traditional Thai fishing villages, and quiet serene beaches dotted along the coast.