Do You Have a Cool Dog or a Hot Dog? The Dangers of the Summer Sun
By Rose Smith
Summer is usually a time of rest, relaxation, vacations and fun activities for the whole family - which often includes the family dog as well. However, just like any other season, summer has its own hazards which you need to look out for such as sunburn, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. These are specific hazards that can threaten not only humans, but animals as well.
Unfortunately, many dogs are exposed to these serious dangers all too often. Dogs often get locked up in cars while their owner just "runs into the store for a minute". That "minute" (which is usually more like 10 to 20 minutes) can mean the difference between life and death for your pooch.
Don’t be regretful after something horrible happens. Take some simple precautions and actions to prevent these hazards from happening to your pet.
- Never leave your dog in the car without an air conditioner on. On a sunny day with an outside temperature of 77F (25C), the interior vehicle temperature can reach 96F (35.6C) within ten minutes. It’s the same even if you’ve parked your car in the shade with the windows cracked open. In twenty minutes it will reach a temperature of 106F (41.1c) and 110F (43.3C) within half an hour. No matter how good your intentions, most errands often take at least 10 minutes. While you're in a cool, air-conditioned environment, your dog could be dying of heat stroke. Leave your pet at home or leave the car running with the air conditioner turned on. (Carry an extra set of keys with you).
- At home, make sure your dog has a shaded area to lie in outside. If you're using a dog house, make sure it is also shaded and well ventilated. Any dog house will become extremely hot inside within a short period of time if the sun is beating directly upon it.
- Keep your dog in the house during the hottest part of the day.
- Make sure your dog has access to cool, clean drinking water during the day. Place the water dish in the shade, not in direct sunlight. Change the water often as you don't want it to become stagnant.
- When traveling, even for short distances, bring a dish and some fresh bottled water to give to your dog as needed.
- If you tend to leave your dog outside most of the time, then provide a small child's wading pool filled with water. Place it in the shade as well. In this way, your pet can jump in and cool off as needed.
- When taking your dog for a walk, keep him on grassy areas. If you stop for any reason, make sure your dog stays on a grassy surface. Surfaces such as sidewalks, paved roads, rocky areas, and beach sand become extremely hot under the direct intense heat of the sun. You know how much these surfaces can burn your own feet. They can also burn your dog's pads as well!
- Don't travel with your dog in the back of an open truck. The surface is often metal and can seriously burn your dog's feet. On top of that, the metal gives off additional heat making it very hard for your dog to cool down. With the sun beating down on him severe sunburn can result, along with heat stroke. Put your dog in the cab of the truck or leave him at home.
Signs of Heat Stroke And What To Do About It
Taking these simple, common sense measures can make a huge difference for your dog. If your pet reaches a body temperature of between 105 to 100 degrees F you will most likely see signs of potential heat stroke. Here's what to watch out for:
If your dog displays any of these symptoms, get him out of the heat immediately and into the shade. Use cool wet towels to bring down his temperature. If possible, place him in a tub of cool (NOT COLD) water. Do not use very cold water or ice as these will constrict the blood vessels and won't allow your dog's body to release the heat. Take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Heat stroke is very serious and should be considered an emergency situation.
(c) 2007, Rose Smith. Explore the benefits of natural dog health care. Find information on topics such as: dog nutrition, dog health problems and solutions, grooming, behaviour training and more. Be sure to visit us today at http://www.caringforcanines.com
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