Hot weather dog safety/dog heat stroke awareness may save your furry family member or a friend's cuddly canine. Whether you and your pooch live in the far north, the deep south or the desert, arm yourself with the safety tips presented here. At temperatures of 60, 70 or 80 degrees farenheit (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. The places that don't should.
Let's think about this. It's 70 degrees, humidity is low, the car windows are rolled up with a 1-2" opening, the car is in the direct sun, or even 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 farenheit and you leave your dog in the car. Is it really safe?
Would you be safe & comfortable in the conditions you leave your dog in? If the answer is no, then your dog won't be safe either. Would a police officer, animal control officer or veterinarian scold you or ticket you for leaving your dog? If the answer is yes, then don't do it. If you have any doubts about your dog's safety, listen to that and act accordingly.
Believe me, watching a dog succumb due to heat exhaustion/heat stroke is heart breaking. They refuse water and food, are lethargic, breath rapidly, can't get up, are disoriented, vomit, have uncontrollable diarrhea, and slowly die. _____________________________________________
To avoid dog heat exhaustion/heat stroke, do the following:
*Don't leave you dog in the car unless the air conditioning is running.
*Don't let your dog run in the middle of the day. Let your dog go for it in the early morning or at night when it's cooler.
*Keep in mind if you live in a highly humid climate, run your dog only when humidity is very low. Watch your heat index!
*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.
*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!! Give your dog lots of cold, clean water.
*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.
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Remember your dog doesn't wear shoes and asphalt, concrete, etc. get very hot in the summer sun. Burn't puppy pads are very painful and can become a serious issue quickly. Imagine yourself walking barefoot on ashphalt in the summer. Ouch! Walk your dog when it's cooler outside and preferably in shaded areas.
When you're out & about with your dog, don't let them drink from stagnant water sources. These often have bacteria & mold that will make your dog very sick.
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 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.
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Immediately call your veterinarian or animal emergency hospital if any of the following occur:
*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.
*Your dog has a wild or panicked expression.
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If you suspect your dog has heat exhaustion, first call your veterinarian or animal emergency hospital, then to help bring your dogs temperature down:
*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).
*This is not a substitute for getting your dog to a veterinarian's office. Get them checked out. It could save their life.
Be aware of the temperature & make adjustments when necessary to take the very best care of your dog. Your dog depends on you for their care. Do a good job. The rewards are priceless!
