Loving dog owners: don't let your pal suffer in the heat....

[hlthe2b]

At the risk of stating the obvious for most of our higly aware DUers, given the nationwide heatwaves I hope all will help remind their friends, neighbors, and even strangers on the street on the risks of heat to their hairy best friends. While most people have finally gotten the message about how deadly a car can be-- even with open windows and a partially shaded vehicle-- there are other issues that don't seem as intuitive.

As elsewhere, in Colorado, we've been having a wave of days well into the 100s, yet I continually see people walking, and even running their otherwise athletic dogs in the intense sun of noon to mid/late- afternoon. Beyond the fact they are frying the pads of their poor feet on hot concrete, the dogs are having to run in conditions that approach that of an inactive, grossly overweight human-- given their heat-trapping fur coats. Even short-haired dogs suffer. Their need to pant to release heat, rather than sweat, places short-nosed dogs (pugs,shih-tzus, boston terriors, bulldogs, and the like)at especially high risk from overexertion and heat stroke. In addition, many urban areas are trapped under a layer of ozone and particulate pollution and that adds to both human and animal risk.

There have been a number of incidents of young healthy kids suffering fatal heat stroke, while similarly engaged in football or other athletic practice, during the heat of the day. Please don't let your dog suffer the same fate, no matter how fit and convinced of your own ability to tolerate the heat. We really need to sve the long walks/light runs for very early morning or well after the sun has gone down and leave the really long runs for a return of normal, more moderate temps.


Letting dogs swim, where possible is fine, but a tip on cooling them down with your water bottle... If you want to spray your dog down to cool them further (while in the shade, of course), spray their belly. The hair is thinner, with less undercoat there, which allows the water to reach the skin and evaporate to cool them. Conversely, if you spray down their back--as I've been seeing owners do a lot lately--the water is trapped within their layers of hair and essentially becomes a steam sauna for them as the hot sun shines down. Spray their belly, not their back...

People are generally well intentioned with their pets (and their children) in this country. Despite my severe sense of helplessness and depression over global events and the widespread suffering of innocent people, that does give me a bit of hope for the future. Right now, my pups are my hold on sanity, as I suspect they may be for others. Please don't let them suffer as a result of your best intentions.... :loveya:

[Road Scholar]

1. Thank you! Well said! nt

[Wcross]

2. I can't get my guys to jump in the pool I bought them.

Is there any trick to it? They go swimming in the pond which is about a quarter mile away but will not get in the pool! (like the one you have)
I really don't like them getting in the pond because the cows also use it and they have no class. (forget about not peeing in the pool- they poop in it!)

[hlthe2b]

3. I'm not able to have a pool...

for my pup right now. She, though, is a veteran, since puppyhood, of late night "sneaks" into the park fountains nearby (which would get us a ticket if caught). While she's never been one to jump into a lake or pond right away, she would always be ready to join other dogs "illegally" enjoying the fountains. We've always laughed about the "thrill of the illicit" with this one!

But, I did have a kiddie pool for my lab-mix several years ago.. Like your dogs, she was always hesitant to swim (Lab or not)... but would follow me anywhere. If I got in, she'd get in and sit there with me... She eventually found it might be nice, even when I wasn't around...

[susanna]

12. Have you gotten in it with them to entice them?

I'm sure you probably have...I think they feel more comfortable if the owner gives them their lesson on what it's for. :-)

Well, that was true in my case anyway...my girl would have NOTHING to do with her little wading pool until I started jumping in and out of it, sitting in it, and just generally making a game of it all. After a while, she caught on that it was cool on her feet, that it felt good, and then she became much more attached to it. I bet your dogs are just being a little cautious if it's something "new" to them.

[calico1]

4. When it gets really bad I turn the AC on

in the bedroom and set it to "energy saver" setting. I set it at around 68 degrees, keep the blinds closed and turn the TV on to TVLand! My Rottie and one of my cats hang out there practically all day and the others go in and out as needed. :)

[hlthe2b]

5. My 70 pound "little" girlie is now stretched out in my bedroom...

on 2/3 of my queen bed-- dozing under the concurrent breezes of an a/c vent, a fan and an ice-water-filled swamp cooler with the black-out shades on the windows... No dummies are these, eh?

She's surely dreaming of a Bobby Kennedy JR presidency, as I've got AAR's Ring of Fire on in the background. Smart girl! :toast:

[calico1]

7. Hehhehe...

How cute. You should see what I have to go through to get into bed at night. I am usually in the computer room or living room until 10 or 11. When I go in there is usually a cat stretched out in my spot. The looks I get...and the attitude! Like "who do you think YOU are? I was here first!"
My Rottie gal usually starts on the floor and sometime during the night she will hop up on the bed. But she likes to lie down diagonally on the bed so my hubby and I have to scrunch ourselves around her and whatever cats are in bed. The things we do for them! :)

[Immad2]

6. Great advise and a super picture!

:thumbsup: :hi: :applause:

[cobalt1999]

8. we have a doggie door to an air conditioned game room

They usually lounge around in there most of the summer days.

[Beausoir]

9. What a beautiful post! My pal is doing just great right now!

My lovely Boxer, named Diva, is living the life of luxury right now. We're at the lake cabin in Minnesota. She swims a little and then comes inside to the a/c comfort and takes a wee nap on the chair. Lather, rinse, repeat.

If only ALL dogs and cats were as lucky.

My neighbor chains his dog up all freaking day in the hot sun. I am thisclose to calling someone about it.

And..on the highway drive today, I saw 3 cats that had been hit by cars.

How can people just let their cats roam around??

[hlthe2b]

10. Nothing makes me smile like a happy, tail-wagging doggie

I hope you will talk with your neighbor... How horrible the poor dog has to suffer for his thoughtlessness....

[susanna]

11. Absolutely dead on...

Excellent post. My "squirrely-girl" Akita mix died in January, but she taught me all the lessons you mention over our long (12) years together. She, who loved a good walk, would NOT walk in the mid-day during summer. I finally figured it out after several of her quite adamant refusals (balking on the leash when she was normally very obedient). I also made sure of having a shallow wading pool. She would never wallow in it like a water dog; she would stand in it, like a statue, for fifteen minutes or so to cool the paws of her feet. It always seemed to make her more comfortable in the worst weather.

Of course, her bed was under the window air conditioner in the bedroom. All attempts to move the room around over the years only led to her reclaiming the space during summer - to heck with where her bed was actually located. :-)

Thanks, hlthe2b, for a great reminder post. And by the way, your sig pic is absolutely adorable. What a treasure!

[BensMom]

13. Be careful of ponds and lakes

Ponds may bring parasites, skin problems and other bacteria.
We have Toxic Algae in my area that can be fatal for pets.

I half fill a 2 liter pop container with water and freeze it.
It makes a fun 10 minutes for pooch.

[XemaSab]

14. Where do you live?

You should get a profile! :P

[Beausoir]

15. Wow. Here in Minnesota, at least in my neck of the woods...the lakes are

clean and pose NO threat to dogs.

Just curious about that liter bottle....after you freeze it...do you float it in the lake so the dog chases it?

Always looking for new doggie games!