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Cool Devices In the hottest months of the year, it's important to not forget our furry friends, especially if we humans are sitting in a comfortably air conditioned home or office all day. Your dog might be nice and comfortable inside as well, but a lot of dogs are outside more than in. Ensuring she doesn't overheat is important for the active, outdoor canine. Fresh Water and Shade These are the two most important things a dog who spents any amount of time outside needs. Dogs dehydrate very quickly in the summer sun, so be sure to refill a large water dish often throughout the day. Even if your yard is well-shaded naturally, you will still need to erect some sort of shelter from the heat. Choose a spot that in the shade, or in an area that isn't under direct sunlight. Make sure it is large enough for air to pass freely through it. Molded Plastic Pools and Sprinklers These are great for cooling hot dogs off in the heat. Fill the pool up in a shaded area to keep the water from heating. Be sure and change the water often as well, to prevent mosquito larvae from taking up residence. The best size for a plastic pool is about eight to twelve inches (for larger dogs), less for short dogs. Make sure your dog is supervised at all times, and that a smaller dog can easily get in and out of the pool. Heatstroke Can Be Fatal With the temperatures rising as we get deeper and deeper into the summer months, it is extremely important to prevent your dog from overheating. Dogs cannot tell you when their temperature rises and it is our responsibility to ensure that our pets have sufficient shelter from the sun, adequate water to drink, and a way of cooling off when the summer sun rises. Watch Your Dog's Temperature Monitoring your dog closely in high heat is not enough however. It seems that pet owners tend to drop their guard when the temperatures level off, either in the Spring and Fall, and owners think the dangers are passed. Failure to realize that exercise and subsequent confinement, whether in a hot car, crate or doghouse is enough to send your dog's body temperature skyrocketing. A dog's body temperature is normally between 101°F and 102°F. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting, expelling heat out, causing an evaporatory reaction. If he can not expel the heat fast enough, his body temperature rises. A rise of 3 degrees to a temperature of 105°F is all it takes to send your dog into a dangerous situation. At this temperature, the dog can no longer cope with reducing his body heat and the oxygen demand goes up to where the dog can not keep up, and his temperature continues to rise. When the temperature hits 108°F, the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and intestinal tracts start to begin breaking down at a cellular level, and the damage can progress at an alarming rate. Even immediate treatment and effective cooling to bring his temperature down can leave the dog with internal damage that may affect his health in long term ways. Dogs Die in Hot Cars Leaving your dog cooped in a hot car is a sure way to bring on heat stroke. A hot car is like an oven, with temperatures that can rise an astounding 34°F per minute! People have been known to break windows to retrieve dogs in danger from hot cars, if they don't do it themselves, the Humane Society most assuredly will. Early Signs of Heat Stroke * Rapid breathing * Dry mouth and nose * Rapid heart rate * Dull, greyish-pink, or red gums (This is an emergency.) Even at the earliest stage of heat stroke, you may be fighting for your dog's life. You must get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. These symptoms can be followed in minutes by collapse, seizures, coma and death. |
