Dealing with the Summer Heat
Most people see the summer months as a time to get outside with the family and do a variety of recreational activities. Whether it’s hiking in the woods or swimming at the park, the entire family can be included, even your four-legged friend.
As the weather begins to break and spring turns into summer, dog owners are advised to use moderation when resuming their outdoor activities. Most veterinarians will tell you that dogs who lead a sedentary lifestyle during the off-season are in a high risk group when spring and summer time comes around.
1. Limit Activity and Plan Accordingly
Moderation is the key to properly conditioning dogs for summertime activities. You would never think of going out and running 5 miles the first time you go running. Instead, you would start slowly and over the course of months you would build up to your ultimate goal. The same principles hold true when exercising your dogs. Limit your initial activities and gradually increase the duration over time.
It is also important to plan your activities during the cooler times of day. Early morning and late afternoon are ideal times to get out and enjoy time with your dog. If you’re thinking of take your dog for a daily walk, early morning is the best time. Eight hours of the sun pounding down of the sidewalks and asphalt can really make it uncomfortable for your four-legged friend. Your dog’s pads can quickly burn when exposed to the hot blacktop.
If your dog has long or double coat, a summer haircut can help dissipate body heat. Make sure when you bring your dog to the groomer he/she does not cut your dog’s hair too short as this will greatly increase the chance of sunburn. Just like humans, dogs can be burned by the sun so it’s important to limit your activity to times when the sun is most intense. Typically the midday (between 11 am and 3 pm) is the time when the sun is at its highest point and its rays are the most harmful to you and your dog. Like humans, dogs with lighter colored coats tend to be fairer skinned and more sensitive to the sun’s harmful rays.
2. Keeping Your Dog Cool
When a humans get hot we sweat. It’s through sweat that we are able to cool our bodies. Dogs perspire through their mouths by panting. The hotter they get the more they pant. Even though dogs don’t sweat and benefit from the thermal transfer of heat through sweat, you can help your dog overcome the effects of heat by keeping him in an area with moving air. The air blowing across his body will help keep him cool through radiation and conduction.
Shade, Shade, Shade! Be sure there are trees, a picnic table, a covered patio, etc around you so your dog can retreat to if he wants to. Dogs know what shade is, and they will absolutely find it if it exists.
You need to make sure your dog has a cold source of fresh water the entire time he is outside. If you are going to be out for a long time, you need to make sure there’s enough water to last. And in the heat you will need a lot of water.
There are products designed specifically to help keep your pet cool. Miracool Mats is a unique, reusable, cooling pad that helps keep dogs cool on hot summer days. Water-activated crystals keep mat cool for days with one 30-minute soaking in cold water.
Kool Collars are also an extremely effective, unique dog cooling product. The Kool Collar uses melting ice to act as sweat on your dog. It's easy, durable and extremely effective.
3. Recognizing Heat-Related Problems
The onset of heat stroke can be quite subtle and difficult to detect. Your dog may slowly progress from heat stress to heat exhaustion and finally to heat stroke. In addition to an increase in the dog’s body temperature from a normal temperature of 101.3, the signs of heat related problems are labored breathing, excessive panting, bright red gums, fatigue sometimes leading to collapse and even unconsciousness. It is important to get your dog out of the heat as soon as possible at the first signs of heat related problems.
It’s also advisable to wet your dog down with cool, tepid water or applying cool towels directly to his body to help dissipate the heat. Please note, you DO NOT want to bath your dog in ice cold water. This will cause your dog’s blood vessels to restrict and will cause a slower recovery time. In the event of an emergency, seek medical attention for your dog immediately, even if he seems to have fully recovered.
--Dr. Hinson
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Dr. Hinson is a mixed animal veterinarian in Tampa, FL and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
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