Spring & Summer Safety for Dogs - Warm Weather Hazards continued

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Spring & Summer Safety for Dogs - Warm Weather Hazards

continued

Know The Signs Of Heatstroke

Heavy panting is the first sign followed by huffing and puffing - a staring expression - warm, dry skin - failure to respond to hearing his name - rapid heartbeat - profuse salivation - vomiting or collapse. If left untreated the dog will become unconscious and die.

If your dog should become overheated, you must take measures to cool him and lower his body temperature immediately. Move the dog to a cool place, out of the sun and give him water. Immerse an overheated dog in cool, not cold, water or very gently pour cool water on him. Place ice packs on his head and neck. A fan, placed in front of the dog will aid in evaporation. See a veterinarian, but only after you cool the dog.

According to Dr. William Fortune, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University:

"Dogs become less efficient at cooling themselves as the humidity rises. Just like people, dogs are cooled by evaporation. The problem with high humidity is that it decreases evaporation and slows down the cooling process. This time of year we hear a lot about the heat index, which is a measurement of both the temperature and the humidity level, and that is what an owner needs to pay close attention to. There are other factors that hinder canines' ability to cool themselves. They only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet and on their nose, which are inadequate for cooling during hot and humid days. Panting helps dogs cool themselves but they still aren't as efficient at cooling themselves as people are."

Don't tie your dog outside, especially in hot weather. Chains on dogs tied to trees or poles can easily become tangled, making it impossible to reach shade and water. If, for any reason, it's unavoidable for a short time, put the dog in a shaded area and provide lots of water in a heavy spill proof container. Use a standard nylon, fabric or leather buckle-type collar. Never hook a tie-out chain to a choke type training or correction collar any time of year. Make sure there's nothing your dog can reach to get the chain tangled on. Remember that shady areas might become hot and sunny areas as the day progresses.

Keep medium and long haired dogs especially well-groomed in summer. A well-groomed heavy coat protects the dog from the sun and acts as insulation from the heat. When long or thick hair becomes tangled and matted, the mats may trap the heat instead.

Some dog owners who spend a lot of time outside in summer, keep a molded plastic child's wading pool in the back yard for their dogs to play in and cool off in the summertime. Since dogs will inevitably drink their pool water, no matter how many bowls of fresh clean water are nearby, and since it will get dirty much faster than a pool used by many rowdy children, change the water at least once a day.

Never walk your dog mid-day during a heat wave. Skip long walks altogether or limit walks and outdoor exercise to early morning or late evening for any dog, young or old. You're wearing shoes and might not think about how hot sun drenched sidewalks and roads can become. When air temperatures approach 100 degrees, the surface temperature of asphalt can cause second degree burns on a dogs paws in as little as 10 minutes of walking. Don't expect a normally faithful dog to suddenly refuse to follow you. Some dogs will do anything to stay by their master's side.

A dog with a "fair complexion" can get sunburned. If your dog has a thin, light coat and you plan to take him outside for any length of time on a sunny summer day, apply sunscreen to his nose and ears about 1/2 hour before going out.

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continued

Know The Signs Of Heatstroke

Heavy panting is the first sign followed by huffing and puffing - a staring expression - warm, dry skin - failure to respond to hearing his name - rapid heartbeat - profuse salivation - vomiting or collapse. If left untreated the dog will become unconscious and die.

If your dog should become overheated, you must take measures to cool him and lower his body temperature immediately. Move the dog to a cool place, out of the sun and give him water. Immerse an overheated dog in cool, not cold, water or very gently pour cool water on him. Place ice packs on his head and neck. A fan, placed in front of the dog will aid in evaporation. See a veterinarian, but only after you cool the dog.

According to Dr. William Fortune, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University:

"Dogs become less efficient at cooling themselves as the humidity rises. Just like people, dogs are cooled by evaporation. The problem with high humidity is that it decreases evaporation and slows down the cooling process. This time of year we hear a lot about the heat index, which is a measurement of both the temperature and the humidity level, and that is what an owner needs to pay close attention to. There are other factors that hinder canines' ability to cool themselves. They only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet and on their nose, which are inadequate for cooling during hot and humid days. Panting helps dogs cool themselves but they still aren't as efficient at cooling themselves as people are."

Don't tie your dog outside, especially in hot weather. Chains on dogs tied to trees or poles can easily become tangled, making it impossible to reach shade and water. If, for any reason, it's unavoidable for a short time, put the dog in a shaded area and provide lots of water in a heavy spill proof container. Use a standard nylon, fabric or leather buckle-type collar. Never hook a tie-out chain to a choke type training or correction collar any time of year. Make sure there's nothing your dog can reach to get the chain tangled on. Remember that shady areas might become hot and sunny areas as the day progresses.

Keep medium and long haired dogs especially well-groomed in summer. A well-groomed heavy coat protects the dog from the sun and acts as insulation from the heat. When long or thick hair becomes tangled and matted, the mats may trap the heat instead.

Some dog owners who spend a lot of time outside in summer, keep a molded plastic child's wading pool in the back yard for their dogs to play in and cool off in the summertime. Since dogs will inevitably drink their pool water, no matter how many bowls of fresh clean water are nearby, and since it will get dirty much faster than a pool used by many rowdy children, change the water at least once a day.

Never walk your dog mid-day during a heat wave. Skip long walks altogether or limit walks and outdoor exercise to early morning or late evening for any dog, young or old. You're wearing shoes and might not think about how hot sun drenched sidewalks and roads can become. When air temperatures approach 100 degrees, the surface temperature of asphalt can cause second degree burns on a dogs paws in as little as 10 minutes of walking. Don't expect a normally faithful dog to suddenly refuse to follow you. Some dogs will do anything to stay by their master's side.

A dog with a "fair complexion" can get sunburned. If your dog has a thin, light coat and you plan to take him outside for any length of time on a sunny summer day, apply sunscreen to his nose and ears about 1/2 hour before going out.

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