The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.
Hot Dog! Houndish Ways to Beat the Heat
Whewwph! Geesh it’s hot these days! They wrote in the papers that it’s illegal to transport cattle at temperatures that have been the norm on London’s Underground; air conditioning on the underground can’t happen soon enough!
Most responsible vets recommend that four leggeds and two leggeds avoid direct sunlight between 10 am and 4 pm. Luckily for Specs, she’s a cat, and can hang out outside, finding shade under the ivy or in dark corners of the garden.
It’s particularly important for us hounds to stay cool in these dog days of summer, as we canines have sweat glands only on the tops of our noses and on our foot pads. For these peculiar anatomical reasons, us dogs mainly cool ourselves by panting and by a little evaporation of sweat through the pads of our paws. When it’s humid we need to be watched for heat stroke, as in humid conditions it is more difficult to cool by paw-sweating.
Veterinarian Daryl Stang of Animal Clinic Kapolei in Hawaii, America (a place renowned for its all-year hot and humid temperatures) advises curbing time spent outside for all dog breeds when the thermostat reaches the mid-80s (Farenheit). Brief exposure to sunny temperatures above 85 degrees is fine, Stang said, but if you’re walking or running with the hound in your life, keep the activity under 20 minutes, preferably running at dawn or dusk instead.
Portable water bowls, collapsible water pouches and spray bottles filled with cool water will make a journey more comfortable. Pooch visors are on the market, too. But if a dog is panting heavily, don’t let him take in too much water too quickly — and get a wilting dog into shade quickly.
Two leggeds are recommended to consider all manner of variables, such as cloud coverage, humidity, activity and their dog’s general health in gauging whether to let their dog outside.
Body temperature for felines and canines naturally hovers around 101 degrees; a temperature of more than 103 is an indicator of internal problems. If your dog’s body temperature is “over 103, you need help fast,” said Brenda Beaver, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Reactions to sun exposure include everything from sunburn to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Sensitive foot pads and bellies are especially prone to burning, and redness will be apparent on lighter-colored dogs. The ever-sensible Brenda Beaver notes that “If you can’t walk on the sidewalk in your bare feet, it’s too hot out for your pet.”
Two leggeds are also urged to think twice or thrice ’bout putting an animal in the back of a truck or car. “If you put your hand down on the bed and it’s too hot to touch, it will be the same for your dog,” said Beaver. “And black-haired dogs, or cats, heat up really fast.”
“Heat exhaustion happens more often than you think,” said Steven May, publisher of VETZ Magazine. “It’s very common.” Light-coloured fine-haired dogs such as Chinese Cresteds are especially prone to sunburn and skin cancer. Local veterinarians can recommended a non-irritating sunblock made with zinc oxide, which can be dabbed on the tops of noses and the tips of ears.
Older, younger and overweight dogs are most sensitive to heat; dogs with flat or short noses, such as pugs, bulldogs and other breeds with respiratory problems, often have the most trouble adjusting, as do long-haired dogs. Make long-haired dogs such as Huskies more comfortable by keeping their dense fur clipped short during the summer.
Early warning signs of heat exhaustion include listlessness, lethargy, glassy eyes, diarrhea, panting in cats and excessive or a sudden stop in panting for dogs, and vomiting. Take your pets’ temperature with either pet ear or rectal thermometers, but at the first indication of discomfort, go to the veterinarian or an emergency-care center; a professional can administer intravenous fluids or even oxygen, if needed.
Access to water and a shade are givens, but one can also wet down a hound’s environment to bring down the temperature several degrees. For example, in areas where there is no hose-pipe ban, soak the driveway and lane. Alternatively, put down blankets or the dog bed in a shady spot, offer bowls of fresh water and a few ice cubes, and perhaps run a sprinkler for brief periods. Or fill a kiddie wading pool for your dog to loll about in. Trees and shrubbery can also bring down the temperature by about 10 degrees.
If none of this helps, and you suspect heat stroke or heat exhaustion, it’s never to early to call the vet. Beaver notes that while waiting for help, “If an animal is down (unconscious), pack them with ice, and get the fans on them.”
When transporting a heat-stroke dog to the vet’s it is recommended that two-leggeds wrap their pooch in a cool towel soaked in lukewarm water — but take care, as semi-conscious or anxious animals may lash out with claws and teeth. Beaver advised coating fur with rubbing alcohol to immediately cool down out-of-control body temperatures before jumping into the car.
And last but not least, don’t forget that animals kept indoors can be endangered, too. It’s important in the heat that their environment (e.g. your house or apartment) is well-ventilated. But don’t over-cool a room, either — temperatures shouldn’t dip below 65 degrees. A good rule of thumb is your own personal comfort.
Awoof! Stay safe and healthy this summer!
SuperWoof! Archie
Posted 04 Jul 08
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