Does summer weather beckon you outside for a game of
catch with your favorite four-legged friend? Not so fast. If you're
feeling the heat, you can bet your dog is, too. And for him, overheating can be dangerous -- even deadly.
"Heatstroke
is by far the greatest concern," says Andrea Hilden, DVM, a
veterinarian with Animal Care Center of Green Valley in Arizona. A
Hebrew University study found that 50% of dogs suffering from heatstroke
won't survive.
Also known as hyperthermia,
heatstroke happens when a dog's body temperature rises above the
average 102.5 F and can't be controlled by normal cooling processes,
such as panting. Warning signs include exhaustion, vomiting, diarrhea, and, at its worst, confusion and seizures. Here's how to keep your dog cool and healthy all summer long (and even get in a few games of outdoor catch).
Follow Fido's lead.
"The No. 1 sign that a dog's core temperature is getting too high is
fatigue," Hilden says. "If you're out for a hike with your dog on a hot
day and he's searching for every shady spot to lie down in, turn around
and carry him home."
Don't let the temperature fool you.
Dogs can get overheated in weather as low as 80 F. Add in humidity and
vigorous exercise and it could be a recipe for disaster. "If you can't
comfortably sit outside for an extended period of time, then don't let
your dog do it, either," Hilden says.
Change your walking time. Dogs still need exercise
in the summer, but it's best to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
"Try going early in the morning or late at night after the sun has set,"
she says.
Don't give your dog a haircut. It
may be tempting to shave your pup's thick hair in an effort to cool him
off for the summer, but Hilden says it could do more harm than good. "A
dog's coat provides a buffer to help him regulate his body temperature,"
she says. "Trimming his hair doesn't make him any less susceptible to
heat."
Don't use ice. If your dog displays
heatstroke symptoms, wet him down with room temperature water and put
him in front of a fan. "Your first instinct might be to pack ice packs
around him or cool him off as quickly as possible, but the cold causes
his blood vessels to constrict, and when they constrict they can't
dissipate heat," she says. Call your vet and take your dog in
immediately for treatment.
Expert Tip
"The
first thing you should do if you think your dog might be suffering from
heatstroke is take his temperature with a rectal thermometer. It's good
info for your vet to know to give a better prognosis. A dog whose
temperature got up to 107 has a worse prognosis than one who only got up
to 105." -- Andrea Hilden, DVM