Summer is here and can be brutal to your dog.  Don't forget, your dog wears his fur coat all year round.  While dogs have sweat glands in their feet, they do not have them on the rest of their body.  They rely on panting to breath out excess heat and cool down their bodies. 

Some breeds are much more susceptible to heat than others.  Dogs with thick, double coats have a harder time beating the heat.  Dogs with pushed back faces, such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Boxers, have smaller airways and therefore have less ability to blow out hot air.

Heatstroke happens when heat gain exceeds the body's ability to dissipate heat.  High temperatures cause chemical reactions that break down body cells, which lead to dehydration and blood thickening.   This puts extreme strain on the heart and causes blood clotting.  Normal body temperature for a dog is 101 F to 102 F.  If this temperature reaches 106 F, the dog is in danger of brain damage, vital organ failure and death.  Reducing the body temperature quickly is imperative. 

 

Signs of Heatstroke

First Aid

Heatstroke is deadly and is an emergency!  Cool the dog in whatever way you can and get him to the nearest veterinarian immediately. Hose him off, immerse him in cool (not cold) water, use fans, take him to air conditioning, sponge the groin and tummy area, wet his tongue, place rolled up wet towels against his head, neck, stomach, and between his legs.  

Prevention is the key!

Some dogs can fully recover from heatstroke if it is caught early enough.  Others suffer permanent organ damage and require lifelong treatment.  Sadly, many dogs do not survive heatstroke.  Prevention is the key to keeping your dog save during warmer weather.

Dear Georgia- In your February 23 issue of the Paw Street Journal there is an article about watching your dog for signs of stress. This article made me more aware of my dog's behavior while visiting facilities.



Dear Love- Absolutely!  Stepping between the dog and resident is called "blocking" and is a way to help your dog to feel safe and protected.  Your first concern in a facility is the safety and welfare of your animal.  There are many situations that a dog can encounter, not only in a facility, but in general, that can be very stressful and uncomfortable.  We should always be on the lookout for body signals from the dog, such as the "bug eyes" that you observed.  Dogs cannot verbally communicate with us, so they "talk" to us through the use of their body language.  It is important that we pick up on the messages and make sure that the dog's needs are met and that they feel safe.

• Never hesitate to remove your dog from any situation in which he or she is uncomfortable or showing signs of stress.
  

• If the dog is hesitant to approach someone, don't force it.

• Don't be afraid to calmly tell someone that they are hugging a little too tight or petting too hard.  Many times, the person does not realize that they are hurting the dog and are grateful when you bring it to their attention.
  
  
• It's O.K. and advisable to place the dog out of the reach of someone that could unintentionally hurt him. 
  
  
• It's important to remove the dog from any situation that he or she is showing signs of being uncomfortable.  You can always use excuses by speaking on behalf of your dog to make an exit, i.e. "Buddy is really getting tired.  We had better go before he gets cranky."  Saying that your dog is in need of a potty break is always a good excuse that everyone understands.

Understanding what your dog is trying to communicate to you is like learning a foreign language.  Canine Assisted Therapy is sponsoring a seminar this weekend called "Decoding Canine Body Language".  This class will show real life photos and video of the ways that dogs communicate not only with each other, but with us.  This is a great class for anyone with a dog, not just those involved in pet therapy.  - Georgia

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