Warm Weather

I am sure I will post this over and over again, but with warm weather we need to remember our Pets.
Dogs with long noses, can pant easier and expel heat from their body through panting.  Dogs with short noses, have shorter palettes and have difficulty expelling the heat through panting.  Short nosed breeds are Pugs, French bulldogs, Pugs, Pekes, Cavaliers, Griffons, Lhasa, Shitzu etc.

As I own French bulldogs and Pugs it is knowledge of first hand owner ship that I can share with you, but we must not forget the sun loving Vizsla.

The Hungarian Vizsla will bask in the sunshine to the point you do not know the dog is over heating.  First signs of over heating is lethargy, sticky drool, and collapse.   You must bring your Vizsla inside from the heat and think for your dog.  Provide bowls of fresh water inside and outside.  
If your dog is showing signs of lethargy and sticky drool, grab a bath towel and soak it in cold water.  Take to the dog and wrap dog in towel and carry to bath.  Lay dog in bath and pour cold water on the towel.  With phone in other hand ring your vet for immediate treatment. 

French bulldogs and Pugs have a bit of an understanding with heat and will lay on their stomachs on cold surfaces and spread all their body out with legs out in front and legs out behind.  They are quite clever dogs, but of course your dog must be able to get to the cold.  If they over pant it can cause the muscles in the throat to go into spasm and they can not breathe because of the way their faces are designed.  So never put your dog in that position.

You can purchase online cooling mats from amazon.  Gel filled mats which keep cool and they will go and lay on them.  Also if you go to dog events buy a cooling coat. They are made from fabric which hold water, so you can pour water over the dogs.  Personally I avoid extreme heats.

Ice and dogs:  Everything things we should give ice to dogs, but actually we must be careful.  If a dog breaks larges chunks of ice and swallows whole it can cause a spasm in the stomach.  So either hold ice for dog to lick, or put ice cubes in water and allow to melt and give the dog cold water.  Put ice in flannels and rub over dogs surface if over heated.

Fans: If you have fans use them to circulate air where your dog is sleeping.  It will help your dog sleep more comfortable. 
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Space blankets:  These silver blankets are used to expel heat but also to keep heat in.  So if you put a blanket over a crate it will keep the hot sun out.

Walking:  Walk early in the morning and late evening.  Avoid the heat of the day with all breeds of dogs. 

Transportation: Never jump into a hot car with your dog, your dog can over heat on the journey.  Cool the car down 1/2 hour before you need to travel.  Place car under tree and open all windows.  As you get in put the Air con on.  Remember metal crates will be boiling hot to touch.  If a dogs tongue licks it, your dog could get burns.

Tarmac:  For those city dwellers, tarmac gets so hot it will actually burn your dogs pads off.  Do not walk your dog on tarmac.  To find out how hot it is, use your own hand and feel the warmth.  If its that hot, do not go out.  Ideally go to a grassy area when cooler. 

Remember we all love our dogs, and sometimes we can just forget and leave our dogs in the garden.  So think dog, think heat, think safety.

​Rachel Savage