It's soooo HOT outside!  This is the topic for many people these days who are looking for ways to keep cool due to the summer heat.  While often the weather is just a light social conversation, in this heat for humans and animals it is much more important and personal.  When the body over heats, heatstroke can be life threatening, and while most of us have the luxury of being able to choose to cool ourselves down either with air conditioning, or other natural cooling techiniques  our furry friends trust and rely on us to look out for them.

So, we recently asked Wolf, our holistic pet friend, neighbor and co-owner of Animal Nature to share some helpful information with us on how to keep our furry friends safe and healthy in the intense summer heat that we have been experiencing.  Here is what she had to say...

"This summer is no different than others – we have already seen our first cases of dogs suffering (sometimes fatally) in the heat.  And we have all been reminded of how critical it is to keep our furry companions out of the sun, and out of cars.

But perhaps it might be helpful to know what goes on physiologically to a canine in heatstroke, so we can better understand just how little time there is to react.

A dog releases excess heat by panting, and to a small degree, through paw pads.  When he or she cannot get rid of enough heat quickly enough, and the core temperature begins to rise, some very serious things begin to happen very quickly.  The lungs begin to fill with fluid, and that is why you will notice your dog in respiratory distress. 

Your furry friend is literally drowning in the heat.  The muscles begin hemorrhage, including the heart.  And before many minutes, the brain begins to retain fluid, and then begins to hemorrhage as well. 

This can all happen in less than 10 minutes.  Please understand: you cannot be too careful with your dog in the summer.

If the sidewalk is too hot for you to comfortably walk barefoot, it is too hot for your dog’s paws.  Dog paws can and will burn.  It hurts!  Walk on the shady side of the street, or on grass.  Walk early, walk late.  And while we are all out there walking, watch out for glass, gravel, and other ouchy stuff too.  No hurty paws! 

Dogs can get sunburn too, especially short-coated pups, or ones with thinner light colored coats.  And noses!  Noses can get all burned…yikes.
If your dog does go out with you, keep the outing short, and never ever push your dog if he or she sends signals that it is time to stop. 

If you have a dog who is driven to play ball or fetch, take charge and do NOT let your dog play for more than a few minutes in this heat.  Certain dogs have such high drives they will play themselves right into heat stroke.

You can carry a spray bottle and keep your dog’s ears, chest, paws, and between the leg areas damp, and use that same bottle to offer a little water every now and then.

Keep an eye out for heavy panting or rasping sounds, flushed looking insides of ears, drooling, loss of motor control, bloody diarrhea, red or sore paws.

If your dog does get into trouble, into a lukewarm tub they go.  Cool towels between the legs and over the neck area are a decent second choice.  Be careful, though – once the temperature begins to come down, ALL COOLING EFFORTS MUST STOP.  (Yup, gotta monitor this with a rectal thermometer, folks, no way around that).  Get to a vet as soon as you can, call ahead to make sure they are expecting you.  Your dog, even if you have managed to cool him or her down, will need plenty of IV fluids and a good exam.

So how do you have fun with your dog in this kind of weather?  Best thing I can suggest is to make some yummy treats in the ice cube tray, and cuddle up together in front of the fan.  Watch The incredible Journey.  Or White Fang – I think that takes place in Alaska, doesn’t it????"
 

THANKS WOLF FOR THIS GREAT INFORMATION! 

Image: by jeremiahjw