Summer Safety 101
July 21, 2009
Who better to share the summer’s outdoor activities and events with than your dog? Long walks, cookouts, festivals, dog parks, forest preserves; it’s easy to have a great time with your dog, but it’s also easy to forget some basic safety essentials.
Remember to bring water and food or treats to keep your dog happy, healthy, and involved in the fun. Most dogs don’t monitor their own activity very well, so we, as their “parents” have to check up on them from time to time. Inspect the pads of their feet throughout the day for cracks, bleeding, foreign objects, or swelling. For outings over four hours, rest times need to be enforced.
If you own a Pug, Shih-Tzu, Boston Terrier, Boxer, French or English Bulldog, or any dog with a “pushed-in face,” known as a Brachycephalic dog, you need to be especially careful with him in the heat. These dogs have physical traits that prevent them from being able to cool themselves as well as breeds with longer snouts. Since most dogs do not regulate their own activity well, the short-snouted dog may play until they reach a dangerous level of exhaustion. Be prepared to step in and decide when it’s time to take a break in the shade.
Cats are much better at knowing when to rest or move out of the sun, but they can also get sick from prolonged exposure to heat and have Brachycephalic breeds as well. Himalayan and Persian owners – we’re looking at you!
Signs of heat exhaustion include lethargy, refusing to drink water, fever, increased body temperature, panting, or dark red gums. If you think your pet may have heat exhaustion, move him to a cool place with ventilation. Use an ice pack, a package of frozen vegetables, or a frozen towel as under-bedding and wet his feet and neck with cool water to help send cool blood to the internal organs and lower his body temperature.
A common mistake is to allow your dog to drink as much water as he wants after long, strenuous activity. This can cause your dog to vomit from drinking too much water too quickly and may even lead to canine bloat! Any intake of food or water while you’re dog is still panting can cause more harm than good. A better idea is to let your dog rest for a few minutes before allowing him to drink, and then permit him to drink only small amounts intermittently.
No one wants to end a summer outing with a trip to the vet, so be prepared and be vigilant. And don’t feel like you’re spoiling your dog’s fun when you decide it’s time for a break. He’ll still love you anyway.
