DOGS - HOT WEATHER AND HEAT STRESS
Heat stress can be fatal to dogs. Days with high humidity will make the dog pant, if heavy panting should last for an hour their throat will become swollen and his air intake will be restricted. If he gets to the point where the dog is making peculiar noises in their throat: tongue off-colour; convulsions; refuses to drink water or lick ice, the dog is in trouble and needs your immediate attention. Prolonged panting will produce thick froth or foam. In this the dog does not have the ability to vomit thus clearing their throat for better air intake. To clear the dog’s throat you can reach in and pull out the thick mucus, or use lemon juice this cuts phlegm loose, causing the dog to vomit. The number one priority is to cool the dog down fairly rapidly. The head and neck should be cooled down firstly, so that blood going to the brain is cooled, in turn preventing brain damage and settling down respiration rate. Heat loss comes through places with minimal hair such as the dog’s belly, anus, and paws. The best way to cool all three areas at once, is to stand the dog in a small belly-deep wading pool, try to make the dog to sit down in the water to cool the anus or place their behind underneath a running tap. Some dogs prefer to lie down in the water; this is why we suggest a small wading pool.
*Puppies are susceptible to heat stress, as they like to run around and keep up with family members.*
PREVENTION OF HEAT STRESS
Prevention as they say is better than a cure
Here at Majestueux Kennels we do continue to show out dogs through the harsh hot humid Queensland summer, all of our dogs have cool coats on unless in the ring. We also walk the dogs during summer with their cool coats on. The majority of the exercise through summer, is done in water. Temperature often sits in the mid to high 30 degrees Celsius (90-100 F) and humidity high 80%.
Cool Coats must be wet to be effective, if dry they will heat the dog.
Heat stress can be fatal to dogs. Days with high humidity will make the dog pant, if heavy panting should last for an hour their throat will become swollen and his air intake will be restricted. If he gets to the point where the dog is making peculiar noises in their throat: tongue off-colour; convulsions; refuses to drink water or lick ice, the dog is in trouble and needs your immediate attention. Prolonged panting will produce thick froth or foam. In this the dog does not have the ability to vomit thus clearing their throat for better air intake. To clear the dog’s throat you can reach in and pull out the thick mucus, or use lemon juice this cuts phlegm loose, causing the dog to vomit. The number one priority is to cool the dog down fairly rapidly. The head and neck should be cooled down firstly, so that blood going to the brain is cooled, in turn preventing brain damage and settling down respiration rate. Heat loss comes through places with minimal hair such as the dog’s belly, anus, and paws. The best way to cool all three areas at once, is to stand the dog in a small belly-deep wading pool, try to make the dog to sit down in the water to cool the anus or place their behind underneath a running tap. Some dogs prefer to lie down in the water; this is why we suggest a small wading pool.
*Puppies are susceptible to heat stress, as they like to run around and keep up with family members.*
PREVENTION OF HEAT STRESS
Prevention as they say is better than a cure
- Always ensure that your dog has adequate shade and fresh water. If the dog for some reason has to be left in a confined area ensure that:
- Ventilation is more than adequate.
- Shade is available.
- Ventilation is more than adequate.
- When the weather is hot always leave a wet towel or newspaper over part of the area where they are kept. Also if you freeze some water (in a large dish) it can be left out for the dog to lick and it will gradually melt (You can also put the ice block onto the towel for it to melt).
- Electrolyte salts can be help to prevent heat stress. Bicarbonate of soda is the main salt lost during heat stress. Half a teaspoon of bicarb can be added to food to replace salts lost.
- If traveling in a car, always travel with plenty of ice water. An esky with a towel in it and a bag of ice. Ice for cooling water and the towel is wet and cold for wiping over your dog.
- Never place the towel over the dogs back, when suffering from heat stress, as heat rises and the towel will trap in the heat.
- Never allow puppies or dogs to run and play in the heat of the day. When exercising in summer, walks should be taken early in the morning or dusk as it starts to cool down. If not at home please have your dogs where they can't fence run.
- It is a good practice to have ice cubes in the freezer at all times in case of an emergency.
Here at Majestueux Kennels we do continue to show out dogs through the harsh hot humid Queensland summer, all of our dogs have cool coats on unless in the ring. We also walk the dogs during summer with their cool coats on. The majority of the exercise through summer, is done in water. Temperature often sits in the mid to high 30 degrees Celsius (90-100 F) and humidity high 80%.
Cool Coats must be wet to be effective, if dry they will heat the dog.
