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When the Heat is On: How to Protect Your Dog from Heat Injury

Paragon Pooch — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 17:44:40 +0000

Summer’s here and it’s a great time to enjoy the outdoors, especially with our dogs. We need to be careful, however, to protect our furry friends from the dangers of overheating. Knowing the signs, as well as how to treat and prevent heat injury, will help you keep your dog safe while you both are having fun in the sun.

How Dogs Keep Their Cool

Dogs have a fairly limited body cooling system. Dogs sweat very minimally and only through their footpads, so this is not a significant means of cooling. A dog’s main cooling strategy is panting. When a dog pants, air flows over the tongue and throat area and helps cool the blood sent to the tongue by the heart. That cooler blood then circulates through the rest of the body back to the heart, to start the process over. Dogs can also lie on a cool surface, if available, and their heat is transferred. You may often see dogs dig an indentation in the dirt so that they can lie on the slightly cooler, freshly dug earth.

There are physical factors that affect the ability of a dog to be able to cool their body. Brachycephalic breeds like Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Boxers are notorious for overheating. Due to breed-related airway abnormalities such as small nostrils, long floppy palates and tonsils, and narrow, weak windpipes, brachycephalic dogs can overheat very quickly. Another consideration is whether a dog is conditioned to living in a hot climate. Just like people, it can take dogs some time before they acclimate to the warmer temperatures if they are used to living in a cooler region. A dog’s health, age and physical fitness also play an important role. Dogs who are not accustomed to exercise and exert themselves in hot weather can suffer heat stroke very rapidly. This is especially true if they are overweight or elderly.

When They Can’t Take the Heat

Heat stroke progresses through three stages. It begins with heat stress where a dog is needing to work hard at keeping their body cool. Initially, a dog will pant heavily, their tongue red, enlarged and extended in an effort to maximize that air circulation. You may notice increased salivation, an anxious expression, staring without seeing, failing to respond to commands, skin that is warm and dry, fever, rapid pulse, fatigue or exhaustion, muscular weakness, and physical collapse. They will seek a cool surface, and drink water to bring their body temperature down.

If a dog cannot do these things or cannot do them effectively (such as when trapped in a hot car), heat stress develops into heat exhaustion and heat injuries can start to set in. The panting becomes much faster, heart rate elevates, the gums become red and tacky, and body temperature is likely greater than 40 degrees Celsius.

If this goes unaddressed, heat stroke develops. Symptoms can include a warm nose and foot pads, glazed eyes, heavy panting, rapid pulse, a dark red tongue, fever, dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea, immobility, and unconsciousness. Brain damage occurs when the body’s temperature reaches 41° to 42°C. A dog’s normal temperature is 38° to 38.5°C.

First Aid

If your dog experiences any of the above symptoms, provide immediate first aid. Your rapid response may save your dog’s life. Reduce your dog’s temperature by moving them into shade and immersing her into cool water beginning with the head and extremities. If possible, apply ice packs to their head and neck. Apply wet towels to the abdomen, groin, legs, head, and neck.

After cooling, take your dog to the veterinarian. Do not wait to see if they improve, as heat stroke can be deadly in a matter of hours.

Even if they seem to have recovered, their body temperature could increase again; heat stress always carries a risk of brain damage; and depending on the dog’s age, physical condition, and the amount of time spent with an elevated temperature, complications can occur.

How to Keep Cool When the Heat is On

Your dog’s coat is designed to protect him from weather extremes. Regular grooming is a necessity, especially for dogs with a thick undercoat,

Dogs who appear to have thick tufts of uneven hair throughout their coat definitely need the old undercoat brushed out. Single-coated dogs can actually be at a disadvantage. They may need more protection against sunburn and heat because they lack that protective undercoat. Whatever you do, avoid the myth about shaving your dog’s coat to make him cooler.

Many dogs enjoy playing or lying down in a hard plastic kiddie pool containing a few inches of fresh, cool water. This is a much easier way to wet down your dog to cool him off than using a hose. Wet the belly, groin area and the under the armpits of the front legs. You should not wet their backs because it can actually make them hotter by trapping the heat closer to the skin.

Make sure when your dog is outside that he has shade and plentiful fresh water. Keeping it cold and fresh may encourage your dog to drink more. Replenish frequently and add ice cubes. If you plan to visit a dog park, choose one that has water nearby for swimming and playing.

If you’re going for a walk or hike in hot weather, always carry along water and a bowl for your dog. Dogs pant to release heat. So if your dog pants more heavily than usual, slow down, stop, find shade, offer water, and rest for a while. When in an urban area, first test the temperature of the pavement before having your pooch walk on it. Place your bare hand on the pavement or sidewalk for 10 full seconds. If the temperature feels comfortable to your hand, then it should be safe for your dog. If not, forgo the walk until surfaces have cooled down.

Hot Cars Kill

Many owners prefer to take their dogs with them as they run errands around town. This could be a deadly practice, especially in the summer months. Many people believe if they park in the shade and crack open the windows, all will be well as they make a quick pit stop, but they couldn’t be more wrong. When the outside temperature is just 26°C, your car can reach a deadly 46° in less than 30 minutes. Either leave your dog safely at home, or take them in the store with you. Canadian stores that allow dogs include:

Home Depot
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Most pet stores
Winners
Homesense
Marshalls
Canadian Tire

The stores listed here may be location dependent. Call ahead to be sure if they are pet-friendly.

Your dog depends on you for everything they love and need. It’s your job to keep them happy, healthy and safe. Knowing how to recognize, treat, and prevent heat injury will help your dog enjoy the summer happily and safely along with you.

The post When the Heat is On: How to Protect Your Dog from Heat Injury first appeared on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.

The post When the Heat is On: How to Protect Your Dog from Heat Injury appeared first on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.

Christmas With No Calamity: How to Enjoy the Season With Your Pets

Paragon Pooch — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 23:00:52 +0000

The Christmas holidays are a busy, exciting and sometimes stressful time of year. And this holds true not just for humans but also for their furry friends. There are often new people coming to the house, a dazzling Christmas tree in the living room, interesting presents lying around, and all sorts of food -some of it even at doggie nose level on the coffee table! With all the new sights, sounds and heightened activity, it’s easy to understand how your pet could feel quite overwhelmed. It can also pose many hazards that could seriously harm your pet if not managed properly. With proper foresight, supervision and management, you and your pet can both enjoy this season safely and hopefully with little stress.
CHRISTMAS HAZARDS
Christmas trees
That tree can be full of temptations to some dogs, especially curious, playful puppies. The ornaments can seem like great toys (some in the familiar shape of balls) or things to chew. A puppy may find the string of lights looks good to sink his teeth into and get himself electrocuted. Pine needles can pose problems if your pup chooses to sample them. The needles can get stuck in their gums, causing them significant distress, upset their stomachs or lodge in their guts, requiring a vet’s intervention to remove. Don’t allow your pet to drink the Christmas tree water. It can contain chemicals leeched from the tree that are dangerous for animals (and humans) to drink.
If your dog shows any interest in the tree, either put up a portable fence around it to keep him away from the dangers or block his access to the room where the tree is put up with doors or baby gates, if possible. Otherwise, never leave your dog unsupervised if he has access to the tree. Keep his water bowl full so that he won’t feel the need to access the tree’s water, and make sure he has other things to occupy him such as chew toys or food puzzles.
Other plants that may be around during the holidays can be toxic to your pets such as mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias and cause vomiting and diarrhea. Keep these out of reach to prevent this mishap.
Open flames – Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and candlelit dinners may make the season bright, but one misdirected tail wag or bump to a table can topple candles and light things up more than planned. Dogs often love to curl up by the fireside, but be sure there is a screen that protects inquisitive pets from being singed and prevents sparks from escaping and landing on a slumbering pooch. Supervise your dog at all times when there are open flames.
Presents also can pose their share of hazards to curious or opportunistic pups. If dogs take to taking apart a bow or try to eat ribbon, they can get lodged in their throat or gut and cause a trip to the vet. Wrapping paper is easily torn and potentially eaten. As it’s not digestible, it could get stuck in your dog’s intestinal tract. When the kids tear open their presents, be sure to put Rover in another room with a chew toy or food puzzle to occupy him. Make sure that all kids’ toys are safely put away off the floor or anywhere Rover can get at them. They often have small parts that can easily be a choking hazard or cause big problems if they make it to his digestive tract.
The Feast is not for the Beast
At Christmas parties and dinners, there are many delectables that are tempting to humans as well as dogs. Unfortunately, many may also contain ingredients that can be quite dangerous to our furry friends. These include:
Chocolate, grapes, raisins, garlic, candies containing Xylitol – all are toxic to dogs
Alcohol has the same effect as it does on humans, but because dogs are smaller can pose greater risks
Caffeinated drinks pose a similar risk, causing hyperactivity, restlessness and even seizures if the dose is high enough.
Table scraps- Of course, we want our pets to have some special treats at Christmas time. It seems almost cruel to not let them have a bit of the roast after they’ve had to endure its delectable smell while it was cooking in the oven all afternoon. The safest bet is for your dog to stick to its kibble and dog cookies. The last thing you want at your Christmas party is to be cleaning up your pet’s vomit or diarrhea. Fatty foods such as gravy, poultry skin or greasy bits from the roast should be avoided or only given in small amounts as they are difficult to digest. I treat my dogs by cooking up the giblets (organ meat) that are often included with buying a whole goose, duck, chicken or turkey, and adding them to their dinner or using them for super high-value training treats. Be sure to avoid giving them any table scraps that may contain any of the foods previously listed as dangerous.
Bones- Cooked bones should not be given to dogs as they are prone to splinter and cause damage to a dog’s mouth, throat, stomach and intestines. Small bones from poultry run the same risks. Raw bones are less likely to splinter, so are somewhat safer, however, any build-up of bones in the gut can cause great problems for your pet. If you do choose to give your dog a bone, vets recommend that the bone be about the size of the dog’s head. Keeping with the common thread of this article, supervision is always advised. Remove the bone if you see your dog splintering it, if it has reduced to a size that the dog could fit entirely in its mouth, or if your dog is getting too carried away with guarding it in an aggressive manner.
Presents for Puppy
If you are going to put anything under the tree for Rover, be sure to make sure it won’t give him more trouble than pleasure. If your pet has any allergies, check the ingredients on any edible treats before feeding them to your dog. Make sure that chew toys are made from safe materials and are the appropriate size for the size of your dog to avoid choking. Check toys for loose or removable parts that could be chewed off or swallowed. Know the difference between a play toy and a chew toy and be sure to use them for their intended purposes. Balls, tugs, stuffed and squeaky toys should be used for play under supervision and be put away when the play session is over. Chew toys should be made of animal hides or durable plastic that are made for chewing.
Not Everyone is a Party Animal
Unless you entertain on a regular basis, your dog probably won’t be that accustomed to having all sorts of strangers in his home. For many dogs, this can be very overwhelming. Some react by being the center of attention, jumping on guests, stealing food off tables, barking and being a general nuisance. Others respond by hiding away, evading unwanted attention, or warding off well-meaning guests who try to interact with them with snarls or snaps. Both types of dogs need their “Fortress of Solitude” to keep themselves and your guests safe and happy.
If you are in the midst of training your dog proper manners around guests, this is definitely the time to put him away, as this is often the ideal situation for your dog to learn or practise bad behaviours. There may be kids running around and playing, tempting Rover to chase and nip; that uncle who will feed him food from the table, and that friend who allows him to jump all over her saying, “Oh it’s okay, I don’t mind. I like dogs!” If you don’t want all your manners training getting flushed down the toilet, put Rover away in his crate or another quiet place with a safe chew toy or food puzzle. You’re not being cruel, you’re being considerate of your dog’s well-being. Give your dog ample exercise before guests arrive to expend his energy, and set an alarm to remind yourself to take him out for a walk or play after a couple of hours so he can relieve himself and exercise again. A well-exercised dog is often a calm and happy dog.
With all the commotion from the new people, noise, lights and food in the house at this time of year, be mindful that this isn’t an ideal time for your pets to be a part of the festivities. It’s difficult to be watching them constantly to protect them from the many potential hazards. Your safest bet is to make sure they get plenty of exercise and stimulation when you’re not entertaining, and give them a safe place away from the excitement and temptations when you are. It will help make the season merry for two and four-legged friends alike.

The post Christmas With No Calamity: How to Enjoy the Season With Your Pets first appeared on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.

The post Christmas With No Calamity: How to Enjoy the Season With Your Pets appeared first on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.