The Dog Days of Summer

It's no secret that we've got heat problems all over the country. When we were in Montana earlier this summer it was way too hot. Last week in St Louis it was over 100 F three of the five days I was in town and this morning I heard on NPR that we have a heat wave going on in the South.

I want to write about how to help our pets beat the heat but I can't ignore the bigger issue. Global warming is upon us and it seems to be getting worse. Our current government has done virtually nothing to address this issue and has even tried to deny the existence of Global Warming. How tragic and irresponsible.

The solution has to begin with each of us if we are to save our wonderful planet for our children and grandchildren.

Excessive heat can be a very serious health issue for our pets so let's spend a few minutes discussing how to keep them safe when the heat is on.

Dogs and cats don't sweat like we do.

Dogs do perspire through the pads of their feet, but this is not enough to cool them off when it's hot. Dogs pant to help regulate body temperature which works well most of the time. If it's excessively humid, like it is in the South and Midwest, panting is a less efficient way to regulate heat.

Brachiocephalic breeds (ten dollar word for short muzzled) like pugs or bulldogs don't pant as efficiently because they have short noses and don't dissipate heat through the nasal turbinates.

Cats don't pant under normal circumstances. If you see a cat breathing through the mouth it's a sign of trouble and time to get to the veterinarian pronto. Cats are generally better adapted to heat and will usually lay around and chill when it's hot. If you keep them inside, like you should, they will handle the heat just fine.

Make sure both dogs and cats have plenty of fresh water on hot days and if your dog has to stay outside make sure he has plenty of shade.

Never leave pets in cars while doing errands. It takes about five minutes to get up to 120F in a parked car. Cracking the windows is not a viable solution, either. Leave them at home.

Don't let the heat keep you and your pet from exercising. Go early in the morning or later in the evening during the summer heat. Even in St Louis last week the temperature only went down to the high 70's over night.

Keep pets well groomed during the summer. Matted hair can lead to skin conditions known as hot spots. Brushing is especially important for long haired dogs because it helps remove the insulating undercoat. It's OK to clip long haired dogs during the summer but don't clip them down to the skin. Leaving an inch or so will help prevent sunburn(see photos of my friend Jeff's dogs, Blue and Nemo) which can be just as serious in dogs as in people. In fact, sunscreen should be applied to some dogs in areas where there is little hair, like the skin around the nose and the tips of the ears.

And finally, heatstroke can occur in dogs during hot weather. Heatstroke is a very serious condition and should be considered an emergency. If your dog shows the following signs after being exposed to excessive heat, get to the vet as soon as you can. [You may want to hose your dog down quickly before you head off.]

Excessive panting combined with seeming kind of "out of it" staring into space and not responding to simple commands are the classic signs of heatstroke. Vomiting and fainting or simply collapsing are also common. If you see these signs and it's hot, quickly cool your dog with the hose or cool water bath and get to your veterinarian.

The most important thing you can do is ask you congressperson, governor, mayor or other elected official what they plan to do about the bigger issue of Global Warming. If they don't have a serious plan throw the bums out.

Comments

[pacco]

enjoy reading ur blog...keep up d good work