Dog Days of Summer - not if you're a dog!

If you're like me, the dog days of summer are nothing to look forward to. Even in the Rocky Mountains, where I live, we're beginning to hit the high 90's with depressing regularity.

However, my pit bull, Miss Peaches, begs to differ. She loves to sunbathe on the grass - full belly exposure - until she's grilled to a fine lobster-pink. Luckily my neighbors are understanding about her nudist tendencies, and have not yet called the decency patrol.

Still, even for heat-luvin' poochers, hot weather can be dangerous. Dogs are designed to conserve heat. They only have sweat glands on their nose and the pads of their feet. And while this may save them a fortune on anti-perspirant, it's not very efficient for staying cool in scorching temps.

Panting and drinking water helps, but more importantly, the air that they breathe needs to be cooler than the air they're breathing out. Short-nosed breeds like pugs, bulldogs, and boxers are particularly at risk. As are puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with weight or other health problems.

But any dog is at risk once temperatures rise to110-degrees Fahrenheit. And most people simply don't realize how quickly temperatures can skyrocket on very hot days. For example, on an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. And researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that even when it was only 72 degrees outside, a car's interior temperature can climb to 112 degrees in less than an hour. Worse, on average, the temperature jumped the first 30 degrees in just the first 30 minutes.

So dogs (and cats) left in hot cars, even briefly, can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and can even die. Don't think that just because you'll be gone "just a minute" that your pet will be safe while you're gone; even an air conditioned car with the motor off isn't safe.

To keep your dog cool and healthy, try to avoid exercising during the hottest hours of the day. If you have a gung-ho dog, like Miss Peaches, who will go 'til she drops, use this rule of thumb: Run for 15-20 minutes, then rest in the shade for 15-20 minutes. Watch him or her carefully for these signs of heat stress:

- heavy panting,
- glazed eyes,
- rapid heartbeat,
- restlessness,
- excessive thirst,
- lethargy,
- fever,
- dizziness,
- lack of coordination,
- profuse salivation,
- drooling profusely
- vomiting,
- a deep red or purple tongue,
- unconsciousness.

If you see any of these symptoms, try to lower your dog's body temperature immediately. Move him into shade or an air-conditioned room, if possible. Pour cool water over his entire body, especially the feet, chest, and belly.Make sure the water soaks through to the skin. If you can give him small amounts of cool water or ice cubes to lick.

And get to a vet. FAST. Really.

So pass the word on: When summer sizzles, leave your pooch home with the remote, a cool beverage, and maybe a few good DVDs. Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like a half-bad idea...


[dog health]