FAMILY DOG

Choosing a family pet checklist: best breeds for allergy? For kids or seniors? Toy breed or guard dog, high energy or laid-back? Free, professional advice from the world's FIRST public website!!

WHY HEAT KILLS DOGS

NetPlaces Network Staff

Before you take your dog on a quick ride to the grocery store or do double-duty exercise by jogging with him, learn why beloved dogs die every summer!

According to veterinary statistics more dogs die from overheating in cars than from prolonged sun exposure.

Many of those dogs were left in the car “for a minute” while the owner “picked up a few things” from the store. Other dogs were tied out to go potty and someone forgot them or “the shade moved”.

Exposing your dog to summer heat and humidity with no way for him to cool down is not an accident, it is murder. It is no different than pointing a gun at someone, pulling the trigger, and then saying “But I never thought it would kill him!”

8 children died last year from being left in parked vehicles that quickly over-heated. Why? Because a loving parent became distracted in an air-conditioned store and didn’t think about outside heat. “Not thinking” is the worst kind of tragedy, one which will plague those people for the rest of their lives.

As a pet parent you can be sure that number is multiplied many times over. Obviously, dogs can’t call for help but there’s another reason they can die so quickly from heat stroke...

Dogs Don’t Sweat, Dogs Can Only Pant To Release Heat

When you start out the door with your beloved pet in tow for a jog around the block, think about this. You sweat and the evaporation cools your body. Your dog can’t perspire!!! He can only pant. He pants because a dog’s tongue and mouth is the only part of his body that can release heat. Panting is a poor form of heat dissipation but to compensate, an overheated dog will seek shade, scratch up some cool earth and plop his bare belly on the ground. He can't do that when locked in a car or on concrete.

Too many well-meaning joggers lose their dogs to heat stroke even though many state parks are trying to provide shade and access to water. Fortunately, most people heed weather warnings, bring enough water and have the appropriate hiking attire but the same cannot be said for their dogs, hence the trend towards prohibiting dogs from many people-parks and jogging trails.

Why Is Over-Heating Risk Worse In Dogs?

Older dogs are more affected by hot humid weather just like people, but the difference in people and dogs is that dogs don't sweat!  They pant and that is not nearly as effective at cooling the body. Also to be considered is that shorter legs have to work twice as hard to keep up, especially for your Bassett or Dachshund!!

Smush-faced (brachycephalic) dogs cannot breathe as well due to shorter nasal passages. They are therefore extremely inefficient at cooling through panting and prone to produce frothy or slimy saliva which makes getting air even more difficult.

Common sense tells you that long-coated breeds suffer more from heat but short-coated breeds with undercoat (think Husky or Pekingese)  just can’t take it. Wear a wool sweater and go jogging in summer and you will understand.

Fat dog? Losing weight through diet and exercise could save his life but exercising in the heat of the day could kill him! Fatty tissue doesn’t disperse heat effectively. Exercise in early morning or after dark, a little at a time. As he begins to shed the fat, you can then work up to longer periods. Be aware! If you have a black dog, the color will soak up the sun and turn his body into an oven!

Carry water from home in a doggy water dispenser. You probably carry water for yourself but if you are hiking or jogging with a big breed you will need extra water. You should also be aware that heat stroke builds up slowly and then hits quick and hard!

If your dog is panting so hard he has to breathe while trying to lap (a little at a time) water, use it to douse his face and back, then head for home immediately. Check his mouth, if his gums are red and “puffy” call someone to QUICKLY to come pick you and the dog up and seek shade in the meantime.

 Always carry a cell phone while jogging!

If the car A/C doesn’t make him feel better quickly, (panting becomes more like breathing, gum color returns to pink instead of red and his tongue is dripping but not frothy) you need get him to the veterinarian ASAP.

Otherwise, get him straight home, give him a couple of ice cubes and put him in front of a fan or A/C vent. Do NOT douse his body with cold water to cool down. That causes the blood vessels to constrict and may bring on shock. You can wrap a cold wet towel around his neck, it is effective and safer.

Reference and Related Information: ~  See the display links below to be for more info on heat stroke.

TheDogPlace.org EST 1998 © 1908  https://www.thedogplace.org/Family-Dog/Why-heat-kills-dogs-st19F08.asp

SSI

SSI

Advertising ~ Disclaimer ~ Mission ~ Privacy

TheDogPlace.org, world’s 1st public website,