It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost half over! Things still haven’t gotten back to normal, but at least we are heading in the right direction. (Get your vaccines!) So, here are the annual tips for living with your dog during the summer.
Disclaimer: I am not a vet, nor do I play one on t.v. Please defer to whatever your vet tells you.
Heatstroke - If your dog is panting excessively, has bloodshot eyes (which indicates stress), and is drooling a lot, bring your dog inside immediately. Give them small amounts of water, don’t let them drink bowls full of water. Cool them down by putting their feet in room temperature water, never cold water.
If your dog is breathing hard, vomiting, panting really hard, having tremors, seizures, or is passing out, you have a medical emergency on your hands. Call your vet, or your local emergency hospital now and they will instruct you on what to do.
Sensitive Paws - Dogs have pads on their paws that are sensitive to heat and cold. Walking on pavement that is too hot can burn your dog’s pads. Walking on anything hot (beaches, cement pool decks, even wooden decks, etc.) can burn their pads. If it’s too hot for you to walk on, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on. There are booties galore out there to protect your dog’s feet when hiking, going to the beach, walking on hot pavement, etc. Dogs sweat through their pads, and it’s important to keep their feet cool and protected from burning.
Fireworks - As we are getting back to “normal”, more towns are doing their annual firework displays. Fireworks can be extremely stressful for your pup. Trainers with extremely well-trained dogs have had their terrified dogs run from them. If your town is doing fireworks, make a "safe place” for your pup to hide indoors. Turn on the t.v. or the radio, dim the lights and make sure things are comfortable. If your dog begins to react to the noise, don’t yell or punish him or her. Speak gently and give them long strokes along their flanks. If you know that your pup has been afraid of fireworks in the past, use a Thunder Shirt or other compression-type of coat to help calm them down. Or, talk with your vet about ways that you can calm your dog, such as calming biscuits, CBD oil, or other tools.
Keep your pup hydrated - Wherever you go, whatever you do, keep that water bottle right next to you. You keep yourself hydrated when your hot, make sure that your dog has water, too. And, don’t give your dog tons and tons of water at a time. Make them drink slowly and steadily and keep the quantity low. A belly full of water isn’t a good thing, especially when you and your pup are outside playing or doing something.
But not too hydrated - Sometimes, too much water can be a bad thing. Once, a dog I knew went swimming for the day. He had a blast, and after his 3-hour swim fest, he went home. One of the kids at his house thought that playing with him and the hose would be fun, as this pup loved to fly into the air and catch the water. After an hour of that, he went inside and kind of started wobbling around. The concerned parents took him to the vet where they learned that their pup had a rare issue known as Water Intoxication. This is NOT the fun kind of intoxication. This can lead to brain damage, heart failure and, death. If you find that your dog is lethargic, nauseated, has dilated pupils or a glazed over look, is drooling or vomiting, or has a lack of coordination after swimming, playing in the water, or drinking too much without getting rid of it somehow, you’ve got to get to the vet. Too much water causes an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause brain damage. Luckily, the pup that had Water Intoxication survived, but he was never really the same mentally, leading his parents to believe that he did, indeed, suffer some brain damage.
Bees, Wasps, and other Stripey Things - I know of very few dogs that don’t like to chase flying things. And, puppies, who delight in this, often find themselves on the wrong end of a stinger. Dogs can have allergic reactions to bee/wasp/hornet/deer flies and other stingy things, just as people do. Sometimes these allergic reactions are slight, such as swelling of the snout or paw. Sometimes these can be less slight, such as swelling of the tongue. And, sometimes these can be deadly, such as anaphylactic shock. If your pup gets stung, you need to keep an eye on him or her. Especially if they’ve never been stung before and you don’t know how they are going to react. Call your vet and tell them that your dog has been stung. Hopefully, you can identify the bug and tell your vet. If you notice swelling that is impeding your pup’s ability to breathe or see, go to your vet or emergency hospital immediately. If you know your dog isn’t going to have anaphylaxis, make sure you have Benadryl on hand when you speak with your vet.
Hot Cars - If you know me, you know the story of how my dog Kismet was killed by our former pet sitter. Don’t leave your pet in your car if the temperature outside is more than 60 degrees. Ever. Don’t let anyone who is “responsible” for your pet leave your pet in their car when the temperature is greater than 60 degrees. If you find a dog in a hot car who is in distress, call the police immediately. In Massachusetts, you are allowed to break into the car to rescue the pup once you have alerted the police. A dog in a car in 70 degree heat has anywhere between 60-90 minutes before it’s too late.
Although I hate the summer, many do not. So, people get out and about and do things with and without your dogs. Make your summer safe for you and your four-legged family members and remain safe and healthy in the sun, sea and piracy. (Oh, if you’re doing piracy, make sure that your pup has a life jacket that has a head holder underneath the chin.) Have fun, be good to one another, and protect your pup!