SUMMER SENSIBILITY

By Carla Genender

Editor's note: Housepetmagazine.com has no financial connection with any of the companies or products recommended on this article.

Keeping your dog healthy during the summer is challenging. Risks include dehydration, heatstroke, sunburn, blistered footpads, eye injury, drowning, insects, and garden fertilizers and pesticides. Knowing how to protect a dog from these risks is one of the best gifts you can give your dog.

Dehydration. Dogs need more water when it is hot. Also, water evaporates more quickly in hot temperatures. Make sure there is plenty of fresh, cool water available and avoid exercising your dog during the heat of the day. If you suspect that your dog is dehydrated, check the elasticity of the skin by pulling a section of skin away from the body. If he is not dehydrated, the skin should immediately go back into place. If he is dehydrated, the skin will remain away from the body in the folded position you pulled it into for a longer amount of time. Mild cases of dehydration can be treated by giving him cool water to drink; just make sure he doesn't drink too much too quickly. If the symptoms of dehydration do not disappear, you need to take him to the vet as he may require IV fluids.

Heatstroke. Dehydration can lead to heatstroke, a condition that can cause organ damage and even death. Overweight dogs, dogs with respiratory or heart problems, older dogs, very young puppies, short-nosed dogs, thick-coated dogs, dogs with black fur, and outdoor dogs are the most vulnerable to heatstroke but ALL dogs are vulnerable.

Don’t leave your dog in a parked car, even for a short time.

Every year there are warnings about not leaving dogs in parked cars, yet every year there are stories of dogs that die because they were left in parked cars. When it’s 85 degrees outside, your car will heat to 102 degrees in only 10 minutes and to 120 degrees in 20 minutes. Cracking the windows or parking in the shade doesn't’t help much. Don’t leave your dog in a parked car, even for a short time.

Other causes of heatstroke include jogging, a game of Frisbee or fetch, a trip to the beach, even a long walk during the heat of the day. Bring along water for your dog and change your schedule to avoid exercising her during the heat of the day. On very hot or humid days, hose her down before and during heavy activity. Above all, monitor your dog; dogs don’t always have the sense to quit when they are getting overheated. For service dogs (and others) who have to be outside during the heat of the day, you can purchase a ThermalWear Dog Vest. It can maintain a temperature of 50 degrees for two hours.

Being left in the yard too long without plenty of shade and water can also cause heatstroke. If you have an outdoor dog, try to bring her inside on very hot days. If this isn't possible, make sure there is always shade and water (remember that the sun moves during the day and that water evaporates more rapidly in the heat). You can purchase a product called The Dog Dip 'n' Sip which provides a constant supply of fresh drinking water, and a wading pool to cool off in.

Those cute pet carriers for small dogs can become death traps. If you use one, make sure it’s well ventilated.

If your dog has long hair, consider a summer hair-cut or brush frequently. Long coats hold in body heat. Matted coats prevent ventilation.

Symptoms of heatstroke can include excessive panting; flushed skin on the inside of the ears; very rapid heartbeat; intense drooling; glazed eyes; a panicked expression; lack of coordination; a bloody nose, diarrhea, or vomit; and unconsciousness. A high fever is always present.

To treat heatstroke, gradually bring your dog’s temperature down to 104 degrees in 10 or 15 minutes, using a combination of water and air. Move her out of the sun and immerse her in, or wet her down with, cool but not cold water (cold water causes blood vessels to constrict, which inhibits cooling). If you aren’t in an air-conditioned or breezy area, fan her. Give her small amounts of water to drink. Take her temperature every few minutes if possible, and stop the cooling treatment when it reaches 104 degrees. If you continue too long, hypothermia can occur and this can also be fatal. Take her to the vet immediately, even if she appears okay. Professional treatment is essential.

Sunburn. You may not realize it, but your dog can get sunburned. Repeated exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer and other skin problems such as ulceration and infections. Dogs most vulnerable to sunburn are those with white fur, pink skin, pale noses or ears, thin fur, or short hair. The most vulnerable parts of the body are the tips of the ears, bridge of the nose, groin, inside of legs, abdomen (because sunlight reflects up from pavement and sand), and exposed skin due to parts in the fur on the dog's head or back.

Protect your dog by keeping him out of the sun when it is strongest, and by putting sun screen on her most vulnerable body parts before exposure to the sun; you will need to reapply it several times if he is in the sun for a lengthy period of time. Use a product made specifically for pets, or check with your vet before using products made for humans. Dogs tend to lick ointments put on them, and some ingredients in human products are toxic to dogs. Sun products for pets include Doggles Pet Sun Screen Spray, and UVet Sun Screen Lotion.

Blistered Footpads. Another hazard for dogs in extremely hot weather is blistered footpads. Blacktop streets and parking lots are the worst, but concrete and sand can also burn your dog’s feet. Any surface that is too hot for you to walk barefoot on is too hot for your dog.

Eye injury. Dogs, like humans, need to protect their eyes from harmful sun rays. Sunglasses are especially important at places like the beach, where light is reflected off the water and sand. Sunglasses also help protect a dog’s eyes from injury when he leans his head out the window of a moving car, when he rides with you on a motorcycle or bike, or when he plays sports in an area where there are loose pebbles or other debris. One brand of dog sunglasses is Doggles. They come in a variety of colors, and now there are even matching Doggles for dogs and their humans.

Drowning. Manufacturers of water safety products estimate that at least 50,000 pets drown each year (not counting those that drown in floods). Dogs drown from falling off boats; and from falling into pools, lakes, and canals.

Many people assume that dogs are natural born swimmers, and most of them are. But this is not something you can assume. When exposing your dog to water for the first time, take care to make it a pleasant and safe experience. Throwing your dog into the water is not a good idea; it may traumatize her and create a fear of water. A recommended method is to carry your dog into shallow water and hold her up until she starts paddling. Some dogs begin paddling with only their front legs. If your dog does this, lift her rear legs; this will help her float and she will figure out that she needs all four of her legs to swim. Another method is to put your dog in a life jacket until she is comfortable dog-paddling. Heavier breeds like English bulldogs have difficulty in water and may always need to wear a life jacket. The same is true for obese dogs and those with heart disease or other health problems. Life jackets are also a good idea when boating; if your dog falls or gets knocked off the boat, a life jacket could save her life. Brands of dog life jackets include Ruff Wear and Aquapaws (scroll down the page). Always be close by and available to help out when your dog is swimming, just as you would be for a small child.

If you have a pool in your yard, you need to teach your dog where the steps are, even if she doesn’t like to swim. To accomplish this, take her into the pool and hold her up while you turn in a circle; then walk to the stairs and exit the pool. Repeat this several times, increasing the size of the circle, until she starts towards the stairs on her own. An alternative is to purchase a product called a Skamper-Ramp it is more easily visible to dogs as an exit because it isn’t completely underwater like pool steps are.

Insects. Insects are another summer hazard for dogs, especially mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, bees, and wasps.

Heartworm disease is spread by mosquito bites. That's why heartworm prevention medicine is so important, and why heartworm screening and medication is part of a dog's annual exam. But even if your dog is protected against heartworm disease, mosquito bites are still uncomfortable and there is always the risk of West Nile Virus, which mosquitoes also spread. There are mosquito repellant products made specifically for dogs or approved for use on dogs: for example, Mosquito Halt for Dogsand Zodiac Pre Strike Mosquito Repellent. Repellants made for humans can be hazardous to your dog, especially those that contain DEET. Ask your vet before using any product intended for humans.

Ticks and Fleas are brought into your home by dogs, but once there, they also bite humans. Ticks can spread Lyme disease and fleas can spread tapeworm. It is infinitely easier to prevent these pests than to get rid of them. There are many flea and tick prevention products available: for example, Top Spot and Advantage. (editor's note: for natural remedies: click here)

Dogs who try to catch or play with anything that moves, dogs who like to role in the grass, and dogs who like to stick their noses into bushes are more likely to be stung by bees and wasps. Bee stings are acid. Remove the stinger, and apply a paste made from baking soda and water.

Wasp stings do not leave a stinger. They are alkaline, so wipe the area off with lemon juice or vinegar. For both bee and wasp stings, put an ice pack on the site to relieve pain and swelling; take the ice pack on and off so it doesn't feel too cold. While you are applying the ice pack, comfort your dog and watch for signs of allergic reaction. Like people, some dogs are allergic to certain insects; and like people, multiple stings are more dangerous. If you notice difficulty breathing or swelling around the mouth or neck, take your dog to the vet immediately. If his symptoms are severe, call the vet to find out if you should give him a dose of Benedryl before bringing him in, and if so, how much.

Garden Fertilizers and Pesticides. Summer is a time when people are more likely to fertilize their flowers, plants, and lawns; and to treat them with pesticides. After these products have been applied, try to keep your dogs away from them for the recommended period of time for each product used. Dogs can be poisoned by eating them, or by walking on them and then licking their paws. The symptoms of poisoning depend on the specific toxin; they can include vomiting, diarrhea, internal bleeding, convulsions, and unconsciousness.

When possible, use products that are not toxic to dogs. Don't leave garden products in places your dog can reach, such as a garage or shed with the door left open. When sprays have been used, keep your dog away until the spray has dried; preferably the next day. If your dog walks in a treated area, clean her paws right away.

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CARLA GENENDER: We love our dogs and enjoy indulging them, but our first responsibility is to keep them safe. Carla is the author of DogSense: 99 relationship tips from your canine companion, published by HCI Books. DogSense contains photos of 99 dogs; each dog gives a human relationship tip and is accompanied by a short “bio” written from the perspective of the dog. The premise of DogSense is that we can have better human relationships by being more like our dogs. Carla has been a dog lover all her life, and is working on her second book. She is the former president of a “boutique” management consulting company that serviced Fortune 500 companies. You can visit her at www.dogsensebooks.com or email her at cgenender at bellsouth dot net (Please reformat and retype the email address as this is the only way to protect this e-mail address from spams. Thank you!)