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Heat,
humidity can be fatal to canines
June 28, 2007
A friend of mine who moved to Paris a few years ago is enjoying a
wonderful life there. The Eiffel Tower, Seine River and the boulevards
are nice enough, but what really makes life so sweet is her English
bulldog, Lola, that she adopted since moving to France.
On a recent visit to New Orleans she shared the ups and ups of living
with her lovable bulldog -- evening jaunts in the park, taking Lola out
on weekend shopping trips and falling asleep to the sounds of Lola's
blissfully deep snores.
My friend entertains the idea of one day returning to New Orleans, but
because she knows what's really important in life, she worries how Lola
would handle the high heat and humidity.
Her concerns are more than just the worries of a doting mother. The high
heat and humidity that we're experiencing can be fatally dangerous to
our furred friends if we don't take the proper precautions.
English bulldogs are particularly susceptible to heat stroke in warm,
humid weather but any dog -- large or small, young or old, active or
inactive -- can suffer or even die from too much exertion in high
temperatures.
Jogging with our dog during the summer months is a perfect illustration
of when to be cautious and aware of how the heat affects them.
Unfortunately, they can't pat us on the shoulder and tell us enough is
enough. And frankly, their desire to please us overrides their pain, so
it's up to us to keep them safe and out of the heat.
When it comes to jogging in the heat, the solution is just don't do it!
Dogs don't sweat as we do and their bodies simply can't adjust or
accommodate the heat. Their only means of reducing body heat are by
panting, through their footpads and through blood vessels on the face
and ears, but that is not enough in hot weather.
Heat exhaustion is the stage before heat stroke, which is very serious
and requires immediate, emergency treatment. So when do you know if your
dog is suffering from heat exhaustion? Excessive panting is a clear and
usually initial indicator. You'll also observe the skin on the inside of
the ears becoming flushed and red.
Heat exhaustion can quickly progress into heat stroke and the signs of
this include weakness, staggering, fainting and ultimately loss of
consciousness. Their breathing may also become rapid, noisy and frantic.
Emergency first aid is immediately required, even as you're on the way
to the veterinary emergency clinic.
If you're in that situation, the goal is to get your pet's body
temperature down to its normal, internal body temperature of 100-102
degrees Fahrenheit. Apply ice packs to the dog's head and swaddle its
body in wet cool towels, dipping the towels in cool water every few
minutes. Use a garden hose and hose them down with cool water. If the
dog is too weak to even stand, and it's small enough for you to handle,
you can also immerse her in cool water.
In all these scenarios use cool water, not cold, as cold water can be
too extreme a change and can be just as dangerous.
Limiting our pets' activity in extremely hot weather is an important and
life-saving precaution. Consider exercising in the early morning and
late evening hours. Keep the coats of long-coated dogs trimmed and brush
them often. Having our pets indoors is the best option but if you can't,
make sure they have a shady, sheltered resting place and plenty of
water.
Our fun-loving pets will literally play and romp until they drop, so
it's up to us humans to pat them on the shoulder and say it's time to
cool off and rest.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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