Be careful with your doggies in this heat.

[MushyMushy]

My dogs live in air conditioned comfort and we actually keep our house fairly cool. DD took one of the dogs to the park this afternoon and after about 20 minutes called me in a panic because she thought the dog was having a seizure. Turned out it was heat stroke (she lost control of her muscles pretty much and ended up rolling around on the ground).

She's back to her normal sweet self now, but it was such a scare for us! Just wanted to put this out there that it's not just hot cars you have to worry about in the summer with the dogs. We could have lost our poor girl today. I'm so grateful we were able to act quickly enough to help her.

 

[MichelleVW]

How scary!! I'm glad she is ok!!!!

I have a golden retriever that can't handle the heat at all....he will get sick if he's out for much time at all. Since I live in Hot Texas he pretty much stays inside most of the time in the summer. I let him run in the pastures early in the morning, but even then it's for a short time or he over heats.

 

[C.Ann]

Definitely a concern.. During our most recent really bad heat wave, we really had to keep a close eye on DD's dog.. On the days that they didn't take him to the beach with them, I would go down to their travel trailer - let him out for awhile (on a chain that's long enough for him to go around back and do "his business" and then come to the front and lay under the awning) - and after a half-hour or less, I would put him back inside with the a/c on..

So glad your doggie is okay!

 

[DebbieB]

I read that too fast, I thought you said be careful with your doggies in heat!

 

[Jockaroo]

Glad your girl is going to be OK. This is a timely reminder. I'm having to be very careful with my Scottie during the summer heat. Dogs with dark coats really absorb the heat. My vet advised us to discontinue agility training classes until fall. You can get cooling bandannas that will help some.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18850

I'm giving my little dog frozen green beans as a treat to help keep her comfortable. And adding ice to her water bowl. We do our walks early in the morning and about dusk. The pavement is so hot she doesn't want to walk on it!

 

[teskak]

Get a kids paddling pool & fill it with water. Our dogs quickly worked out how much more comfortable they were in the pool, and then would do thier play / pool / play etc.

By the end of the day, the sand would just fall off them, but they were happy and you top up the pool every day or so with clean water

 

[SandrA9810]

I never really had that issue with my doggie. But she was pure white, so I guess that helped her stay cool, but she did have a long coat, since she was part samoyed. But her coat was not as full and thick as a real samoyed. But was funny to watch her at the dog park spending most of her time at the water fountain.

 

[arminnie]

I live in a condo, and my dog will go out on the balcony and will sit in front of the door facing inwards looking like he is locked out in the heat. I have a dog door so he can come and go as he pleases. I'm sure my neighbors think I am torturing him but he can come in whenever he wants to.

 

[mamamary]

Poor thing - glad your pup is now ok.

 

[dvcgirl]

One of my customers (I own a dog walking/pet sitting business), just had their little terrier in the city when the dog became non-responsive. They called me in a panic....described the dog to me. She was limp, eyes bulging and tongue hanging out. I told them to get on the phone and find the nearest vet....and in the meantime run the dog back to the car and blast the AC. They were in Central park at the time.

Thankfully, there was a vet very close by and they saved their girl. They had her out only for 30 minutes.....it doesn't take long at all.

 

[MushyMushy]

One of my customers (I own a dog walking/pet sitting business), just had their little terrier in the city when the dog became non-responsive. They called me in a panic....described the dog to me. She was limp, eyes bulging and tongue hanging out. I told them to get on the phone and find the nearest vet....and in the meantime run the dog back to the car and blast the AC. They were in Central park at the time.

Thankfully, there was a vet very close by and they saved their girl. They had her out only for 30 minutes.....it doesn't take long at all.

Poor pup.

From what I was reading, once they have heat stroke like that, they'll be prone to it all their lives.

She's back to her normal ornery self now, but I'm totally paranoid! I think I need to get her a little more adapted to the heat.