Dog days of summer: Take steps to keep your furry friend cool

Tag : Heat And Cool

"They come in panting and drooling, and they leave wagging theirtails and smiling," said Anderson, grooming salon manager atPetsMart in Flint Township.
"Dogs really do suffer in the heat, especially when they're mattedor have a thick undercoat. They feel so much better when their hairis on our floor instead of on them."
Veterinarian Tracy Thorpe of Thorpe Animal Hospital in Lapeer saiddogs -- particularly puppies, older and overweight dogs -- are morevulnerable to the effects of heat than many people realize.
"Dogs don't sweat; they have to pant to cool their bodytemperature," said Thorpe, adding that short-nosed types, likebulldogs and pugs, are less able to cool themselves than otherbreeds.
Heatstroke develops rapidly in dogs and can be deadly, Thorpe said.Symptoms include difficulty breathing, weakness, rapid heartbeat,unresponsiveness and vomiting.
A dog showing any symptoms should be rushed to a veterinarian, whowill treat the animal by slowly cooling its body temperature andadministering IV fluids.
"Fortunately, we don't see too many cases of it here, but thatdoesn't mean it's not out there," Thorpe said, adding that the No.1 cause of heatstroke is leaving a dog in a parked car.
According to a fact sheet from The Purina Pet Care Center, when theoutside temperature is 78 degrees, a closed car parked in the shadewill reach 90 degrees in five minutes.
Thorpe said she is sickened by the thought of dogs dying agonizingand preventable deaths from being shut in cars.
"People think, 'He'll be fine for a few minutes while I run intothe store,' but no one should ever do it, not even for a fewminutes," she said.
High temperatures, poor ventilation and heavy exertion can alsocontribute to problems such as heat exhaustion and heat cramps.
"Dogs need shade, water and ventilation," Thorpe said.
"On the hottest days, if they can't be inside with the airconditioning on, they at least need to be in a cool spot like abasement or garage. If they have to be outside, they need access toshade."
Hot weather can cause problems for even the most conscientious dogowners, Thorpe said.
One of her clients recently had to rush her dog to an emergencyveterinary clinic after he collapsed of heatstroke in the owner'sbackyard.
The dog hadn't been out long and had access to shade, but becameexcited when he spotted a bird's nest. He became dangerouslyoverheated just from jumping and barking at the nest.
"Sometimes on a hot day, it doesn't take much to cause a problem,"Thorpe said.
Kelley Dutcher, lead cashier at PetsMart in Flint Township, saiditems designed to help keep pets cool are big sellers.
"All this stuff is very popular right now," Dutcher said ofproducts such as dog bandanas and collars that contain cooling gelsto help keep body temperatures down.
Also available for dogs are portable plastic water bottles,sunscreen, frozen beef "popsicles," cooling beds and cushions, lifejackets and plastic kiddie wading pools.
"The dogs love this stuff, and so do their owners," Dutcher said.
"People who love their pets will always to try to make them morecomfortable."
And dogs come up with a few good ideas of their own.
Saab said she often lies in bed during hot summer nights, listeningto Chauncey's nails as he "tip-toes across the bedroom floor to thebathroom.
"We have a tile shower, and on hot nights, Chauncey climbs in, liesdown and is perfectly happy."