By Sue Ogden
We have been told that summer is here; well it should be, but we seem to have returned to winter temperatures at the time I am writing this. Hopefully, as soon as the rains have passed, we will once again enjoy the sunshine we all so deserve.
When the sun does return, we need to take some special precautions if we want to protect our furry ones from the risk of heat/sun stroke.
Young puppies are at risk, along with short-nosed breeds, dogs that are carrying too much body fat and those with advancing years, which are also high risk groups.
Exercise in the summer can be a bit of a juggling act, as midday temperatures can be stifling even for us and we do not have the added top-to-toe fur coat dogs have.
The best time to exercise is early morning or in the evening when temperatures are much cooler. There are a few things you can do to help with the problem of heat stress.
If you are out and about and the temperature starts to rise, remember to carry towels in the car, as you can wet them and place them over your dog’s back. This will cool the animal down through evaporation. You can also hose them down; this will cool them off but is not ideal if they have to get in the car for the return trip home!
Carry plenty of fresh water with you and remember to always have a dog bowl in the car. Give them cold fresh water at regular intervals throughout your trip out. If you have a ‘dog car’ like mine, where dogs are welcome to sit on the seats, and sand, mud and water from the animal’s coat are not a problem, then the best thing (if possible) is to get them to swim. This will cool down the body and will keep them more comfortable until you can get them home.
If your trip out in the car is going to be for a few hours, then it may be better to leave them at home, where they can stay in the shade or inside the house. Inside the house the temperature should stay at a much kinder level for them, but even there they will need unlimited access to clean cold water.
No matter how much you would like to take your dog with you, remember the temperature outside may be 20-25º but inside a car the heat can rise to well over 30º in a very short period of time.
Signs of heat stress/stroke can include panting, increased pulse rate, congested mucus membranes (reddened gums) and the animal may appear agitated or anxious. Vomiting is another common sign.
If your dog displays any or all of these signs, you should get them to the vet urgently; it is always best to be cautious and a trip to the vet to make sure all is okay is most definitely worth it.
Another issue at this time of year are grass seeds. These little seeds seem to rule the life of any of us who have heavy-coated breeds. The seeds appear to have been designed to cause us so much stress and work.
Many grass seeds here have little barbs on them, and once they are stuck in the dog’s coat, they work their way to the base of the coat. With their very sharp tips they are capable of piercing the skin, and they have been known to track along arteries and veins.
Even short-coated animals can attract these grass seeds. If you suspect that your dog has grass seeds stuck in the skin, do not try to just pull them out. The barbs may lie in a different direction to the one in which you pull. This could mean the barb under the skin remains when the exposed part breaks off, resulting in lots of problems.
The main problem areas with grass seeds are between the toes and in the armpits; these areas can be difficult for us to check, but we need to keep an eye on them, and if seeds are found then please ask your vet to remove them.
We can all have a fantastic summer with our furry friends. We just have to be prepared to check them over and ensure that, when out and about, we have adequate water and towels with us.
A little preparation can save us expensive problems later and ensure our animals are happy and healthy.
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Sue Ogden is a professional dog groomer living in the Algarve. In her regular column, she provides readers with information on how best to care for their pets. Trained in the UK, she studied nursing, breeding, grooming, nutrition and kennel management. 910 851 140
