Behaviorist Tamar Geller reported on the today show about the precautions of your dog overheating, dehydrating or getting sunburn during the summer season. A dogs temperature typically runs between 100-102 degrees. Their only sweat gland are located on their nose and pads of their feet so they need to pant and drink lots of cool water to cool down.
Your pet can get heat exhaustion from being dehydrated and/or overheated from running or over-exercising. Heat stroke occurs when the body temperature gets too high for a prolonged period of time. Both can lead to brain and organ damage, heat failure and even death can occur. Short-nosed, thick coated breeds, puppies and seniors or pets with heart conditions are especially susceptible. Signs of heatstroke are hard panting, staggering gait, rapid heartbeat, dazed look, listlessness, restlessness, dark red or purple gums and/or tongue and vomiting.
Do NOT leave your pet alone in the car. Simply parking in the shade or cracking the window is not enough. Windows collect light and trap heat inside sending levels to dangerous and deadly levels very rapidly. Car temps can increase as much as 40 degrees in an hour with 80% of that increase within the first 30 minutes. An 85 degree day can reach 102 degrees inside the vehicle in ten minutes.
Most people do not realize that dogs also can get sunburns. It most commonly happens to pale or short-haired dogs. Usually on the bridge of the nose and tips of the ears. The belly, groin area and inside of the legs (because sunlight reflects up from sidewalk and sand on beaches). You should use a sunblock, but read the label and use one that is designed for animals. You can not put it on the belly/groin area because the dog will lick it off. Shaved dogs are more prone to sunburns. Paws can get burned on sidewalks, asphalt and sand. Check the temperature with your hand, if it is too hot for your hand then it is too hot to walk on. A day at the beach may be out of the question. The sand reflects the sun and heats your dog. Take fresh water with you as salt water dehydrates. Always rise your salty dog off after a dip.
Always supervise your dog in the pool area. Each year puppies and dogs accidentally drown in backyard pools when left unattended. Make sure they know where the ladder and steps are so they don't exhaust themselves trying to get out and drown.
Make summer time a fun and safe time for both you and your pet.
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