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Preventing Hot Dogs When Summer Heats Up
by Becky Mundt
http://www.art4fortune.com/gooddogs
Sunny summer days seem to incite all sorts of fun
activities with your dog: from playing fetch in the park to
frisbee on the beach. Unfortunately, as temperatures soar,
the hot weather also brings with it some very specific
hazards such as sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Good news, these threats to your pooch are preventable.
Protecting Your Dog from Sunburn
We tend to think of dogs as protected from the sun by their
fur, but that isn't always true. Many fair skinned dogs
can suffer sunburns right through their thin light fur. We
had a Pit Bull Terrier friend in Hawaii who wore one of her
owner's old tee shirts in sunny weather to avoid sunburn!
Any dog can burn on his nose, ear tips and around the lips
if over exposed to the sun. So, if you're out with your
best friend in the direct sun all day, be sure to provide a
away to escape to the shade. Don't be afraid to put some
sun block on his nose and ear tips. But don't try to put it
on the lip area. If you do notice blistering or that you
can see the typical redness of sunburn on your pooch, you
may want to contact your vet for assistance in treatment.
Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion Can Strike Your Pet Too!
Never leave a dog in a parked car in summer under any
conditions. Shade can move, open windows are not enough
to stop the temperatures from soaring in the car. If you
do this you will avoid the leading cause of heat stroke in
dogs. It can also be dangerous to heavily exercise a dog
in hot or humid weather. So, on those hot days, take it
easy and give Fido a break. Finally, never leave a dog
outdoors with no way to shelter from the sun. All animals
need a way to get out of that sun and into the cool shade.
There are simple ways to keep your pet cool this summer.
Leave your dog at home if you are going out to do errands
and will have to leave the car for any length of time. If
you are traveling with a dog, and must stop, either take
the dog with you or leave the air conditioning on. The
interior temperature in a stopped vehicle even on a mild
70 degree day can reach 130 degrees In less than an hour.
Does your dog run with you? Or run as you cycle? Leave her
home on those super hot days of summer. Or at least cut
your speed and duration by half.
Outdoor living dogs need at least one all day shady spot.
If you can't provide a tree or ventilated dog house, use a
beach umbrella. Just to be sure that there is no time of
day when your pet cannot find some shade.
When it's really hot, keep older dogs inside with you.
Run a fan or air conditioning if you can.
Pay attention to the surfaces your dog is exposed to on hot
days. Standing on a baking hot truck bed or sidewalk can
burn her feet. If she has to be standing outside, find a
grassy spot or at least somewhere out of direct sun.
The One Thing All Dogs Always Need - Water!
This may be the most important thing you can do, hot
weather or not. Dogs need a lot of water. Make sure your
dog has easy access to clean fresh water at all times.
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