Summer is a joyful time for joyful pastime with your four-legged friend on the nature. Walking in the woods, strolling in a local park, splashing in water - any summer activities are incredibly enjoyable for you and your dog in warm and sunny weather. And that’s where some hazards are hidden. The dog is very vulnerable in the summer and instead of frolicking he can find a lot of unpleasant adventures. To prevent this, the owner must be aware of safety rules.
CONTENT
How to care for a dog in summer
Why do dogs get overheated
How to know if your dog needs help
How to help your overheated dog
Some more advice
HOW TO CARE FOR A DOG IN SUMMER
Dangers that await a dog:
Dog overheating in summer
Heat stroke
Dog dehydration
Sunstroke in dogs
Dog sunburn
Dog Bathing
Bites in dogs
Allergy in dogs
Food poisoning
Dog overheating in summer
The overheating can catch off guard if the ventilation is poor. In the heat an apartment or a house are especially warm up. If it is not possible to improve the air circulation in the room, it’s advisable to take a dog for a walk, avoiding the sun.
To protect your dog a little from the adverse effect of heat, the following measures can be taken at home:
Close the window with dense and dark curtains ыo the room will not get very warm.
Keep the windows open at night.
Minimize the work of electrical appliances in the room.
To cool the room, you can use air conditioning.
It is important to remember: don’t leave your dog in the car even if you put a bowl with water there. The air in a car warms up instantly and a dog can quickly get heat stroke and die.
Don’t risk and leave the dog with air conditioning turned on. Technique is inconstant and can fail at the worst possible time.
Remember: a dog needs 10 minutes to get overheat in the car.
Dog symptoms of heat stroke
wobbly gait, movement disorder.
Dry mouth.
Blue tongue.
Rapid breathing.
Muscle twitching.
Once you notice at least one of them, urgently seek help.
Dog dehydration
When it’s incredibly hot outside a dog needs lots of fluids. This is particularly true to mobile and active dogs. So that a dog doesn’t feel bad from a lack of moisture, he needs constant access to clean and fresh water. Change it regularly, every day pour fresh water and be sure the bowl is full during the day.
Even if you expect a walk, you should not ignore drinking there. Do not be lazy - take a bottle of cool water with you and give it to your dog periodically, even every half an hour especially after active games and sun exposure.
Increase dog’s interest in water. Add some ice cubes of frozen chicken broth or berries.
Sunstroke in dogs
Is your doggie fond of active playing in the sun in the summer? Pet can get sunstroke. This is very serious. Such a state occurs in minutes.
Sunstroke can occur even if the dog has already hidden from the scorching sun in the shade or at home.
Symptoms of sunstroke in dogs:
General weakness of a dog.
Red eyes.
High body temperature.
Nose bleeding.
Vomiting.
Fainting
Cramps.
If a dog’s condition is alarming, then you should contact the veterinarian.
To avoid sunstroke, try to minimize walking with the dog under the burning sun. If, however, the pet wants to run about let him better play in the shade.
How to treat dog sunburn
Dog paws pads are especially vulnerable. Dog paws can get burned easily from hot sand or asphalt. To prevent this from happening, avoid places open to direct sunlight. Otherwise, you can buy lightweight shoes for your doggie.
Dog's skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet rays, especially ears, nose and groin. It’s important to limit the stay of a dog in the sun.
Dog Bathing
In the summer you are so excited to swim in the river or in the lake. Your dog feels the same way. Frolic in the water, exercise the muscles, cool off during a heat wave. It seems like no danger around.
If you go to the countryside, prepare the doggie a bath with cool water or go to the river or lake.
In the city the water bodies may be contaminated by industrial effluent. In this case, you can get not only dirt on dog’s wool, but also intoxication of the dog.
If your dog is hot, and there is no place to go and plunge into the water, you can bathe the pet in the bathroom or in the shower. This will be pretty good especially after long walks and active games.
Bites in dogs
Various insects wake up in the summer. Mosquitoes and midges are not the main danger for dogs. Tick bite is a real concern for the owner. After all, blood-sucking insects transmit a lot of infections. For example, piroplasmosis. When treated improperly or late, the disease ends up with a dog’s death.
Moreover, in the summer a dog can get fleas easier. Bites of bees and bumblebees can also be dangerous as they cause allergic reactions, including chanceful anaphylactic shock.
Not to get ticks don’t let the dog to roam around the bushes and in the high grass. If you notice that the dog is chasing a bee or a bumblebee, you must distract him from that.
To prevent tick bites and fleas get some special medicines from a vet. They can drops, sprays, collars and shampoos.
Allergy in dogs
Summer increases the risk of allergic reactions in dogs. There are many plants around that scatter pollen. Insect bites can cause aggravation. If your dog is prone to this pathology, it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment before the season starts. It is also advisable to always keep allergy medications on hand.
Food poisoning of dogs
In order to prevent ticks in the parks the green plants are treated with poisonous substances. So a dog may be poisoned while playing in the bushes. It is important to watch your pet, if you are not sure about the safety of those substances which the plant was treated with.
A dog can also try to drink from a muddy puddle, and then get sick. To avoid this, take water with you on walks.
WHY DO DOGS GET OVERHEATED
Unlike a man, a dog does not sweat so much. The sweat glands located on the paw pads are unable to cool the hot dog well enough. Excessive heat goes away with active breathing and increased salivation of a dog. Hence a dog breathes rapidly and sticks out his tongue in the heat.
High body temperature also makes the animal particularly vulnerable in the summer.
Worst dog breeds for hot weather
The most sensitive breeds are ones with short muzzles (Bulldog, Pekingese, Pug, etc.). This is due to their anatomical facial structure. The airway of such dogs is constricted and breathing is difficult. These dogs get overheated faster than their furry fellows. As well as overweight dogs who also suffer from the heat.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR DOG NEEDS HELP
If your four-legged companion has the following symptoms, you need to urgently seek help:
Hard breath
Wheezing
Lethargy
movement disorder
Dilated pupils
Red eyes
Vomiting or diarrhea
Fainting
Cramps
Increased body temperature
Weak pulse
HOW TO HELP YOUR OVERHEATED DOG
What can be done to relieve condition of your dog before vet’s arrival:
Put a dog in the shade or in a cool place.
Take off a collar and leash.
Sprinkle a dog with water and let him drink.
If a dog is unconscious with labored breathing, one can do the following manipulation: open dog’s mouth, stick out the tongue and tug it a little with a frequency of every 3-4 seconds. If there is resistance, it means that breathing has been restored.
Don’t wait for the improvement of consciousness, trust the professional.
Dog clothes for summer
Clothing for dogs in summer is needed to protect him from the sun's rays, especially after dog grooming. Easy panama protects from sunstroke. While long walking you can wet dog’s shirt with water. That will help him be more protected from overheating.
Put on special dog shoes for heat during the inevitable walks on red-hot asphalt or sand.
Dog summer clothes should be spacious, light and of natural fabrics.
SOME MORE ADVICE
How to help your dog in the heat:
Do not shave down your dog. Undercoat protects him from the cold and heat.
Walk a dog in cool hours of the day.
Reduce his physical stress.
Reduce his food portion by one third. Dog nutrition should be light.
Fresh water in sufficient quantity.
If your dog has shedding in summer, comb him out carefully and regularly.
Ventilate the room more often.
Refrain from walking in the heat.
Enjoy warm and bright summer with your dog. Follow the safety rules. Be attentive and alert for your dog to be cheerful and healthy.