BY FRAN JEWELL
Yesterday, it was 89 degrees F. on my car thermometer outside! There was a teenager on a skateboard with a dog following him on the bike path. The dog’s tongue was down to the ground and the dog was obviously struggling to keep up. The boy had a bottle of something, drinking it himself, but paying no attention to the dog. I can only imagine that dog’s paws after running on that hot black pavement. I can only wonder how hot the dog was when it got home… if it got home!
We are an athletic, dog-loving, nature-loving community. We love nothing better than to take hikes, mountain bike, or run with our best friends. With the heat wave and the remaining summer now upon us, we MUST take SPECIAL CARE to keep our dogs COOL!
When temperatures reach 85 degrees or above, the pavement can be a frying pan for your dog’s feet, reaching temperatures of 150 degrees! If you cannot walk barefoot on the pavement, your dog shouldn’t be, either. Now imagine the blacktop temperature when the outside air temperature is 100!!!
Dogs cool themselves through the pads on their feet and through panting. Their ability to cool themselves is GREATLY less than your ability to cool yourself. When their pads are hot, they simply cannot cool themselves and this becomes life threatening. Yes, LIFE THREATENING for your dog!
Special things you can do to save your dog’s life:
• Don’t take your dog with you in the car after 9 in the morning or before 8:30 at night, or don’t take your dog at all.
• If you are going to hike, be sure to go places where you know there is a running creek or stream, or expect to carry twice as much water for your dog as you do for yourself. Hike during the cool morning hours or near dusk. Try not to go if the temperatures are in the mid-80s or warmer.
• If you insist upon walking your dog downtown, put protective boots on your dog so its feet don’t burn.
• When you travel, buy special cooling pads, fans or “Vent Locks” for your car and for your dog to lie on. ALWAYS have a PAIL of water in the car. Never leave your dog in an unattended vehicle, even with the windows rolled halfway down! Take a friend so you can leave the car running with the AC on.
• Only walk in SHADED areas! DO NOT go on the bike path where there is no shade or water and burning BLACK pavement!
• NEVER BIKE or RUN with your dog during these hot summer days!
• DO NOT shave your dog, thinking it will keep him cooler. Mother Nature intended for our dogs’ coats to protect them from the elements. When you shave a dog that was intended to have longer hair, the coat can no longer protect him. The coat acts like insulation, just like in your house; it keeps them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
• Pay special attention to older dogs whose ability to cool themselves is even less.
Warning signs that your dog is overheated include a very red tongue, red or white gums, excessive panting, sticky saliva, weakness or dizziness, vomiting or diarrhea. The dog does not have to have all these signs. Seek a veterinarian immediately!
You can have a safe and healthy summer for you and your dog, but ALWAYS take precautions that include your dog’s best interest!
Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit www.positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.