July/August • 2020 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 65
There are also injuries sustained by dogs
every year from walking on hot pavement.
Many people don’t think about how hot the
road or sidewalk becomes in the summer,
and for how long into the day it remains hot.
Your options are to buy booties for your
dog (yes, such a thing exists), walk on grass
(remember, sand at the beach is very hot as
well) or simply wait until sunset to walk.
HEAT STROKE KILLS DOGS
This is one of those times when it would be
very handy if dogs could talk. After all, how
do we know when our pet is too hot? One of
the fi rst things to look for is excessive panting
or the inability to get comfortable. If you’ve
come in from a hot walk and your dog is
drooling uncontrollably, is almost
hyperventilating, is unsteady on its feet and
keeps moving from place to place, it’s time to
take some measures to cool it down.
Secondary signs of heatstroke
in dogs include bright red (or
strange-colored) gums,
shivering, vomiting, diarrhea
or mental dullness. In the
worst case, the dog will
lose consciousness.
If you’re pet is a
brachycephalic breed
– meaning a fl at-faced
breed such as a pug or
bulldog – you must be
extra careful. Dogs that are
older or overweight, or have
thick fur, also experience
heatstroke more quickly.
A word about thick fur:
Some dogs need their fur
as an insulator against the
heat. Some breeds such
as samoyeds, huskies and
malamutes have several
layers of fur designed to
keep them warm in cold
weather and cooler in hotter
months. While you or I would
hate to sport multiple layers in
100-degree weather, your
pets’ fur coats are actually
providing them with relief
fom the heat. Always ask
your veterinarian what
their thoughts are prior to
shaving your pet.
If your dog is experiencing
heatstroke, the most important
thing is to get them to a cool
area and apply cool water to their
bodies (never give your pet aspirin to
lower their temperature, by the way). If your
dog is unconscious, make sure no water
enters the nose or mouth as you follow these
steps.
Your best bet is to put the dog in a bathtub
fi lled with cool water. If a tub isn’t available,
you can use a shower, a hose (run the hose
for a few seconds to let the hot water fl ow
Every year veterinarians treat hundreds
of heat stroke cases and, heartbreakingly,
some end in tragedy. Many are a
result of owners exercising their dogs
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., when
temperatures can be at their peak.
Heat-related illnesses and deaths are
preventable, but it’s critical to know
when dogs are at risk.
89 degrees:Heat stroke is a major
risk, regardless of condition, size or
breed of dog
87 to 82 degrees: Dangerous for all
dogs, but life-threatening for larger
breeds and puppies, as well as dogs
who are flat-faced or obese
80 to 75 degrees: Extreme caution
should be taken as most dogs,
particularly those who are large,
obese, flat-faced or young, will find
these temperatures very
uncomfortable.
73 to 68 degrees: Even at these
temperatures dogs are at risk of
getting heat stroke if exercised
rigorously, or are suffering from
underlying conditions such as obesity
or breathing difficulties.
66 degrees and below: Generally
safe for all dogs to exercise, but keep
an eye on large, obese or flat-faced
breeds.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND