Tips to keep your dog cool on hot days!

Driving down the E. Beltline this afternoon i was watching my speed AND my thermometer....97, 98, 99, then WHOA it hit 100 degrees! On hot days, it's hard enough sometimes for people to stay cool, well think if we were covered in fur like our little 4-legged friends. Heat stroke is the most dangerous condition that can occur. It is caused by an extremely high body temperature (rectal temperature of 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit), which leads to nervous system abnormalities that may include lethargy, weakness, collapse or coma. Abnormally high body temperature develops after increased muscular activity with impaired ability to give off heat due to high heat and humidity or respiratory obstruction. In other words, your dog just can't cool his body down fast enough. While dogs release body heat from their skin, panting also allows evaporation of water from the respiratory tract and is an effective method of heat dissipation. But, when these mechanisms are overwhelmed, hyperthermia and heat stroke usually develop. The elevation in body temperature stimulates the body to release substances that activate inflammation. Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps. All of these conditions can occur after exposure to extremely high environmental temperatures.

All mammals can suffer from these heat-related illnesses, but they don't have to. With the proper precautions, all of these heat-related illnesses can be prevented.

Here are some important tips from petplace.com that I use with Baylie and can also help keep your dog safe as temperatures rise this summer:

1. Keep pets in well-ventilated areas.
2. Provide exercise early in the morning or late in the evening (the coolest times of the day)
3. Minimize exercise in hot weather.
4. Do not leave your pet in a car for any reason at any time - ever!
5. Whenever possible keep pets indoors in a comfortable environment during extreme weather conditions.
6. Limit sun exposure during the mid-day hours.
7. Give your pet plenty of fresh water, and leave the water in a shady area.
8. For a sudden high temperature change, allow your pet to acclimate. Many cases of heat-related illness occur in the spring when your pet is not yet used to the new warmer temperatures.
9. When traveling to a hotter climate, allow several days to become acclimated before allowing any vigorous exercise for your pet; work up to it gradually.
10. Ensure that puppies and kittens drink adequate amounts of liquids.
11. Choose cool toys for your dog. I give Baylie plain ice cubes, but i also have a powder treat that I mix with warm water and freeze in ice trays for "Ice Pups" popsicles :) She loves them and gets them after every walk.
12. One last tip that wasn't in the email is purchase your doggie a pool, or give her access to cool water (like a tub) that she can jump into to cool down her body--or paws :) This is how "tubby time" started last summer. We would jump into cool water after walks to cool down. She absolutely loves it!