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As Phoenix
area residents, we all know hot brutal the
summer heat can be. This year is no exception.
Your dog can get overheated simply by a walk
down the block, a romp in the backyard, or by
playing catch with a tennis ball. If your dog
is undergoing field training or is a ranch
working dog, overheating can occur even more
quickly.
We
desert dwellers do not have to worry about high
humidity except during the monsoon period but
the heat we endure in the summer provides its
own challenges. We have 4 articles covering
Overheated Dogs in our
Health & Education
section on
our website, under Climate. Please check them
out for more detailed information.
Here are some
tips from a local rescue volunteer that can be
used whether you’re transporting your dog to the
groomer, to the vet, or transporting dogs from
the shelter to a foster home. In all
situations, please remember to carry water for
your 2-legged passengers as well as any 4-legged
passengers.
The fastest
way to cool down an overheated dog is to rub ice
on the area where you would put a collar (the
vocal cords and each side of the neck in that
area). There are two carotid arteries on each
side of the neck and this is the shortest route
to the brain and the heart and works much faster
than anything else. Another tip is to run the
ice back and forth on their stomach and abdomen
area, armpits and inside their back legs, and
then return to the neck area.
A zip-lock
bag full of ice kept in a cooler in the car
works for this and you can also use those frozen
gel cool pads (provided they’re still frozen).
Another tip, if at all possible, run the A/C in
your car/truck/van about 10 minutes before
putting a dog in it.
Please
check out our
Health & Education Library
on our website for 4 different articles covering
overheated dogs and how to cool them off
properly. One article is from a previous
Channel 15 news report, one is a reminder from
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, one is from Jacob-Riley, the
Golden, and the 4th one covers field
training dogs and ranch working dogs by Nate
Baxter DVM in Lebanon, Ohio.
Enjoy the
summer but please don’t overdue it!
(Sections
reprinted from a web posting by Pat Wolter, GPCA
Western Rescue Coordinator) |
