August 4th, 2010
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Individually-packaged alcohol wipes are small and easy to carry. They are also useful if you suspect your dog is overheated and you’ve run out of water.
If your dog is hot and you can’t immediately get out of the heat, it can help to pour water over his head, neck, chest, abdomen and feet. If no water is available, use alcohol wipes on the pads of his feet. Alcohol evaporates faster than water, so it has an enhanced cooling effect. Get overheated dogs out of the heat as quickly as possible, and consult a veterinarian to ensure they recover properly. Note that alcohol can be toxic to your dog when ingested, so use it sparingly. And never put alcohol on a cut or open wound. Irith Bloom is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog, a company offering pet-friendly training services to clients in Los Angeles. |
You mentioned when cooling off your dog you could place water on his head, neck, chest, abdomen, and feet. What about his back like your washing the dog down? Is that bad to do? Sometimes we stopped in a gas station on route and to cool my dog off, I lightly hosed him down (soft spray) with an available water hose at the station. If this is not healthy for a dog to cool him off, I will most certainly stop doing this. thank you for your response.
Ellen: Thank you so much for the great question! There is nothing wrong with hosing your dog down, or getting his back wet. If he enjoys it, definitely keep doing it!