Comments on: How can I Keep my Dog from Overheating?

By: » Time for Some Shameless Self Promotion

» Time for Some Shameless Self Promotion — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:03:43 +0000

[...] am the guest on that particular podcast. Several months ago when I wrote about the subject of preventing canine overheating it proved to be a remarkably controversial subject. So I was a bit hesitant to be interviewed on [...]

By: Abby K9

Abby K9 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:05:25 +0000

Suggesting that the person who asked the original question shave her Saint Bernard in summer is absolutely terrible advice, particularly coming from someone who is supposed to be a knowledgeable professional, a veterinarian. I shudder to think how many people will read this post and run out to get their dogs shaved – leaving them more susceptible to sunburn and heat stroke.

Any experienced groomer or working dog handler can tell you that a double-coated breed, such as the Saint Bernard, the German Shepherd, or the Husky should never be shaved in summer. Their coat acts as insulation, trapping air between the layers of fur, and helping to regulate body temperature at the skin level.

The coat can only do this properly if it is not shaved and if it is kept well maintained by frequent brushing – in double-coated breeds, preferably using an undercoat rake to get any loose fur, mats, and tangles out of the hair.

The other important factor is getting your dogs used to the heat in your location. Unfortunately, most people’s dogs are inside an air-conditioned house nearly all of the day and night, save for walks (which become shorter and shorter the warmer it gets), and do not get a chance to acclimatize. If they had a chance to get out and get used to the weather, they would be doing much better. I’ve seen Tervurens working on K-9 teams in Iraq without dropping dead from the heat – and let me assure you, it gets lots hotter in Iraq than it does in Texas, AND the military does not shave its working dogs, which are mostly double-coated breeds.

The other big problem with this article is that it does absolutely nothing to help people how to recognize symptoms of overheating and how to treat them accordingly. You’ll probably have a whole bunch of people running indoors the second their dogs start panting now, because they’re worried their dogs will overheat.

By: Misty

Misty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:36:12 +0000

My little shawney loves to be outside on the balcony all day. And she doesnt drink water until the night time. How can I know she is not dehiderated and she also wont eat either. she is just a little
Chihuahua.

By: Jan Willison

Jan Willison — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:07:39 +0000

I have a question for the hot weather time and my 2yr old Sheltie named Ozzy I have. How short do you trim their long-haired coat and do you not do it as short as a cocer spanial would be shaved down to grow back and cool him down? How do mthey keep cool in the summer with all that extra hair being the type of dog they are besides keeping him in our air conditioned house on the hot humid days here in Michigan where it is cooler than most other states because of the cool Laked Michigan?

Thanks for responding dogster!!

Jan Willison
jcwgoofylady@yahoo.com

By: Peggy Cole

Peggy Cole — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:57:05 +0000

here’s a question. do the dog’s toenails put holes in the kiddie pool?
how much are kiddie pools?

By: Patsy

Patsy — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:26:37 +0000

Pleas send me a diet for my two year old Rat Terrier.
She is around 20-22 pounds. I know she is over weight.
We do take her for walks in the morning.
Here in North Texas it is hot hot hot.
We feed her one cup of Imas weight control food per day, half in morning and half in evening.
Plenty of water is given to her.
We do give treats ,but have limited them.
Thank you, Pat Taylor

By: Keep Your Dog Cool in the Heat » Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog

Keep Your Dog Cool in the Heat » Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:05:34 +0000

[...] Eric Barchas, our resident vet, also has some great suggestions over at the Vet Blog. Add this entry to your shared bookmark service These icons link to social [...]

By: Michaelle

Michaelle — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:17:29 +0000

I think this is a great topic. But, I’d also like to see what to do when a dog IS in distress because of the heat. I was recently faced with this on a sweltering June afternoon: My fiance and I were enjoying our usual bike ride at DW Feild Park. Before we left the vehicle for our ride, I was commenting on the markings on a large dog that a woman was walkin by with. Later, after we had come almost full circle on our bike and about to return to the vehicle, I passed this same large dog. The owner was sitting on a bench chatting with some other ladies but the dog was about 10 feet away sitting in the shade of the tree. To me, the dog looked to be in distress: He was panting really heavily and was foaming at the mouth (or drooling some very thick drool). I told myself to mind my business and we returned to our truck to load the bikes. We were rounding the circle again to exit the park when I see the woman that had that dog up the street with two women standing nearby. As we near, I realize her dog is laid out on the pavement – I knew they needed help! We cranked up the AC, pulled aside, and I sent my fiance to grab the dog. It took the owner and my fiance to carry the dog because he was huge (a bit overweight) and completely lethargic. We put him in the backseat and drove him and his owner to the vet. During the ride, the woman seemed so oblivious to the distress he dog was experiencing and kept saying that she thought he could make it. Mind you, it was 99 degrees out, in New England, on that day! When we stopped and opened the doors, the woman tried to pull the dog out of the truck thinking he could walk (although he couldn’t manage it when we picked him up). My fiance and I raced to grab him and he began slidding off the seat from her repeated tugs – We were able to get him just before he hit the ground like a sack of potatoes. We left the woman and her dog there – Not knowing what else to do. I hope to god the dog made it and that woman never does something so dumb again. But, I don’t really know what happened after that. I want to believe we saved that dog’s life that day. But, I still have a sense we could have done more. So, please, post some thing on or put me in the direction of the things to do when a dog is experiencing distress from the heat.

By: blondies mama

blondies mama — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:54:07 +0000

I have a 1 yr old Golden Retriever and we live in sunny California. I bought the Furminator and use it on a regular basis, especially during these hot summer months. I also give her ice water with ice cubes, which she loves to crunch on. She has a kiddie pool that she gets wet in during the day, and at night, we have a small, handheld water mister/fan that we use to keep her cool…it really helps!!

By: JIM BEARS MOM

JIM BEARS MOM — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:17:55 +0000

I started giving Jim Bear our toy poodle ice chips in his own special ice bowl. He loves it! It really cools him and he stops panting immediately.
See if he likes crushed ice, if you do not have access, he sounds BIG enough for ice cubes. he should only crunch on a few until he feels cool again. If you monitor him the entire time he is enjoying the ice, he should be ok. by the time he swallows it, it is not that cold
and YES KEEP HIM INDOORS IN ANY WEATHER.
SUMMER AND WINTER
SPRING IS THE ONLY TIME I WANT TO GO OUT AND STAY, SO MY JIM BEAR FEELS THE SAME

and I must agree, about
no do not shave his coat off. it is there to protect him from the heat, now with it off, he surely needs to be in the cool home
where ever is the most comfortable for you he should enjoy as well,