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A Hot Dog By Any Other Name
(but without the onions, mustard and mayo…)
By: Debbie Boffa
It’s no joke walking
around with a fur coat on with the temperatures soaring to the
nineties (that’s in Fahrenheit or old money for us oldies…) if
you’ve ever wondered what it like wrap several blankets around
yourself and go out there and try it! You feel as if you are
suffocating in no time at all – so think what your pet feels
like if they can’t escape from it?
This is the point at
which I usually get on my bandwagon about leaving dogs in cars –
about what I would do to anyone I caught doing this in even
moderately hot weather – the language is deplorable and the
graphics are very bloody and involve a lot of pain, so I’m going
to spare you that for the moment. Because (and only because) I
want to give you some helpful little tips for keeping your dogs
(and cats or other furry lovelies for that matter) cooler as the
temperatures climb.
These simple tips
will help keep them cooler on even the hottest
days:
·
If
possible, let your animals come inside during the worst heat
every day. Early afternoon is the hottest time of day for any
living thing: letting your cats or dogs soak up some air
conditioning or even a fan for a few hours every day will keep
them cool and stop your worrying. I always put them into a room
on the other side of the house from the sun, where I will also
have kept the curtain or blinds drawn from early morning
(although the windows will be open behind them if I have no
aircon). I then place a fan in front of the open window part and
let it draw in the fresh air. If your dog insists in following
you around all the time and wont stay in this room then you may
have to put a small barrier in their way to stop them, but I
never actually close the door on them.
·
If they
really can’t come inside then they MUST have shelter of some
kind to completely escape from the sun. And I know it’s obvious
but please remember that the sun moves around! They may have had
some shade when you left them outside in the morning but will
they still have it if you are not gong to be home until late
afternoon? Make sure that your pets have access to shady spots
at all times. Trees are the best sources of protection from the
sun. If that isn’t possible, make sure that your pet can get
under a covered area, such as a patio or porch.
·
Keep the
pet’s water supply cool and fresh. The water will heat up as the
day passes, so either change the dish often or invest in an
auto-watering system. Many models attach to your outdoor water
faucet: as your pet depletes the water supply, the system adds
more without overflowing or making a mess. This goes too for the
water inside the house – I even put ice cubes into my dog’s
water during the day as he also thinks they are fun too (but I
do hate the crunching afterwards…)
·
Never
leave your animal in a car, even for just a few minutes. The
temperature inside the vehicle quickly rises to the point where
any living thing inside will either die or become very, very
sick. Even if you park in the shade and leave the windows down
an inch or two, you’re still putting your beloved pet at risk –
PLEASE DON’T DO IT. You should leave your dog at home where he
can stay in the shade or inside and have plenty of access to
fresh, cool water. You may feel like a bad person making them
stay at home but be strong – you know it’s the right thing to do
for them!
·
Don’t
expect your pets to be playful or overly active on hot days.
They don’t need to overexert themselves any more than you do.
Like humans, pets can suffer from heat exhaustion or heat
strokes. But DO make sure that their water intake is good. If
they appear to be drinking less than normal try to encourage
them (if they really do stop drinking then get them to the vets
quick)
·
Some pets
love to swim. Provide these animals with a kid’s wading pool so
that they can cool off whenever they get too hot. You can also
take your dog with you on trips to the lake or other body of
water. If he loves to swim, the cool water will be great. The
time he gets to spend with his human masters only makes the
experience better for everybody.
·
You might
be tempted to shave off all of your pet’s hair, but this is not
a good idea. The hair protects your animal’s skin from the sun.
The hair also helps channel cool air to your pet’s skin, which
helps him stay cooler. Instead of buzzing everything, trim the
hair to a shorter length. A professional groomer can do this
inexpensively and properly. Some dogs even get sun burnt on
their noses, so if your dog is a sun worshipper then keep an eye
out! My neighbor has pigs and horses and she is often out there
putting on the sun cream – it’s a real scream!
If your pet seems
sick or otherwise abnormal, call your veterinarian immediately.
If your cat or dog is dehydrated or is suffering from heat
exhaustion, he’ll need quick treatment to get well again.
My dog doesn’t like
the summer very much so I consider it my duty to make sure that
he’s as comfortable as he can be. I only walk him early morning
and early evening when the worst of the sun has gone and if I
have to, I will make him stay inside for his own good. I am
prepared to be cruel to be kind because he’s so important to me.
Now you need to do your bit!
About the author:
Debbie Boffa has
a rescued Briard called Arnie that has taken some real
dedication to get around his poor start in life. Her experiences
have lead to her new book ‘Dog Obedience Training’ and a new
website
www.trainingdogsrus.com. She’d love to see you there to get
your FREE dog training tips!
© 2006 Debbie Boffa |
