Midge, Lola, and the fat Doctor have been walking daily on our trail to Gray’s Lake and back, which usually translates to 3.5 to 5 miles, depending on how energized I feel. I strongly recommend exercising your dog daily—it is not only healthy, but leads to good behavior and bonding. But last week the weather was awful, even at 6:15 A.M., due to the high humidity and high temps, so I thought I would discuss summer heat and how it relates to your pets, particularly if you enjoy exercising with them.
Some things to remember: First of all, dogs do not sweat, so getting rid of heat is a problem for them. They are able to evaporate small amounts of heat through their tongues, thus the panting during heavy exercise. This is simply not enough to cool them down. Believe me, I have no trouble sweating. All that evaporation from my skin cools me, even though it doesn’t feel like it.
Secondly, many of our dogs are either black or some other dark color, which means that they absorb even more heat than other dogs. Many of the heat stroke dogs I have seen over the years have been black—some of them overheated just sleeping in the backyard in the sun, so jogging or running makes them very prone to heat stroke.
In addition to color, many breeds have either a lot of very long fur, or a very thick undercoat which makes them less heat-tolerant. Some people think that they need those coats for insulation, but nothing could be further from true. Those fur coats are hot!
Another factor is the type of dog you have. Breeds like Midge and Lola are referred to as brachycephalic breeds. Brachycephalic breeds are typified by their short muzzles; Boston Terriers, Boxers, Pugs, Shih-Tzu’s, Lhasas, Bulldogs, and others. You get the idea. Along with short muzzles, these breeds often come with excessive soft palates. Besides making them world-class snoring machines, this excessive soft palate interferes with efficient breathing, and is usually worse in heat. Midge is very heat-intolerant and we have to be very careful with her. Lola, on the other hand, is much less so. Breeds with normal noses do better in heat.
Age of your dog is also an important factor. There is no question that older dogs have more trouble than younger ones.
Another thing I have experienced is that some breeds and some individuals within certain breeds are their own worst enemy. Many hunting dog breeds will actually run themselves to death in the heat. They are so driven to hunt, which involves a lot of running, that they will actually go, go, go, until they die of heat stroke.
So what do we do? Take all of these factors into consideration and err on the side of caution. Dogs do not tolerate heat as well as we do. If there is any doubt, put them back in the air-conditioned house. Walk or jog in the early morning before the sun is high. Always take water and a collapsible bowl for your pet, and keep them well hydrated. Cool your dogs off with the hose during extreme periods of heat, or get a child’s wading pool for them. Keep long, thick coats trimmed in the summer. Exercise is good for you and your dog, but be cautious.
If you think your dog has over-heated, run the hose over them for 20 to 30 minutes before you bring them in to the hospital. Just a 10–15 minute car ride can spell failure, so be certain to cool them off first.
One more thing, and we still see it all the time; on an 80 degree day, the temperature in your car can reach 130 degrees in twenty minutes, even with the windows cracked, so never leave your dog in your car, even if only for a short time.
So keep all of these things in mind as you enjoy the summer months, keep your pets exercised, and do so with common sense. And who knows, maybe before the end of the summer, Midge and Lola will get a couple pounds off of their fat daddy!
See you on the trail!
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