dogs

The hot and humid summer conditions are here to stay for most of us, so here is the annual Slowtwitch article on the special attention needs to be placed on how to run safely with your dog.

In the course of my daily jaunts on the roads and trails I see far too many dogs who are at risk of becoming a victim of the hot weather. This unfortunate reality is due to their owners’ lack of knowledge or lack of responsibility to exercise safely with their four-legged friends.

Last week temperatures in our area exceeded the 100 degree mark. During this stretch of hot weather I encountered what could have been a fatal situation for a large-breed Airedale Terrier who was out for what he thought was a morning outing on the trails.

Dan and I had finished exercising all of our dogs very early, and it was now time for me to set out on my daily run through the mountais. I was only about four miles into my run when I passed in opposite direction a group of three. They appeared to be finishing their run with a friendly sprint. The temperature by this time was well into the 80s, even though it was just 9:30 in the morning.

About a half-mile further, approaching me was an exhausted and heavily breathing Airedale. I and the Airedale stopped and approached each other slowly. When he saw that I was friendly he came toward me tail wagging. I dowsed his belly with water from my water bottle then cupped my hand to allow him to drink. He was showing signs of heat exhaustion. I was very concerned and worried for his safety. Now, at this point, the threesome had finished their competition and I am sure their egos were satiated. Now, though, they realized their dog was nowhere in sight

I walked with this dog back to the owners, as he did not know which direction they went on the trail. He quietly followed right behind me and now I could see his owners. I was less concerned whether it was "any of my business" than to do what I could to prevent this dog from suffering like this again. As I returned the dog to its owners I told them I was very concerned about his current condition, as he was panting excessively, his under-belly was extremely hot, and he was starting to show signs of blotching in the area of his groin. I told the owners that I always carry a water bottle whether running or walking with all of my dogs in the cool morning hours because it does not take long for your dog to overheat––especially those approaching their golden years. They thanked me, and we both departed in opposite directions on the trail––I to continue on my run, and they, hopefully, to cool their dog off.

SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION:

panting excessively
distressed look
unable to stand
movement uncontrolled or agitated
gums are deep red
dog starts to fall behind

YOUR ACTIONS SHOULD BE:

Cool the dog immediately by wetting with cool water, then placing him in front of a cool fan or cool location within the house; monitor him closely.

Seek veterinary help if the dog does not respond to treatment after 10 minutes, especially if the dog starts to vomit.

PREVENTION:

Don't confine your dog to a poorly ventilated area, such as your car or home during excessive hot weather; a problem can occur in only take a few minutes.

Carry a water bottle, and teach your dog to drink from it. This is a good idea whether running or walking with your dog in hot weather. Your dog will eventually like drinking from the bottle––with our dogs it's a game––even when conditions are comfortable.

Realize that larger dogs are more prone to overheating than mid-sized dogs, and the fact that a larger dog might be short-haired does not change that. Older dogs will suffer in the heat more than younger ones.

It might seem intuitive that dogs need less water than humans. That might be true with coyotes, but not with the breeds of domesticated dogs our ancestors have given us. It is quite the opposite. Humans are camels compared to dogs.

You may have to dramatically shorten the duration of exercise for your dog during particularly hot temperatures. Exercise your dog early in the morning, when it’s still cool.

Don’t ever use those types of muzzles––often made of cloth and velcro––that keep your dog from opening his mouth. Panting is the primary way dogs cool off. If you need to use a muzzle, use one which allows the dog total freedom to pant.

If you live in rattlesnake country, like we do, watch for them, especially during the summer. Your dog may have more curiosity than intuition.

NOTE: JulieAnne writes about dog safety for Slowtwitch and other periodicals, such as Offtrack Greyhound, the quarterly publication of California's Greyhound Adoption Center.

Further information about JulieAnne's coaching services, contact julieanne@semicolon.org. or visit, Semicolon.org.