The ‘Dog Days of Summer’ are especially tough on dogs. Here’s how to keep them safe

Renee Jones has seen her dog Spike struggle with the heat There was one time Spike had gotten really sick on a hike It was mostly my fault for not taking the hot temperatures seriously she revealed Midway through the hike Spike was overheating I could hear his breathing become more exasperated I this instant carried him back to my car to go to the vet and get him hydrated again After that I know better to just be more aware and better prepared Jones and Spike are not alone Summer heat is especially tough on dogs And living in the city presents unique challenges I live on the sixth floor of my apartment complex revealed Jones who spoke to Billy Penn at a dog park at th and Reed streets It s hard when the temperatures are so bad I still have to walk Spike in the heat and his paws suffer It s so hard I just let him pee on a pee pad if I can t access the outside when it s scorching The dog park helps but getting there can be problematic I came here to cool off and get particular grass to comfort Spike but it s still a -minute walk from my apartment she disclosed The concrete walking here can be excruciatingly painful for dogs There are things you can do to lessen the risks for your pets revealed Fionnuala Callahan the diagnostic director of Veterinary Crisis Group VEG Philly an urgency clinic with two locations in Philadelphia We cannot forget our little or big loved dogs are just as much at threat as people Callahan stated Our pups are not an exception There are options to lessen the danger of heatstroke and severe hydration for dogs and other animals Callahan mentioned the first heat waves of the season are the preponderance dangerous and her ER saw a fair number of affected pets during June s hot spell It s worth noting that Friday is expected to bring another spell of extreme heat The good news Callahan shared is that animals acclimate over time Even so you should know the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs They include Confusion Moving more slowly than usual Falling over Not acting like themselves Loss of interest in playing Sleepiness Struggling to get up Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke which can be life threatening Sometimes they will have collapse episodes if they re really affected Callahan warned Other things to look for excessive panting if they can t catch their breath or settle down or get confident She also commented that gastrointestinal effects like diarrhea or blood present in stool can be signs of real problems If bruising and red spotting happens bring them to the crisis room as soon as accomplishable Callahan reported There s a lot you can do to avoid an ER visit Keep your pet hydrated Callahan explained adding that for those living without AC it s fundamental to set up fans to circulate air and be sure there is shade available If you can Callahan disclosed it s best to Limit trips outside to mornings and evenings when the temperature is at its lowest in the day Bring plenty of water If the dog is small consider carrying them to and from a grassy area rather than having them walk on concrete or pavement Doggie heat-fighting treats Victoria Miller an associate at Amelie s Bark Shop on Passyunk Avenue in South Philly sees dogs come in every day for treats for snacks and to cool off from the heat On especially hot days we keep the AC very high so the dogs just drop to the floor and cool off Miller revealed We keep our water for them inside too as it gets way too hot out Miller shared several options available for pet owners including cooling rags that wrap around a dog She explained that since dogs don t sweat the damp rag serves as a similar function as sweat does for people Victoria also recommended particular dog popsicles to help them cool down Callahan stated specific dogs struggle more with the heat especially ones historically bred in colder climates or those with short pushed-in noses flat faces and wide skulls Their anatomy means they cannot dissipate heat as fast as other dogs and can suffer swelling in their airways If a dog is panting loudly bring them to the closest crisis clinic directly Callahan mentioned Jones Spike is a Bernese Mountain Dog which comes from the Swiss Alps She knows to keep an eye on him I love Spike he s my boy she noted He loves to be operational so it takes time to adjust to the heat but I don t want my dog bored It s dependably better to think of your dog as a small child You wouldn t keep a small child putting their baby hands on the hot concrete floor It s the same with any animal He s so evolving it s on me to make sure he takes it slow and steady once the heat hits so we prevent anything like what happened at the hike The post The Dog Days of Summer are especially tough on dogs Here s how to keep them safe appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY