Your Dog In Danger?

This summer's sweltering heat can be deadly for your dog. Here's how to recognize the warning signs!!

On the evening of the fourth of July, Hogar, a 16-month-old bulldog, went outside with his owner for a game of catch. It wasn't especially hot in their Detroit suburb. But, with the humidity high, Hogar panted fiercely as he chased a Frisbee (think stampeding canine cannonball).
After about 15 minutes, Hogar came inside, drank some water and flopped onto the floor. No one thought much of it. Then Vicki Hodgson (Hogar's grandma, as it were) noticed that his chest was heaving, his mouth was gaping and his eyes were brick-red. Hogar was in serious trouble!!!

This summer, record high temperatures have zapped the energy from both people and their pets. For dogs especially, heat strokes is not uncommon. "Once a dog's body temperature reaches 107", warns Dr. Erick Hartelius, a veterinarian in New York, "the cells of the body start to come apart. There is hope- if we get to the animal quickly. But the longer they are hot, and the hotter they are, the less hope there is."

Why do dogs get so hot? They don't have an efficient system for handling the heat, and most don't realize that they should decrease their energy level as temperatures rise. While humans sweat all over, dogs pant to evaporate moisture from the tongue and inside the mouth. And since they pant often- even when not overheated- most owners fail to recognize the problem.

Remember: A dog's mouth is his air-conditioning system. So the danger signals emerge as soon as he turns that air conditioner on high. Panting becomes very fast, and the mouth opens wide to allow maximum air flow. The tongue hangs low, widens and thins out to create as much surface area as possible ( think "slice of bologna"), while the gums, eyes and tongue may turn brick-red as blood rushes to the area. Also look for wide, panicky eyes; stumbling; restlessness; unresponsiveness; and refusal of food and water.

Any dog can get overheated, but the most susceptible are overweight, have a heavy coat or a big body (bullmastiff, Rottweiler, some Labradors) or are excitable and anxious. Short-nosed breeds (bulldogs, boxers, shih-tzu,   lhasa-Apso and pugs) have especially poor cooling systems.

• Get Him Inside or In The Shade: Your canine needs a cool location immediately.

• Wet Him Down: Use a hose or wet tawel. Get him really wet- and focus on hairless areas, especially the belly and mouth.

• Increase Evaporation: Fans and a/c help. Don not put a hot, wet dog into a closed crate- that creates a sauna effect.

• Think Cool- not Cold: Skip the ice. It will contract the blood heat in. You also run the risk of cooling him too fast.

• Let Him Drink: (frequently, in small amounts). If he won't drink, wet his mouth down often.

• Get To a Veterinarian!! : This is an emergency. At high temperatures, dogs can die. There's no time to waste!!