HOW DOGS HANDLE HEAT

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.