18/05/2022
ANOTHER HOT DAY!
How to keep your dog safe in the hot weather
Dogs are very DIFFERENT from humans - not only do they regulate their temperature differently but they also CANNOT take off their fur coat or pop shoes on their feet.
Let's talk about SWEAT!
Tierna (beautifully pictured below) has opted for a short shaded morning walk, lots of shade and avoiding the car...read more to find out why????
Today's post is a sweaty subject, but to start off here's a quick advice list...It could help save a dog's life!
Long hot car journeys ❌
Leaving your dog in the car unsupervised ❌
Midday walks ❌
Early morning walks ✔
Fresh water ✔
Lots of shade ✔
Cool inside areas ✔
Late evening walks ✔
Ok so sweat, what is it? and why does it happen?
So a little about us humans...
When our bodies temperature builds up we perspire, in some humans this is very obvious. Everyone perspires, however some more so than others.
Sweating is one of the ways that our body regulates its temperature, in which the sweat glands are distributed over most of our body's surface. When our internal temperature rises the sweat provides a slick of moisture over the skin, which then begins to evaporate. As a fluid evaporates it cools, and in that way the sweat helps to lower our body temperature by essentially wrapping us in a nice cool layer.
IMPORTANT - DOGS ARE DIFFERENT!
A dog's skin is quite different and most of the dog's sweat glands are located around its foot pads.
Rather than relying upon sweat, the dog mainly relies on panting to cool down. The moisture on the tongue evaporates and the heavy breathing also allows the moist lining of their lungs to serve as a surface from which moisture can evaporate. This successfully helps the the dog to manage a significant cooling of his/her body temperature.
HOWEVER...
When put in EXTREME circumstances this mechanism can be significantly inhibited (have you ever tried to breath in a hot car with the windows closed, or panted to catch your breath after a run?!).
ALSO...
A dog also will try to cool off by dilating or expanding blood vessels in their face and ears.
This mechanism only works best if it's not too hot outside and helps to cool the dog's blood by causing it to flow closer to the surface of the skin. Add a fur coat and bare paws and you really are putting your dog in a vulnerable position.
So please, please REMEMBER just because YOU can cope in the heat doesn't mean your dog can!
Thanks for reading
Helen Motteram
