20/07/2021
IT’S TOO HOT!
I’m certainly not the first to warn of the danger of taking your dog out in this weather, but having seen/heard of several dogs dying of heatstroke, we all need to pull together for the sake of our dogs.
Unfortunately, it’s so abnormal for us to have to worry about an excess of heat in the UK, but it’s imperative that we listen to the advice.
Brachycephalic breeds (such as Pugs, French Bull dogs, Bulldogs, Pekingese) struggle to breathe at the best of times. One way that dogs cool down is through respiration, your dog pants in order lower his/her body temperature. As Brachy breeds (flat faced) aren’t able to breathe air in and out as efficiently, keeping them cool in the first place (in spite of heatwaves) is so crucial. This means limited exercise, low arousal activities and staying out of the heat even when temperatures are mild.
Greyhounds, lurches and whippets are muscular and lean. They have very little body fat to act as insulation against external heat. Their muscles also generate a lot of heat in activity, so they too are particularly susceptible to heat stroke.
Double coated breeds, such as Retriever’s and Chow Chow’s, have coats that trap heat; imagine wearing a thermal vest in the blazing sun.
The list is endless, and just because your dog doesn’t fit into one of these categories, IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE SAFE.
IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK.
Here’s some ideas of what you can do indoors instead:
-frozen Kongs
-destruction boxes
-frozen licki mats
-scent/sniffing games indoors
-maze feeders and puzzle toys
The list is endless!
