06/13/2022
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING!!! Please pass this along as we know we are preaching to the choir. These are our doctors dogs, they are very used to being outside with cool shaded concrete, multiple water buckets changed twice daily and a kiddie pool, they will NOT be outside today from 10am-4pm, it is too hot even for the most fit, well acclimated dogs that are young and healthy. Even during broader hours than this you have to be extremely vigilant when your pet is outside. Please do not leave your pet outside in this weather. Many things predispose a pet to a heat stroke in these conditions including but not limited to the following: excessive weight of any amount, matted hair coat, any internal disease processes, external and internal parasites, the very young/old, poor diet, anxiety, high drive retrieving dogs, brachycephalic (short nose) breeds or their crosses, lack of available fresh water being changed out every 2-3 hours, lack of 100 percent shade, access to wildlife to chase…. Do not walk your pet except in the very early morning hours, the pavement does not cool enough in the evenings to go on night time walks.
If you think your pet is experiencing heat related disease then move to air conditioning or fans and place cold wet towels over bare skin areas like inside of upper rear leg, under front limbs, clip hair on neck if hair is long and place in this area as well for better access to the jugular vein. Offer normal temperature water but do not feed for at least 6-12 hours, intestinal tract is a shock organ and does not need to process food when the body is overheated. Shocking the body with cold ice water is NOT recommended, best to bring temp down gradually. Stay cool out there and protect our pets!!!
