The Athletic Dog With Dr. Sherman Canapp, 13180 F Garrett Highway #603, Oakland, MD (2026)

Performance · Wellness · Orthopedic Health
for Sporting & Working Dogs
Podcast.
1:1 Personalized Teleconsults and Performance Optimization with Dr. Sherman Canapp.

08/08/2026

Every performance team has two athletes.

We spend so much time thinking about how we prepare our dogs for training and competition, but what about the person on the other end of the leash?

Sleep. Hydration. Nutrition. Travel. Stress. Mental focus. And, for those of us physically participating alongside our dogs, our own warm-up.

They all matter.

For Part 4 of The Athletic Dog Summer Performance Series, we’re turning the conversation around and looking at the other athlete, you.

⬇️ Full article below.

THE ATHLETIC DOG

Summer Performance Series – Part 4

Preparing the Other Athlete: Why You Should Be Ready Before Your Dog Is

When we prepare our canine athletes for competition, we tend to focus on the dog.

Did they sleep well?

Are they hydrated?

Did they warm up properly?

Are they mentally focused?

We carefully monitor every stride, every jump, every turn, every retrieve, and every run.

But here’s a question we rarely ask…

Are you ready?

Because every performance team has two athletes.

One has four legs.

One has two.

And whether you realize it or not…

Your dog is reading you long before you step to the start line.

⸻

Preparation Is More Than a Warm-Up

Being prepared isn’t simply about stretching your muscles before you run alongside your dog.

It’s about arriving physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to perform.

Before your next competition, ask yourself the same questions you ask about your dog.

• Did I get enough sleep?

• Am I well hydrated?

• Have I fueled my body appropriately?

• Am I mentally focused and present?

• Am I still feeling the effects of yesterday’s drive, last night’s flight, or crossing multiple time zones?

These questions don’t just affect your performance.

They affect your dog’s as well.

⸻

Your Dog Is Reading You

Dogs are extraordinary observers of human behavior.

Long before we give a verbal cue, they are already gathering information from us.

They notice our posture.

Our breathing.

Our facial expressions.

The tension in our muscles.

The confidence, or uncertainty, in our movement.

They recognize changes in our voice.

They respond to our emotions.

Research continues to demonstrate just how closely dogs interpret human body language and emotional state. Whether you’re calm and composed or rushed and distracted, your dog notices.

They’re not simply watching the course.

They’re watching you.

⸻

Why Your Readiness Matters

When you’re physically and mentally prepared, everything becomes more consistent.

You move better.

You react faster.

You communicate more clearly.

Your timing improves.

Your handling becomes smoother.

Your confidence increases.

Your dog responds to all of it.

Better communication creates better teamwork.

Better teamwork creates better performance.

⸻

The Science Behind Warming Up

For sports where you’re running alongside your dog, such as agility, canicross, bikejoring, flyball, disc, trail running, and many working disciplines, a proper warm-up prepares your own body for the demands ahead.

Just like your dog, your body undergoes important physiological changes:

Muscles become warmer and produce force more efficiently.

Tendons become more compliant and better able to tolerate rapid loading.

Joints improve lubrication through increased synovial fluid movement.

The nervous system becomes sharper, improving coordination, reaction time, balance, and movement quality.

The goal isn’t to become tired.

The goal is to become ready.

⸻

Readiness Goes Beyond Exercise

Physical preparation is only part of the equation.

Competition often means long travel days, unfamiliar environments, altered sleep schedules, early mornings, changing weather, and the emotional stress that naturally comes with wanting to perform well.

Those factors influence your concentration, decision-making, reaction time, patience, and communication.

They can also influence your dog’s confidence.

The best teams prepare for all of it.

⸻

The Take-Home Message

Performance begins long before the first obstacle.

Long before the first retrieve.

Long before the first jump.

Long before the first bite.

It begins with preparation.

Prepare your dog.

Prepare yourself.

Prepare your partnership.

Because the best canine athletes don’t perform alone.

They perform with us.

And the stronger, healthier, and more prepared we are…

The better teammates we become.

I’d love to hear from you.

What do you do to prepare yourself before competition?

Do you have a personal routine that helps you feel physically and mentally ready before you ask your dog to perform?

Share it below, your routine may help another handler become a better teammate for their own canine athlete.

⸻

Dr. Sherman Canapp

Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Board-Certified Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist

Performance Medicine • Longevity

The Athletic Dog

Find the Problem. Fix the Cause. Restore Performance.

⸻

07/30/2026

THE ATHLETIC DOG

Summer Performance Series – Part 3

Preparing the Canine Athlete: Why Simply Walking Isn’t a Warm-Up

Have you ever watched your dog explode out of the crate, drive off the start line, fly over the first jump, launch off the dock, or sprint after a retrieve…and thought,

“Wow…they look ready.”

They certainly look ready.

But here’s the question…

Is their body actually prepared for what’s about to happen?

Not necessarily.

In Part 1, we talked about how heat affects the canine athlete.

In Part 2, we explored why many high-drive dogs don’t know when to stop.

Today, let’s look at what happens before performance even begins—and why those first few minutes may be some of the most important of the entire training session or competition.

One of the most common misconceptions is that simply walking—whether around the parking lot, the trial grounds, ringside, or along a trail—is all a canine athlete needs before explosive activity.

Walking certainly has value.

It gives your dog a chance to eliminate, explore the environment, mentally settle before work begins, and begin preparing the body for exercise.

But from a physiological standpoint…

A warm-up is much more than simply getting the body moving.

It is a carefully coordinated series of changes occurring throughout nearly every major system in the body—changes designed to prepare muscles, tendons, joints, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system for the demands that are about to follow.

Elite human athletes don’t warm up because it’s tradition.

They warm up because physiology matters.

The same is true for our canine athletes.

A WARM-UP ISN’T ABOUT GETTING TIRED

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a warm-up should leave your dog feeling like they’ve already exercised.

In reality, the opposite is true.

The goal of a warm-up is not to use up energy.

It’s to increase readiness.

A properly designed warm-up prepares the body for performance while preserving the physical and mental reserves needed for the activity itself.

Think of it as turning on—and fine-tuning—every physiological system before asking it to perform at its highest level.

Your dog should finish the warm-up feeling prepared.

Not fatigued.

A warm-up should increase readiness—not decrease reserves.

STARTING WITH THE MUSCLES

One of the first things that changes during a warm-up is muscle temperature.

It may only increase by a degree or two, but that seemingly small change has surprisingly large effects.

Within the muscle fibers, the chemical reactions responsible for producing movement begin occurring more efficiently.

The proteins responsible for muscle contraction cycle more rapidly.

Muscles contract faster.

They relax faster.

They produce force more efficiently.

Research in both human and veterinary exercise physiology has consistently shown that warmer muscles perform better than cold muscles.

But there’s another important benefit.

Warmer muscles are generally better able to absorb and transmit force during explosive movements.

Whether your dog is accelerating, landing after a jump, climbing over an obstacle, or making a sharp turn, those tissues are better prepared to handle the loads being placed upon them.

The goal isn’t simply to make muscles warmer.

It’s to prepare them to perform.

FOLLOWING THE BLOOD FLOW

Muscles can’t work without oxygen and nutrients.

As activity begins, the cardiovascular system rapidly adapts.

Heart rate increases.

Cardiac output rises.

Blood vessels supplying working muscles begin to dilate, allowing greater delivery of oxygen and nutrients while helping remove carbon dioxide and metabolic byproducts.

This redistribution of blood flow doesn’t happen instantly.

It develops progressively throughout the warm-up.

By the time your dog reaches the start line, the body has already begun directing its resources toward the tissues that will need them most.

It’s another reminder that your dog’s first maximal effort shouldn’t also be their first meaningful movement of the day.

TENDONS NEED TIME TOO

Muscles often receive most of the attention.

But tendons play an equally important role in athletic performance.

Think of tendons like biological springs.

Every time your dog accelerates, lands from a jump, changes direction, or pushes off the ground, tendons temporarily store elastic energy before releasing it to help create efficient movement.

Cold tendons are generally less compliant than warmed tissues.

As movement continues and temperature rises, tendons become better prepared to absorb and release force.

That doesn’t make them injury-proof.

But it does help them perform the job they were designed to do.

For dogs competing in agility, flyball, dock diving, disc, Fast CAT, field work, protection sports, and many other athletic disciplines, those repeated loading cycles occur hundreds—sometimes thousands—of times.

Preparation matters.

THE JOINTS ARE PREPARING TOO

Movement doesn’t only prepare muscles and tendons.

It prepares the joints.

Articular cartilage has no direct blood supply.

Instead, it receives much of its nutrition from synovial fluid—the remarkable lubricant found within healthy joints.

As joints begin moving through their normal range of motion, synovial fluid circulates more effectively across the cartilage surfaces.

This improves lubrication while also helping nourish the cartilage itself.

In a very real sense…

Movement helps prepare the joint for movement.

It’s one more reason why expecting maximal athletic performance immediately after stepping out of the crate may ask the body to do more than it’s prepared to do.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IS WARMING UP TOO

Warm-ups aren’t just about muscles.

They’re also about communication.

Every athletic movement depends on constant communication between the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, tendons, and joints.

As activity begins, the nervous system becomes increasingly prepared for rapid, coordinated movement.

Motor units are recruited more efficiently.

Proprioception—the body’s awareness of limb position—becomes more refined.

Timing improves.

Coordination improves.

Reaction time improves.

The goal isn’t simply faster movement.

It’s better movement.

That distinction matters.

Many injuries don’t occur because a dog isn’t strong enough.

They occur because movement quality changes at exactly the wrong moment.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE SKIP THE WARM-UP?

Can a dog perform without warming up?

Of course.

Many do.

The better question is whether they’re performing at their physiological best.

Without adequate preparation, muscles may produce force less efficiently.

Tendons may be less prepared to manage rapidly changing loads.

Joints may not yet be optimally lubricated.

The nervous system may not yet be fully coordinated for precise athletic movement.

None of these changes guarantee injury.

But together, they reduce the body’s margin for error.

When athletic performance demands explosive acceleration, rapid deceleration, jumping, landing, twisting, and repeated changes in direction, small physiological differences can become meaningful.

Preparation doesn’t eliminate risk.

But it helps the body manage it.

WHAT SHOULD A WARM-UP ACCOMPLISH?

A thoughtful warm-up should gradually prepare every major physiological system involved in athletic performance.

Its goals include:

• Increasing muscle temperature

• Improving circulation

• Enhancing oxygen delivery

• Preparing tendons for repeated loading

• Improving joint lubrication

• Activating the nervous system

• Refining coordination and movement quality

• Preparing the dog mentally for the work ahead

Exactly how you accomplish those goals will vary depending on your dog’s sport, age, conditioning, previous injuries, environmental conditions, and the intensity of the activity.

But the underlying physiology remains remarkably consistent.

Preparation always precedes performance.

THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

Elite athletes don’t warm up because they’re fragile.

They warm up because physiology matters.

Your dog’s body doesn’t become ready the moment you open the crate door.

It becomes ready through movement.

Through rising muscle temperature.

Through improved circulation.

Through joints that become better lubricated.

Through tendons that become better prepared to absorb and release force.

Through a nervous system that becomes sharper, faster, and more coordinated.

Simply walking gets your dog moving.

A thoughtful warm-up prepares your dog to perform.

Because…

Performance doesn’t begin at the start line.

It begins with preparation.

I’d love to hear from you…

What does your dog’s warm-up routine look like before training or competition?

Have you found certain exercises or routines that seem to help your dog perform more confidently or consistently?

Or has there ever been a time when you realized afterward that your dog wasn’t as prepared as you thought?

Share your experiences below. Your routine—or your lesson learned—may help another handler better prepare their own canine athlete.

⸻

Dr. Sherman Canapp

Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Board-Certified Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist

Performance Medicine • Longevity

The Athletic Dog

⸻

07/22/2026

🔥 SUMMER PERFORMANCE SERIES – PART 2

Why Dogs Don’t Stop

High-drive dogs are extraordinary athletes.

Their focus, determination, and willingness to work are what make them exceptional—but those same qualities can also increase their risk of injury.

One of the most important skills we can develop as handlers is learning to recognize the subtle changes that often occur before obvious lameness, fatigue, heat injury, or a more significant musculoskeletal problem develops.

Today’s article explores why so many canine athletes don’t know when to stop, what is happening inside the brain and body during intense exercise, and why recognizing subtle changes early is one of the most important skills we can develop as handlers.

They bring the drive.

We bring the judgment.

⸻

THE ATHLETIC DOG

Summer Performance Series – Part 2

Why Dogs Don’t Stop

The Drive, the Danger, and Our Responsibility

One of the most common assumptions owners make is:

“If my dog were becoming overheated, exhausted, or injured, they would stop.”

Unfortunately, many dogs do not.

And the dogs most likely to continue are often the dogs we admire most:

• Sport dogs
• Working dogs
• High-drive dogs
• Dogs intensely focused on a task, toy, reward, handler, or environment

They are not continuing because they are invincible.

They are continuing because, in that moment, the biological systems driving them forward may be louder than the systems telling them to slow down.

Understanding why requires us to look at the interaction between behavior, neurobiology, physiology, and learned experience.

⸻

Drive Is More Than Enthusiasm

We often describe a dog as having “high drive,” but drive is not one single biological trait.

It reflects a combination of:

• Genetics
• Temperament
• Reward sensitivity
• Prior learning
• Arousal
• Motivation
• Environmental cues
• The relationship between the dog and handler
• The value the dog places on completing the task

Many performance and working dogs have been selectively bred for persistence.

They were developed to keep searching, chasing, retrieving, herding, tracking, controlling livestock, detecting odor, or working closely with a handler even when the task becomes difficult.

That persistence is enormously valuable.

But it also means that disengaging from the task may not come naturally when the dog is highly aroused and strongly motivated.

⸻

The Brain Is Prioritizing the Task

When a dog anticipates something highly rewarding—a toy, a retrieve, an agility run, access to livestock, a search, praise, or the opportunity to continue working—the brain assigns that activity enormous importance.

Reward-related neural systems help direct attention and sustain goal-oriented behavior.

The dog becomes focused on:

• The next obstacle
• The next throw
• The odor source
• The decoy
• The bird
• The handler’s cue
• Completing the sequence

As focus narrows, other incoming information may become less behaviorally important.

That does not necessarily mean the dog cannot feel fatigue, discomfort, or rising heat.

It means those signals may not be strong enough, in that moment, to interrupt the behavior.

The task is still winning.

⸻

Arousal Can Change What the Dog Shows Us

During intense activity, the sympathetic nervous system becomes highly active.

Catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline help the body meet the immediate demands of exercise by increasing:

• Heart rate
• Cardiac output
• Blood flow to working muscles
• Energy availability
• Alertness
• Reaction speed

This is useful and necessary.

But high arousal may also make the dog appear more capable than the tissues actually are.

A dog may remain fast, enthusiastic, and responsive while accumulating:

• Muscular fatigue
• Heat
• Metabolic stress
• Microtrauma
• Pain
• Altered coordination

In other words, enthusiasm is not the same as physiological safety.

A dog can still want to continue after the body has begun to struggle.

⸻

Pain Does Not Always Produce Immediate Lameness

Owners often expect pain to produce an obvious limp.

But pain expression is far more complicated.

During exercise and intense arousal, endogenous pain-modulating systems may temporarily reduce the behavioral impact of discomfort. In both people and animals, stress and exercise can alter pain perception through central nervous system mechanisms involving endogenous opioids and other neurotransmitter systems.

That does not mean the injury has disappeared.

It means the animal may temporarily behave as though the discomfort matters less.

This is one reason a dog may:

• Finish an agility run
• Complete a retrieve
• Continue chasing a ball
• Keep searching
• Continue playing

…and only appear sore later, once arousal falls and the body cools down.

The absence of visible lameness during activity does not prove the absence of pain or injury.

⸻

Fatigue Changes Movement Before It Stops Movement

Fatigue rarely acts like an on/off switch.

Long before a dog completely stops, fatigue may alter:

• Stride length
• Limb loading
• Foot placement
• Jump trajectory
• Turning mechanics
• Reaction time
• Coordination
• Postural control

The dog may still be participating enthusiastically, but the quality of the movement is beginning to change.

Those altered mechanics matter.

As fatigue increases, tissues may be loaded differently. Stabilizing muscles may become less effective. Compensatory movement may increase. The margin for error becomes smaller.

That is when a small mistake can become an injury.

The dog is still moving.

But the dog may no longer be moving safely.

⸻

Heat Adds Another Layer

Exercise produces heat…

(Continue with the remainder of your article exactly as you’ve already written it, ending with:)

They bring the drive.

We bring the judgment.

Your dog may not always know when to stop.

You have to.

👇 I’d love to hear from you…

Has your dog ever continued performing enthusiastically, only for you to realize afterward that they were overheated, exhausted, sore, or injured?

What subtle change do you now wish you had recognized earlier?

Your experience may help other owners recognize the same warning signs before they become a larger problem.

⸻

Dr. Sherman Canapp

Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Board-Certified Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist

Performance Medicine • Longevity

The Athletic Dog

⸻

07/19/2026

🎙️ NEW PODCAST: Inside the Canine Athlete

At The Athletic Dog, we believe every movement tells a story.

Sometimes that story is about performance.

Sometimes it’s about injury.

Sometimes it’s about recovery.

And sometimes it’s about recognizing subtle changes early enough that an injury never happens in the first place.

That philosophy is one of the reasons I’m so excited to share Inside the Canine Athlete, a new podcast I’m co-hosting with my friend and colleague, Dr. Jana Gams (Dogs4Motion).

Together, we’ll explore the evolving world of canine performance, Performance Medicine, and longevity, bringing together the latest science, clinical experience, and practical strategies to help dogs move better, perform longer, and enjoy healthier, more active lives.

Along the way, we’ll be joined by world-renowned researchers, veterinarians, rehabilitation professionals, trainers, competitors, and other innovators who are helping shape the future of canine performance and health.

Whether your dog competes in agility, flyball, dock diving, field work, obedience, protection sports—or is simply your favorite hiking companion—our goal is the same:

Helping dogs stay healthier, perform at their best, and enjoy longer, more active lives.

This podcast isn’t just about treating injuries.

It’s about understanding how they develop, how to recognize problems earlier, and how thoughtful, evidence-based Performance Medicine can help keep dogs doing what they love for years to come.

Episode 0 is our introduction—who we are, why we created this podcast, and where we hope this journey will take us.

We hope you’ll join us from the very beginning.

👇 I’d love to hear from you…

What topics would you like us to explore in future episodes?

Your ideas will help shape future conversations, and there’s a good chance your question could become an upcoming episode.

⸻

Dr. Sherman Canapp

Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Board-Certified Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist

Performance Medicine • Longevity

Founder, The Athletic Dog

07/05/2026

THE ATHLETIC DOG

Summer Performance Series – Part 1

If you happened to see this on my personal page over the past few days, thank you for the incredible response and for sharing it with others. The discussion has been fantastic, and it’s encouraging to see so many people committed to helping keep their dogs safe this summer.

Because this page is dedicated entirely to canine performance, injury prevention, and longevity, I wanted to share it here as well so it becomes part of our growing educational library.

If you’re new to The Athletic Dog, welcome! This is the first installment in our Summer Performance Series, where we’ll explore the science behind helping our dogs train, compete, and enjoy the outdoors safely.

The full educational thread is below. I hope you’ll join the discussion and share your own experiences and questions.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

⸻

Heat Stress: What Even Experienced Dog Owners Sometimes Miss

As many of us spend more time outdoors with our dogs during the summer months—training, competing, hiking, traveling, or simply enjoying time together—heat stress becomes an important topic for every dog owner.

Most experienced dog owners know the basics of heat stress.

But one thing I’ve learned over the years is this:

Heat illness rarely begins with collapse.

It usually begins with subtle changes that many owners—even experienced ones—don’t recognize until the dog is already getting into trouble.

Most heat-related emergencies aren’t caused by owners who don’t care.

They’re caused by owners who genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing.

The goal of this post isn’t to create fear.

It’s to help you recognize problems earlier, understand why they happen, and know what to do before a preventable emergency develops.

⸻

Misconception #1

“My dog is panting, so they’re cooling themselves successfully.”

Not necessarily.

Many people assume panting means the cooling system is working.

In reality…

Panting is simply the body’s attempt to cool itself.

Whether it actually works depends on how much heat the dog is producing versus how much heat they’re able to dissipate.

Unlike people, dogs have very few sweat glands over most of their body.

Instead, they rely primarily on evaporative cooling.

Every breath moves air across the moist tissues of the tongue, mouth, and upper respiratory tract.

As moisture evaporates, heat is pulled away from the blood circulating through those tissues. That cooler blood then circulates throughout the body, helping lower core temperature.

Think of it as your dog’s natural cooling system.

But every cooling system has a limit.

If exercise, humidity, direct sunlight, poor airflow, or environmental heat overwhelm that cooling system, body temperature continues to rise—even though the dog is panting harder and harder.

Heavy panting does not necessarily mean your dog is cooling successfully.

Sometimes it means they’re losing the battle.

⸻

Misconception #2

“My dog will stop when they’re too hot.”

Unfortunately…

Many won’t.

Dogs don’t always recognize when they’ve reached their physiological limits.

Many become so focused on the activity they’re enjoying that they continue exerting themselves despite becoming progressively hotter.

They aren’t thinking,

“I’m getting too hot.”

They’re thinking,

“Let’s keep going!”

Some dogs become so motivated by the activity they’re enjoying that they ignore the early warning signs their own body is giving them.

That’s why it’s our responsibility—not theirs—to recognize when enough is enough.

Many dogs will push past their limits. It’s our job to recognize the signs.

⸻

Misconception #3

“If I give my dog water, they’ll cool down.”

Water is important.

Hydration matters.

But hydration and cooling are not the same thing.

A well-hydrated dog can still develop severe heat illness.

Water helps replace fluid losses.

It does not rapidly remove the excess heat already stored inside the body.

That’s why active cooling is so important.

Move your dog into shade.

Begin cooling with cool running water.

A hose works extremely well.

Maximize airflow with a fan or air conditioning whenever possible.

Offer small amounts of cool water if your dog is alert.

The goal is to remove heat—not simply provide water.

⸻

Misconception #4

“Heat illness only happens on really hot days.”

Not true.

Heat illness is about heat load, not simply air temperature.

Your dog’s total heat load comes from multiple sources:

• Exercise
• Direct sunlight
• Humidity
• Poor air movement
• Surface temperature
• Excitement and adrenaline

All of those factors work together.

That’s why dogs can develop dangerous heat illness on days that many owners don’t consider “that hot.”

⸻

Misconception #5

“The ground isn’t a big deal.”

Actually…

The ground can become one of the hottest parts of your dog’s environment.

• Asphalt
• Concrete
• Artificial turf
• Sand
• Composite decking
• Boat docks

On sunny days, these surfaces can become 40–60°F hotter than the surrounding air.

That’s important for two reasons.

First…

Paw pads can sustain thermal injury.

Many owners assume paw pads are “built for heat.”

They’re not.

They’re designed primarily for traction, shock absorption, and protection against abrasion.

They’re remarkably durable.

But they’re still living tissue.

Extreme surface temperatures can burn them.

Second…

Those hot surfaces increase your dog’s overall heat load.

Your dog isn’t just absorbing heat from the air.

They’re also exchanging heat with the surface they’re standing and running on.

Think about that for a moment.

Your dog may be dealing with heat from:

• The sun
• The surrounding air
• The ground beneath them
• Their own working muscles

All at the same time.

⸻

Why do some dogs develop vomiting or even bloody diarrhea?

This surprises many owners.

Heat illness doesn’t just affect the skin.

It affects the entire body.

When body temperature becomes too high, blood flow is redirected toward the skin to help dissipate heat.

At the same time, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract receives less blood flow.

Heat itself can also directly injure intestinal cells.

Together, these changes can damage the intestinal barrier.

The result may be:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloody (hemorrhagic) diarrhea

When this occurs, it isn’t simply an upset stomach.

It may be one of the first indications that heat injury is affecting multiple organ systems.

⸻

What should you do immediately?

• Stop the activity immediately.
• Move your dog into shade or an air-conditioned area.
• Begin active cooling with cool running water. A hose works extremely well.
• Maximize airflow with a fan or air conditioning whenever possible.
• Offer small amounts of cool water if your dog is alert.
• Contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency hospital if you have any concerns. Even if your dog appears to improve, significant heat illness can continue to affect internal organs after the obvious signs begin to resolve.

If your dog appears weak, confused, collapses, continues vomiting, develops diarrhea, or is not improving rapidly…

Seek veterinary care immediately.

Don’t wait to “see if they get better.”

⸻

The Take-Home Message

Heat illness is rarely caused by one thing.

It’s the result of your dog’s body producing more heat than it can safely get rid of.

The earlier you recognize the warning signs…

The earlier you act…

The better the outcome is likely to be.

Recognize Early. Act Early. Stay Safe.

⸻

I’d love to hear from you…

What misconception about heat stress surprised you the most—or what lesson have you learned with your own dog that might help someone else this summer?

Let’s learn from one another. Your experience may help another owner recognize a problem earlier and prevent a potentially life-threatening emergency.

⸻

Dr. Sherman Canapp

Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon
Board-Certified Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Specialist

Performance Medicine • Longevity

Founder, The Athletic Dog

Address

13180 F Garrett Highway #603
Oakland, MD
21550

Telephone

+12403749705

Website

http://www.TheAthletic.dog/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Athletic Dog With Dr. Sherman Canapp posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Athletic Dog With Dr. Sherman Canapp:

The Athletic Dog With Dr. Sherman Canapp