It's HOT out there!
Did you Know?
Car windows act to both absorb the sun's rays and insulate your vehicle: The inside of a car can heat up to 110 degrees F in only 10 minutes on an 80 deg. day (29C) - and we went over that this past week, setting a high temperature record.
Translate that into our Canadian Celsius Temps
75 = 23 C
85 = 29 C
100 = almost 40 C
140 = 60 C!!!
The normal dog's body temp is around 101.5 F, or 38.6 C. Around 105F your pet is at risk for developing heat exhaustion. If the body temperature rises to 107, your pet has entered the critical zone of heat stroke, with possible irreversible damage and death.
Did you know - a dog sweats from its paws and mouth? not its skin?
Cooling your dog down on hot days -
have cool, not cold water available
spray dog's pads with water (Oh, and if long haired breed, please trim those pad hairs)
keep your dog in a shaded area - especially black dogs and those with the shorter noses (bulldogs, pekes, Lhasas, Shih Tzus) should really be kept in air conditioned environments.
placing ice to head and neck can help lower a dog's temperature
place a cool wet cloth in the groin area of your dog
if your dog gets over heated - signs to watch for
your dog's tongue will get longer and wider - that is how they increase the surface area to get cooler; rapid panting, bright red tongue, red or pale gums, thick, sticky saliva ...
and then into weak/dizzy, vomiting/shock state
these last states you want to seek vet assistance asap
So, especially if you're travelling with your pet, just be cognitive of where you are/going, what you are planning to do, and where you might find the nearest vet hospital.
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