Each year we hear of canine kids unnecessarily dying from overheating so extensively that brain damage and multiple organ failure occur. Common situations that YOU set your dog up for urgent care and possible death is when they are left in a car, tethered, over exposed while playing, walking, hiking, etc. and yes, even while in a training class! An incident even happened during one of my water therapy sessions many years ago which has made me even more diligent in my observations and need for preventive action.
The latest news was of a French Bulldog in a carrier that was put into the overhead bin on a United Airlines flight. The necropsy report has not been made public yet, but the dog was in a small carrier, put into a small cramped space without direct O2 flow, and witnesses claim that the dog was stress barking which alone would raise the dog’s body temperature. Why no one took action is mind boggling. I can only surmise that there were no responsible dog lovers on board.
It is important to remember your lessons from high school science class regarding the concept of “Evaporation.” When liquid changes into vapor form there is an energy exchange which lowers the temperature. An easy example for “humans” to understand how this transfer of heat works over your large surface of skin is when you are sweaty and go to stand in front of a fan or stepping out of the ocean on a windy day.
It is important to acknowledge that a dog’s primary cooling mechanism is by panting (where the “evaporation” process is in effect) liquid in mucous membranes (limited surface of inner mouth and lungs) become vapor thus lowering the body temperature.
The only other area of physiological cooling is on our canine kid’s paw pads. This area may be a little more developed in canine breeds with long fine coat, but still has negligible effectiveness in cooling. So this will do little to help cool your dog when walking on heated surfaces.
A canine’s normal body temperature runs from 101.0 F to 102.5 F. An increase in your dog’s body temperature to 104+F can cause brain damage and multiple organ failure can also occur.
Weather conditions can make it difficult to keep your dog at a safe temperature. Consideration must not only be given to the temperature, but also the HUMIDITY LEVEL. Sun vs. Shade and whether and/or not there is a Cooling Breeze must also be considered to protect your dog!
In addition, the BREED of your canine kid must be considered to protect your kid. I’ve been aware of this since 1984 when we got our first Boxer, a Brachycephalic (short nosed) breed which are more susceptible to overheating. Other factors which increase your dog’s risk of overheating is if they have a respiratory disorder, dark coated, in poor condition, obese and male.
In Ola’s case (healthy weight and well-conditioned for his age), where his body mass is dense, (equivalent to a football lineman) it is difficult for heat to dissipate once overheated, so it is imperative that a safe body temperature be maintained .
When a canine kid is panting in an attempt to lower his/her body temperature and it is warm-hot, humid, with no wind to facilitate “evaporation” AND walking-hiking-playing-training-stuck in a car, bed of a truck or tethered on a warm-hot surface, this is a formula for overheating which could easily lead to heat exhaustion-stroke and a need for urgent action and/or rush to a veterinarian emergency room.
While I was tending to Ola during a training class one day, and even though we were in the shade, it was a hot-humid-windless day. So I knew that I needed to help him cool down. He drank a little cool water but from the sound of his panting I knew his saliva was thickening (making evaporation more difficult) and that this needed to be addressed. While I was putting ice chips into his inner mouth, I was discouraged from doing this by the class instructor. I knew that it was important to keep him cool, so continued to work on keeping him safe, and told the instructor that IF I waited until he overheated it would not be safe for him. The return comment from the instructor was what about those cooling kerchiefs? What would your answer be from reading the above article? I will reiterate that the MAIN COOLING mechanism for Dogs is their MUCOUS MEMBRANES–inner mouth and lungs!!!!! When it is hot, humid and windless you must take extra care especially when your dog is already exhibiting excessive panting.
Canines have POOR cooling ability! Heck, when free to roam, wild dogs would rest up to 17 hours a day in a COMFORTABLE location. They didn’t go out according to their owner’s schedule but conditions which were optimal for hunting which normally is early morning and late afternoon-early evening.
It is important for you to be AWARE, observant and be pro-active when it comes to your dog’s safety!
KEEP YOUR DOG KID SAFE! HE OR SHE IS COUNTING ON YOU!