Keep your dog safe in the summer heat

Published 12:01 am Sunday, June 19, 2011

Just imagine you and your dog are in the car off to enjoy the summer temperatures at a dog park or off-leash area and you decide to run a few errands along the way.

Fido will be OK in the car with the windows cracked a bit, right?

Wrong.

Temperatures in the summer can be deadly

for a dog trapped inside a vehicle. Within minutes, the temperature can rise to 120 degrees with the windows partially open on a cloudy day.

That’s the temperature most hot water heaters are set on. That’s why they are called hot water heaters.

When temperatures get that high for a dog, it only has hot air to breathe and its ability to pant away the heat fails.

And at a body temperature of only 107 degrees, Fido can suffer the effects of brain damage or death from heatstroke.

“I can’t imagine anybody would do this on purpose. I think the people that make this mistake really don’t know how dangerous it is,” said Mark Coleman, spokesman for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society or PAWS.

You will see the signs of heatstroke if your dog is panting heavily, has glazed eyes, is vomiting, appears dizzy or is listless.

If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke or heat stress, immediate vet care is recommended. You can also do emergency first aid by first wetting the dog down all over with warm water and gradually applying cooler water, according to PAWS.

And rest assured, you are performing a good deed if you see an animal in a vehicle on a hot day and you call the police or your local animal control department, according to PAWS.

“I think the more people that understand the danger, the fewer animals we’ll see in this situation,” Coleman said. “Nobody wants to lose their pet.”

Doggie etiquette

It’s summertime and your dog knows it.

So this time of year, you and your canine companion will probably find yourselves frequenting the dog parks and off-leash areas more and more.

Dogs get a charge out of summertime activities by getting their exercise and staying fit. And dogs that have spent time with other dogs are also more socialized, making them happier and less aggressive and therefore safer to be around, according to the Sno-Dog’s website, www.snodog.org.

Off-leash areas and dog parks mean it’s party time for you and your pooch. But like in any social setting, there is a standard of etiquette.

Here are several key tips provided by PAWS that will keep the party under control:

• Your dog shouldn’t jump up on, mouth or mount other humans.
• You should be able to get quick control of your dog with basic commands such as “come,” “sit” and “leave it.”
• Avoid doggy conflicts by leaving toys and food treats at home.
• If your dog has behaved badly, apologize and be willing to leave.
• Try not to discipline someone else’s dog, even if you must break up a fight.
• In off-leash areas, enter only when the gate is clear of other dogs and humans and move away once you are inside.