How do heatwaves affect dogs?

We’re having a heatwave! That is, we in England.  

Readers from warmer states and countries may be baffled by our excitement. But extreme weather is relatively rare in our temperate climate. Our homes, our lifestyles, and our infra-structure, are not designed for extreme heat or cold.

We’re always caught out in the very occasional winter blizzard, because it’s not worth the huge national investment to cope with just two or three days of deep snow.

Similarly, we’re not used to heatwaves, and this week they’re threatening 40°C - that’s 104°F - and that’s HOT!

So as a nation, what do we do? We jump in our boiling hot cars, and drag the whole family miles to a crowded beach, wear them out, then drag them all home in the same traffic jams.

Madness!

And especially mad if you have a dog in the mix.

Hot cars

We just about all know by now, that dogs die in hot cars (even with the windows open). So thankfully that doesn’t happen as much as it used to.

In fact, most heatstroke victims vets see now, are as a result of a walk in hot weather. If the dog is not used to walks anyway, and is suddenly whisked off for a huge long tramp in the blazing heat, this is a recipe for disaster.

At the moment we have a very cooling breeze where I live. But should the breeze drop and the temperature shoot up, my dogs will be skipping their regular walks.

But what if the worst happens and your dog is suffering early signs of heatstroke?

(If he’s actually collapsed - you need a vet fast. Less than 10% of dogs can be saved at this stage.)

 

It doesn’t have to be that hot

Surprisingly, perhaps, it doesn’t need to be that hot for a dog to suffer heatstroke. Wildly racing about in moderately warm weather can be enough to bring it on. Puppies - who can’t manage their thermostats at all well yet - are particularly vulnerable.

So what to do?

Here, straight from the horse’s mouth, aka the RSPCA, is some good info:

“Dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature lowered gradually for the best chance of survival.

Here's what to do:

◆   Move the dog to a shaded and cool area

◆   Immediately pour cool water (not cold water to avoid shock) over the dog. Tap water (15-16°C) has been found to be the most effective at cooling dogs with heat-related illnesses. In a true emergency, any water is better than nothing.

◆   Wet towels placed over the dog can worsen the condition, trapping heat. In mild cases towels can be placed under the dog, but never over, and in a true emergency water immersion or pouring water with air movement is ideal.

◆   Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water

◆   Continue to pour cool water over the dog until their breathing starts to settle, but not too much that they start shivering

◆   Dogs that have lost consciousness will stop panting, despite still having a very high temperature, these dogs require urgent aggressive cooling as a priority.

◆   Throughout the treatment of heatstroke try to avoid pouring water on or near your dog's head, as there is a risk of them inhaling water which could lead to drowning, especially for flat-faced and unconscious dogs.

◆   Once the dog is cool, take them to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.”

They also point out that the dogs most vulnerable to heatstroke are the young, the old, those with thick coats, and short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs.

Is your dog on that list?

Look out for water

If you do decide the temperature is safe to walk your dog, watch out for water sources on your route, in case you urgently need it.

By the way - a great tip for you: put your hand flat on the pavement. Too hot for your hand? Then it’s also too hot for your dog’s paws!

Enjoy your hot weather safely, by enjoying dozing and relaxing with your dogs in the shade. Your busy activities and long walks can be resumed as soon as the weather is back to normal.

Where are my spoons? Why your dog runs out of calmness

It’s a puzzle to so many people. Their dog is easygoing and tranquil, and out of nowhere he snarks at another dog - or snaps at a child - or even growls at you! 

Maybe your dog is not so easygoing and you have just learned to live with these “random” outbursts. You never know when he’s going to be in a good humour, and when he’s going to have a meltdown.

But you CAN know! 

If you’re aware of what’s using up your dog’s patience stores, you’ll be able to manage him so that he doesn’t run out entirely, and be left with no way to go except have an outburst.

What you need to learn about is known as Trigger Stacking. And at the moment we have a huge extra trigger that many people simply aren’t aware of.

Heatwave!

In the UK at the moment we are enjoying (or suffering!) extreme weather. Weeks of temperatures in the high 70s and 80s (that's the high 20s in new money) - we’re not used to it at all!

So spare a thought for your dog, who has to wear his full fur coat regardless of the weather. 

You doubtless know all the commonsense advice for dogs and hot weather: 

• Ensure plenty of fresh water is available

• Brush out the winter coat as far as possible, and trim and shear hairy beasties

• Cut back on walks - maybe none at all for a few days, and certainly only at the cool ends of the day

• Limit access to the garden UNLESS you have a paddling pool to entertain your dog, or unless he has enough sense to find a shady spot and stay there

• Check temperature of the ground with your hand. Have you seen people doing the hoppy dance on a hot beach when they have no shoes on? 

• Don’t leave your dog in a car, even with the windows open, without taking measures to keep it cool. This will include covering all the windows, ensuring a through draught, running an aircon, and - of course - parking in the shade.

• Consider a cooling mat for a double-coated breed, or a cooling shirt. A wet t-shirt will work well too, but you need to keep wetting it.

• Frozen food-toys may be popular

• Observe speed of panting and shape of tongue - a long spoon-shaped tongue means your dog is working hard to get rid of heat 

Heatstroke in dogs can be quick, and deadly. So please take the precautions above to ensure your dog is protected.

Hothead

But you also need to consider how this heat is impacting his mental state.

I’d like you to take a quick detour and bone up on Spoon Theory. This explains so well how limited stores of energy have to be farmed and managed carefully. The same applies for our dogs with their limited store of tolerance. 

Before you even step out of the door on a hot day, your dog is stressed. He’s already used up a boatload of spoons and may be running critically low. This could apply to the calmer dog as well as the “reactive” or growly dog.

You know how quickly you can get annoyed when you're uncomfortable - especially if you're not used to the heat? Think of airport rows and road rage in hot traffic jams.

Lots of people will be out and about in holiday mode, with dogs who are only walked on high days and holydays, and everyone will be hot and bothered.

So seek out quieter walks, shaded walks - if you can find a place for your dog to swim, so much the better! - and cut out the ball-throwing till the worst of this heat is over. It will be over soon enough, and all us Britishers can go back to talking about the weather in disparaging terms! 

And if you live in a permanently hot place, you’ll have worked out your own ways of keeping your home cool, and strategies to get about outside without boiling. A reader from Texas told me that she can only take her dog out for 20’ at 5 am - after that it’s into the hundreds and impossible. 

 

Triggers, and spoons

Armed with this knowledge, you can now look at your dog in a different way. Hopefully a more understanding and tolerant way. He’s not being difficult - he’s struggling in circumstances he finds hard at the best of times, and may now be finding impossible.

In the greater scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter if your dog doesn’t go for a walk for several days - or even weeks. And contrary to what you may be thinking, you may be surprised to find that your normally hyper dog in fact gets calmer and more manageable, the less he’s walked!

Help him by managing his day carefully when outside influences are making it harder for him. He’s relying on you! 

 

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