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Dog days of summer: Take steps to keep your furry friend cool
"He's not the most energetic dog in the world anyway, but when it's hot, he just pants, and it's all you can do to get him on his feet," Saab said.
The 7-year-old Chow/golden retriever mix has a thick coat that makes keeping cool a challenge, said Saab, who shares custody of Chauncey with her daughter and grandchildren.
"When he's at my daughter's house, he swims to keep cool. At our house, he gets a crew cut. You can tell he feels better afterwards -- his energy level goes up."
Regular grooming is one way owners can help their canine pals survive the Dog Days of Summer, that sultry time of year that takes a toll on four-legged friends.
Dog groomer Melissa Anderson of Grand Blanc knows that pooches feel better after they've had a summer haircut.
"They come in panting and drooling, and they leave wagging their tails and smiling," said Anderson, grooming salon manager at PetsMart in Flint Township.
"Dogs really do suffer in the heat, especially when they're matted or have a thick undercoat. They feel so much better when their hair is on our floor instead of on them."
Veterinarian Tracy Thorpe of Thorpe Animal Hospital in Lapeer said dogs -- particularly puppies, older and overweight dogs -- are more vulnerable to the effects of heat than many people realize.
"Dogs don't sweat; they have to pant to cool their body temperature," said Thorpe, adding that short-nosed types, like bulldogs and pugs, are less able to cool themselves than other breeds.
Heatstroke develops rapidly in dogs and can be deadly, Thorpe said. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, weakness, rapid heartbeat, unresponsiveness and vomiting.
A dog showing any symptoms should be rushed to a veterinarian, who will treat the animal by slowly cooling its body temperature and administering IV fluids.
"Fortunately, we don't see too many cases of it here, but that doesn't mean it's not out there," Thorpe said, adding that the No. 1 cause of heatstroke is leaving a dog in a parked car.
According to a fact sheet from The Purina Pet Care Center, when the outside temperature is 78 degrees, a closed car parked in the shade will reach 90 degrees in five minutes.
Thorpe said she is sickened by the thought of dogs dying agonizing and preventable deaths from being shut in cars.
"People think, 'He'll be fine for a few minutes while I run into the store,' but no one should ever do it, not even for a few minutes," she said.
High temperatures, poor ventilation and heavy exertion can also contribute to problems such as heat exhaustion and heat cramps.
"Dogs need shade, water and ventilation," Thorpe said.
"On the hottest days, if they can't be inside with the air conditioning on, they at least need to be in a cool spot like a basement or garage. If they have to be outside, they need access to shade."
Hot weather can cause problems for even the most conscientious dog owners, Thorpe said.
One of her clients recently had to rush her dog to an emergency veterinary clinic after he collapsed of heatstroke in the owner's backyard.
The dog hadn't been out long and had access to shade, but became excited when he spotted a bird's nest. He became dangerously overheated just from jumping and barking at the nest.
"Sometimes on a hot day, it doesn't take much to cause a problem," Thorpe said.
Kelley Dutcher, lead cashier at PetsMart in Flint Township, said items designed to help keep pets cool are big sellers.
"All this stuff is very popular right now," Dutcher said of products such as dog bandanas and collars that contain cooling gels to help keep body temperatures down.
Also available for dogs are portable plastic water bottles, sunscreen, frozen beef "popsicles," cooling beds and cushions, life jackets and plastic kiddie wading pools.
"The dogs love this stuff, and so do their owners," Dutcher said.
"People who love their pets will always to try to make them more comfortable."
And dogs come up with a few good ideas of their own.
Saab said she often lies in bed during hot summer nights, listening to Chauncey's nails as he "tip-toes across the bedroom floor to the bathroom.
Source: http://www.mlive.com/
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