Summertime Blues for your Dog
© Chris Chamberlin
Protecting your dog from the summertime elements can be a challenge.
'Fido' suffers with the heat in the summer. Often I will be asked by the customer to shave their dog's coat off because the heat in the summer makes it uncomfortable for their dogs. While this can be true and some relief can be gained by shaving a dog, there are some things to consider. If your dog loves to lay in the sun and soak up the rays, he can and most likely will get sunburned with a shaved coat. Longhaired breeds grow coats for protection. That long or double coat protects them from the sun as well as the cold. Some dogs, like a Great Pyrenese, Alaskan Malamute, and Newfoundlander, to name a few, are not meant to be in a climate where sun would be a factor, but today many heavy-coated breeds populate all areas of the globe.
So how can you relieve his discomfort against the summer heat? Well, if you insist on having his coat shaved, then short of keeping him in the house all summer, you must use a sunscreen to protect him. Many pet supply houses and veterinarian's stock sunscreens for dogs. Keep him outs of direct sun as much as possible and ALWAYS have fresh water available to him at all times.
Summertime traveling with your dog can add to his discomfort. For long distances, place a frozen ice pack under his crate or under a towel in his crate. This will aid in keeping him cool for brief time periods. NEVER leave your dog in a car. Even with the windows down, it can become so stifling hot that your dog could suffer a heat stroke, which can be fatal. For short trips to the store, etc., leave him home.
Signs of heatstroke include severe panting, bright red gums, collapse and coma. His temperature, which is normally 101.5 - 102 will read as high as 105.
Immediate body cooling is necessary. Soak the dog in a tub of cool water and transport to the veterinarians for medical aid.
Summertime bugs bug my dog.
Not all mosquitoes carry heart worm but it is a good idea to have him treated with heart worm medication from your Vet as a precaution. If your dog is not a licker you can help the nasty itching from bites by spraying him lightly with Avon's Skin So Soft. It is a nontoxic, but slightly oily lotion that repels fleas and mosquitoes. I have used mosquito sprays on my dogs with no ill effects, but if you are unsure if it is a safe product, consult your vet before using.
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