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Summer Safety for DogsKatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Dogs are physiologically different than people, and it is important to know how to avoid overheating and overstressing your pet. With the approach of summer, here are some tips to help keep your dog happy, healthy and safe.
. Do not walk your dogs on blacktopped paths or roads in the summer. Dogs sweat through the pads of their feet. The heat from the blacktop surface can put your dog into heat stroke on a hot day.
. To cool your dog down, stand them in cool water or rub ice cubes in their armpits or on the pads of their feet. DO NOT run a garden hose over their backs on the hot days. First, get their feet wet, then the legs, then the sides and then over their backs. Bring their body temp down slowly.
. Dark-colored dogs heat up faster, as their coats absorb the sun more. White dogs with pink pigments can sunburn very easily. Keep these dogs in the shade on hot days.
. Do not bring your dogs to big gatherings like the Taste of Minnesota, county fairs, art fairs, etc. You may have fun, but it is no fun for your dog trying to dodge all the people and keep track of you. Get down to their level and you will understand what they go through. There is no air flow down there either: they can overheat.
. Get a small plastic kiddie pool for your dog to lounge in to stay cool. Start out with a little water in it until they get used to it, then fill it just deep enough so that when your dog lies down, his neck and head are out of the water.
. If you have a pool for which you use chemicals, do not let your pet drink the water. Would you drink that water? If you let your pet swim in the pool, be sure to rinse them off after they get out. The chemicals in the pool are very bad for their coat.
. If you have a big pool, be sure your dog - big or small - knows how to get out in case they fall in. Vary the places from which you put them in the pool - then stand on the steps and encourage them to swim to you to get out by way via the steps. Do this until you are certain your dog can find the steps to get out on their own without you.
. When fishing with your pet around, know where they are BEFORE you cast! Many pets wind up at the emergency clinic to get lures and hooks removed out of their mouths or body.
. If you must use chemicals on your pet for fleas or ticks, try just using half the recommended dose, especially for small pets. Less is better for the health of your pet. None is even better! Try repelling pests naturally; read the book entitled "Tiny Game Hunting" by Klein & Wenner. Th is is great for gardens, also.
. 4th of July! Keep your pets inside, in the basement or the part of your house that insulates them most from outside noises. Turn on a TV and or stereo to drown out the noise of fireworks! Many dogs - even hunting dogs - can become noise-neurotic because of firecrackers and fireworks.
. If you use sparklers, or other smaller, less noisy, fireworks, put your pets inside so they do not get burned by stepping on something, or by having a spark hit them.
. If you are going to the family cabin for a 4th of July get-together, board your dog out or find a neighbor or friend who will take care of them. Be sure they protect your pet from noise.
Have a safe summer!
The Katie K-9 radio show is now on every Sunday aft ernoon fr om 4 to 6 p.m. on FM107.1 Send in your dog questions to "Hey, Katie K-9!" by mailing them to Th e Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN 55038 or e-mailing them to Katie at KatieK-9@ReadTh eCitizen.com.