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Summer Has Arrived!

It really is a novelty to be able to take my laptop out into the back yard and type away! But as I am typing and sitting enjoying the weather, my dogs are inside…We have hit that time of the year where I want to be out and they want to be in! Where in the winter you practically have to DRAG me out the door protesting the whole time!

Also, as I have joined the Woof Walk Challenge (read more and donate HERE) I am going to have to think about when and where I am walking my pups to make sure they don’t get overheated in order to stay on track. They are big BEARS and their black coat really heats up fast out in the sun.

Dogs pant to release heat, and can also sweat through their feet. They don’t sweat the way people do which increases their risk of overheating in the hotter summer temperatures. According to PetMD temperatures over 103 degrees Fahrenheit are above normal, and at 106 degrees or higher your pup is at risk of heat exhaustion. At these high temperatures, their organs can start to shut down and your dog could go into cardiac arrest.

Signs to Watch For

The signs you can watch for during the summer months (or in any warmer climate year round) include:

• Excessive panting
• Less responsive
• Glazed eyes
• Excessive drooling
• Rapid heart rate
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Loss of consciousness/collapsing
• Convulsions
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Gums or tongue turn blue or bright red

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, don’t wait – ACT IMMEDIATELY.

What to Do if Your Dog Is Overheating

If you think that your dog is starting to overheat, try to cool them down immediately. Move them into the shade if you are out and about. If you are at home, you can put them inside with a fan on them. My two bears are inside right now as we have hit that time of the year where they want to be in more than out, and I want to be out more than in!

Take your dog’s temperature – any pet first aid kit should include a thermometer! If your dog’s temperature is above 106 degrees call a vet or the emergency vet IMMEDIATELY!

We are fortunate that we live close to the lake and take many of our walks there. If you are close to water let your pup have a swim to cool off. Alternatively, you can wet a towel with cool water (not cold, and for puppies use lukewarm water) and put it on their feet, armpits, stomach (essentially places where you can cool down the skin directly).

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Allow your dog to drink cool water (not cold), but don’t force them to do it. I always carry around a water bottle in the summer that I keep in the fridge since it can heat up fast once we are out in the sun. Benson LOVES to drink right out of the bottle! Grace, however, is a bit of a princess so I had to get one of those little pop up bowls that attaches to her leash…We are also very lucky in that our Beaches neighborhood is extremely supportive of dogs and many of the stores have water bowls out on the sidewalk! The ice cream place on the beach even has a full trough!

Even if you can cool down your puppy it is a good idea to make a call to the vet to make sure that they aren’t experiencing any complications from the heat stroke.

Risk Factors

There are factors that can put your puppy at higher risk for having heat exhaustion. Dogs with thick coats and short-nosed breeds such as pugs and bulldogs can be at higher risk. My little pug Nemo HATED walking at the best of times…so the walks with him were always relatively short or he ended up being carried around! He had me well trained!

Young puppies and older dogs are also at higher risk for heat exhaustion. As are obese dogs.

How You Can Prevent Heat Exhaustion

NEVER leave your dog in the car! Even if the temperature outside is still cool, the inside of a car can heat up quickly to dangerous levels.

Make sure that you take humidity levels into consideration as well on hot days as this can increase the risk of heat exhaustion. Try to find areas with shade and water to walk on hot days. In the heat of summer, I take my dogs out early in the morning and later on in the day and avoid the mid-day sun. For myself, I LIVE for those hot and humid summer days! So while the dogs are inside cooling off, you can usually find me sitting out in the middle of it! I also bought them a kiddie pool last summer…

Did I Mention Hydration?

Adequate hydration is also really important. As I mentioned, I have a water bottle and pop up water bowl that attaches to the leash that I can give the dogs until they get down to the water. But I will caution one thing here as well, and that is to check the water quality if you can before letting your dogs indulge…And Lake Ontario isn’t exactly the cleanest lake around and I didn’t check last summer which led to a few nights of repeated trips out to the yard!

Vigorous exercise should also be avoided on hot days. As a result, we walk REALLLLLY slow and I let my dogs take a break if they need it. Which inevitably seems to lead to wrestling so I’m not sure if they actually needed a break but best to be cautious!

While I could live without ever turning on my air conditioning, I do it for my pets. Even then this sometimes isn’t enough. So I have a fan that I can put on them when they are inside and overnight to help more. There are also several cooling mats on the market that are great (until your cat sticks their claws into it and wrecks it…Whiskers…). Raised dog beds can also help keep your dog cooler.

Summer weather is here!!! And the past year has been tough on all of us, so let’s get out there, enjoy it and keep our pets safe and happy as well!!!

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The post What Every Pet Owner Has to Know About Heat Exhaustion first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.

It was a LONG winter. With Toronto in and out of lockdown more times than I can count it was a very welcome change when the days started getting longer and the weather warmer. Dog walks are much more enjoyable rather than dutiful. I still managed to get them down to the beach most days, and had the sand burn on my face to prove it!

This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you.  By making your purchases through the links on this website HIGP may make a small percentage at no direct cost to you. HIGP only promotes products we use & truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my Privacy and Disclosures for further information. HIGP thanks you for your support!

Flea and Tick Prevention

However, spring can bring a whole host of new situations to deal with. The first sign that spring has arrived is the push to get your pets on flea and tick medication. With temperatures warming up much quicker than usual my vet suggested starting in March rather than April this year as they get active once daytime temperatures get above 10 degrees Celsius. My cat Bubbles got a tick on her last year…NOT an experience I want to repeat.

Dog Flea and Tick Prevention

My dogs are over a year old now, which means they switched over to Bravecto, which is given orally, and lasts for up to three months for each dose. This was a HUGE relief to me, as last year they were on Credelio which inevitably caused diarrhea for several days after giving it to them. And as it was given monthly…well you get the picture.

Cat Flea and Tick Prevention

I now use Frontline for my cats, which is a topical treatment applied monthly. It is relatively easy to apply, you pop the cap and give it a good squeeze directly onto their skin on the back of their neck. MUCH better than trying to give your cat a pill…I don’t know about you, but I like my fingers…

There have been some negative news stories on collars recently, I will not use these on my pets. Finding out Advantage offers no protection against ticks when Whiskers showed up with one, we switched to Frontline.

Dealing With Spring Showers (And Mud)

If you have read the grass story, you know that my backyard is currently a giant mud pit. And with spring comes the rain. And more rain. Which leads to mud. EVERYWHERE.

After mopping my floor several times a day, I decided to try out one of those absorbent door mats. The day it came, I rolled it out at the back door and observed the results. It actually does a relatively good job getting a lot of the mud off their paws before coming in the house! The floors were cleaner! Keep in mind that it does not get all the mud and water, but a good amount of it. I was so impressed that I ordered a second one for the front door too!

For the extremely muddy days though, the mats were still not enough. My dogs are also not patient enough to sit and let me towel off all four paws. And good luck to you with two young Bernese Mountain dogs!!

Researching again, I found the Mudbuster, which is essentially a long tube with silicon bristles lining the inside of it. You put a little bit of water into it, the paw goes in for a quick swish and voila! It does an amazing job at getting the mud off their paws, is easy and fast and even works to remove sand from the beach. It also saves my towels from being turned into rags!

Rain Gear

Rain gear could also be something to consider for those rainy day walks. Canada Pooch has some super cute rain jackets and ponchos to help keep your dogs dry and reduce the amount of towel off time when you get back home. They even have a reflective jacket which is perfect for night walks!

Plant Safety

Plants are also something to keep an eye on come spring. Not all of them are friendly to our pets. I have a few things growing in my front yard that are poisonous, including Lily of the Valley and Rhododendron. Lily of the Valley is near impossible to remove as it has tuberous roots. I know. Once I tried. I did manage to kill it off, but I had to dig it all up, remove as many roots as I could and THEN placed a tarp over it for an ENTIRE summer! I have leads out front, and I keep them short enough so they cannot get to those plants.

Gardening is also a passion of mine. As soon as I think it is time, I load up on annuals and perennials. I would love to have Lilies and Foxglove out in the yard, but these are highly toxic to animals. I would strongly recommend that any pet owners make themselves familiar with what plants are toxic and which are not to keep your animals safe out in the yard.

Many home owners will also treat their lawns in the spring. There is typically some sort of signage when this is done, but there may not be…The chemicals used in these treatments can make your pets sick. Insecticides can be deadly. There can be immediate reactions such as respiratory issues, rashes, eye irritation, nausea and diarrhea. However, there can also be longer lasting effects which are more serious. As such, it is prudent to make sure that you keep your dogs off lawns when out and about.

Allergies

Like people, our pets can develop seasonal allergies. Bernese mountain dogs are KNOWN for their allergies but I have been relatively lucky with my two bears so far. If you notice that your pet develops skin issues at certain time of the year, allergies may be the culprit. Over grooming areas, thinning fur and hot spots could also be a sign of allergies. They may also rub their snouts excessively or develop ear infections.

If you notice this with your pet in the spring, you can wash their feet to prevent allergens from coming into your home. Be diligent with ear cleaning. And try to reduce the amount of allergens coming into your home. You can also consult with your vet for options.

There we have it! The rain is falling, the flowers are blooming. Time to get out there and enjoy it!! If you have any other spring tips and tricks for pets please let me know!

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The post Spring Tips You Need to Know for Your Pets first appeared on Help! I've Got Pets.