training | Lisa Graham Health

Heat exhaustion or heat stoke in dogs

Aug 3, 2024 | Dog Health

What to look for, how to treat and suggestions for alternative physical and mental exercise

No question, it’s hot. Oh … and it’s the middle of summer too which means heat, humidity (especially in NW Florida) and rain. Quickly passing rain showers then create a fabulous outdoor sauna. If sweating is your thing you, my friend, are in luck.

Now, imagine wearing a fur coat as you are out for a mid-afternoon walk. My guess is that your body would be working overtime to keep your core temp down. Go ahead … stick your tongue out and pant and see if that helps. Toss off your shoes too because the only other method of cooling your body is through the pores of your feet. What? You are walking on really hot pavement and now your feet are burning instead of sweating? Sounds like the perfect storm for an overheated body that can’t cool itself … heat exhaustion and heat stroke, here we come.

We have either done it or see people who do: walking dogs in the middle of the afternoon on a hot day thinking it was ok. Nope. Before you take that walk, take off your shoes and place your bare foot (or your hand) on a sunny part of the pavement/sidewalk/dirt/sand for TEN seconds. If that ain’t happenin’, that walk shouldn’t either.

Ever see those videos where people fry eggs on a hot summer sidewalk? The skin on your dog’s pads might be thicker than our skin but will burn just the same.

The sign with the asphalt temps should be posted everywhere. If nothing else to remind us humans what our shoes won’t reveal – hot pavement can literally BURN the skin.

But Lisa, you say, my dogs are driving me crazy, you say. What should we do? My first suggestion is to walk earlier and later in the day than you normally do. Our morning walk usually starts between 7:30-8:00am. Our summer mornings are already heating up around then, so we head for local parks, find as much shade as possible and lucky for us, many people run their sprinklers around that time.

If your dog doesn’t know about sprinklers, teach them. Cassidy used to be afraid of them. I had to practically pick her up and place her near the sprinkler head and gently direct some water her way. If her face got wet, she would quickly pull away. Now? She is the first one in and doesn’t mind the spray. Pippin circles around to make sure all of her gets wet and Darcy will get her belly wet and then will do a stopdropandroll on the wet grass. If we time it right within our hour-long walk, they cool off at least 2-3 times in different yards. Even if there is no visible human within earshot, I always offer a “thank you!” as we are walking away.

If you know that sprinklers won’t be available, take along a bottle of water. When we are hiking at a state park, I always have water and offer it a couple times during our walk. We also hunt for shade. The temperature difference between full sun and shade can be remarkable. Perhaps your dog can wear a cool coat that reflect the sun’s rays. You will probably have to answer some questions as you are walking, but my guess is that most people will tell you how smart and thoughtful you are.

Another option would be to take a shorter walk and then play a fun outdoor game at home. You don’t have to go far, you can control how much they play, monitor how hot they get and a hose or a fresh bowl of water is always available. My dogs love to retrieve, so they are always happy when I toss a few balls for them in the front yard. I stop the game before they get overheated but after they have had a chance to get in a few good runs. Because a daily walk is so important for both the dog and the human (see links below to articles about walking), I would not recommend substituting a round of retrieving for a walk. Even a short one (15-20 minutes) is better than too many repetitions of retrieving a ball.

If it’s really hot, after a short walk close to home, you can get creative with some indoor games. My dogs, especially Pippin, love doing tricks. AKC offers several levels of trick titles, so take a few minutes to train some new, fun behaviors. Tricks not your thing? Stuff some treats into a KONG toy, hide it in your house and play a find it game. A new favorite at my house is taking turns having each dog back up the full length of our hallway (around 30’) to a foot target. Big fat bonus for each of these games (in addition to AC) is physical AND mental stimulation.

Looking for more indoor suggestions? Susan Garrett has a great video where she offers 20 different games/activities that you and your dog can do if you’re stuck inside. Check the resource links at the bottom of the page.

And then there’s this … according to the AKC website, the most common cause of heatstroke in dogs is confinement in a closed vehicle. Check out the graph – it’s surprising to see how hot a car becomes in just a few minutes. If you do take your dog in the car with you and if you do need to leave them, be prepared to leave the car running with the AC on. And even then, make it quick. Better yet, just leave them at home. If the car stops, the AC stops and the temperature inside a closed car can become dangerously high in a matter of minutes, and the results can be fatal.

No matter what you are doing with your dogs, whether it’s a long walk or working in the heat or too many chuck-it retrievals in your back yard, you need to be aware of the signs of over exertion. Following are tips for avoiding heat exhaustion as well as what to do if your dog gets overheated.

Which animals are more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heatstroke?

Animals that are overweight
Flat faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs, or Persian cats
Pets with thick coats
Old or very young animals
Animals with pre-existing conditions, particularly airway, lung or heart problems

Common sense ways to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke:

Limit exercise on warm and humid days
Don’t leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day, even if the windows are open and it’s “just for a minute”
When outside, opt for shady areas
Keep fresh cool water available at all times
Not sure? Leave your dog at home

Signs your dog might be suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke

Rapid panting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, long, fat curled tongue
Tongue/gum color change: look for bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums
Lethargy, difficulty walking straight or maintaining balance
Different behavior: hyperactive, restless, agitated, pacing or confusion
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Unresponsive – if your dog is here, head for your emergency vet now

What to do if your dog overheats :

Stop the activity immediately and find shade
Offer water to drink and hose/wet down your dog’s body, especially armpits and belly
Interestingly, do not use ice or really cold water but rather cool or room temperature water
If your dog is lethargic, vomiting or unresponsive, head to your emergency vet for additional support and observation

Like anything, a little common sense goes a long way in keeping you and your dog safe and happy. If you are getting overheated on a walk or during an activity, it’s a good chance your dog is already there. However, it’s Summertime and the living is easy! If you are mindful and prepared, the hot temps and those scary “feels like” readings should not keep you and your dog from the great outdoors where you both can enjoy the sun, fresh air and lots of great outdoor activities.

Resources and References:

Expanded information about heat exhaustion as well as water intoxication:
https://carrington.edu/blog/protecting-your-pet-during-hot-summer-days-what-to-know

Early signs, first aide and prevention:
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/teaching-and-research/fact-files/heatstroke-in-dogs-and-cats

Signs, detection and treatments for heat exhaustion:
https://www.noahsarkvet.com/11-symptoms-of-heat-exhaustion-in-dogs

5 signs you must never ignore that indicate your dog is in heat-related distress:
https://mywaggle.com/blogs/heat-stroke-in-dogs/5-signs-your-dog-is-suffering-from-heatstroke

Watch for early signs of heatstroke (also known as hyperthermia) in your dog to avoid serious outcomes:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heatstroke-in-dogs/#:~:text=Signs%20to%20Watch%20Out%20For&text=Early%20signs%20of%20heatstroke%20include,may%20have%20difficulty%20maintaining%20balance.

AKC article: Can I Leave My Dog in the Car If I Crack a Window?

Article on the Mannford Animal Clinic website: Pet Heatstroke: What does it look like?

From the Lisa Graham Agility blog: Benefits of Daily Walking

From the Lisa Graham Agility blog: Benefits of daily walks with your dog(s)

Susan Garrett Dogs That Podcast (video): 20 Easy ways to exercise your dog at home

AKC Trick Dog information

Hot car graphic found here: https://texashumanenetwork.org/

Benefits of daily walks with your dog(s)

Jun 11, 2024 | Dog Health

This photo was taken on my favorite stretch of my favorite trail in my favorite State Park in Tennessee. If you were to scroll through my photos app, it would be very evident that my dogs are a big part of my life. It’s also evident that most of my favorite photos and memories are from a walk/hike in my neighborhood or in one of the many State or National Parks we have visited over the years.

Recently, I decided to write an article about the benefits of daily walking for the human and the dog. For me, the benefits are intertwined, but I decided to create two articles instead of one. Interestingly, my research reinforced what I already knew: the benefits of daily walking are very similar for the human and the dog. For this article, I will focus on the dog … or dogs in my case.

“If your dog is overweight, YOU aren’t getting enough exercise.”

Health benefits

The number one reason most dog owners walk their dogs is for the health benefits gained by a daily walking routine. Just like a sedentary lifestyle is bad for humans, it’s especially true for canines. Dogs need to get outside and move every single day. (I would argue that humans have the same need and I wrote about it here.) All humans have different exercise needs and the same can be said for dogs. However, just because you have an older dog or a breed that “doesn’t require that much exercise,” do it anyway. At 16 yr old, my Golden/Lab mix, Kaley, had a tough time getting around, but 3-4 times a day she went out and made a lap around the house (not the neighborhood). Those old bones and joints needed a little lubrication so they wouldn’t freeze up.

Keeping your dog trim and fit should be a high priority and walking is a perfect way to do that. It is estimated that about 50% of dogs in the United States are overweight and 25-30% of dogs are obese. Sadly, many veterinarians won’t tell you if your dog is overweight (seems this is a touchy subject for the human) and most kibble feeding instructions call for more than the average dog actually needs. Not a good combination. Please don’t be one of those people who is proud to tell anyone who will listen that your lab weighs over 100 pounds. I have encountered these people and their poor dogs were visibly uncomfortable and easily 25 pounds overweight.

Walking your dog is about so much more than just “potty breaks.” Walking your dog provides mental stimulation, physical exercise, chances for socialization, and opportunities for behavioral training.

Every walk is an adventure. New sights, new sounds, new smells.
All need to be checked out and explored.

Mental stimulation

Sadly, I am aware of a few dogs in my neighborhood who never see anything but the back of their house and 3 walls of fencing. Never. In my very humble opinion, that’s abuse. In addition to the health benefits of walking, every dog should have the opportunity to explore life beyond the fence. Pippin never tires of seeing one of the gazillion squirrels we encounter every single day. I tell her that she has seen a gazillion squirrels and THAT one is no different. Pippin thinks otherwise. Every walk is an adventure. New sights, new sounds, new smells … all need to be checked out and explored.

The olfactory sensors in a dog’s nose are amazing. Dogs have evolved to have a strong sense of smell, with approximately 900 genes that code for smell receptors, versus humans, who have fewer than 400. They also have 125–300 million olfactory receptors, compared to our 6 million. In addition, the part of their brains that analyses and processes scents is (proportionally) 40 times greater than ours. The brain power necessary to facilitate all that analysis and processing is huge and you will find that a short time sniffing can tax them as much as an hour long walk.

All of this blah blah blah, or facts, just reinforce that your dog has a NEED to smell his way through his environment on every outing. Every single day.

It’s time to walk the Goldens!

Training opportunities

“How do you teach left and right?” I get asked this a lot. There are many ways to teach this and one way I reinforce their understanding can be as simple as telling my dogs “left” or “right” as we are walking. I then look for a head turn in the correct direction, add a “good” or “yes” marker and we are on our way.

Walking three dogs is always a balancing act – three leashes and three dogs who don’t think straight ahead is very interesting usually keeps me on my toes. I say usually because we have tumbled a few times when a dog (or two) have wrapped themselves around me. Stop is a helpful word which gives me an opportunity to unwind myself before we get moving again. Daily we work on Close, Side, Behind, With Me, Come, Wait, Sit, Break, Cross the Street and Cool Off (we love most sprinklers). We are usually out for an hour each morning so why not use the time for more than just walking?

It is a mind bender to think that I have been walking with dogs just about every day for almost 40 years. There are days when I feel like the guy from the Dunkin’ Donut commercial ohhhh so many years ago. But, instead of “it’s time to make the donuts,” my version is this: “It’s time to walk the Goldens”. There are days I curse the fact that we don’t have a fenced yard, but mostly I embrace that fact that walking the dogs is and hopefully always will be a constant in my life.

It would be tough to overstate the importance and health benefits of daily walks for (you and) your dog. The amount of exercise a dog needs varies based on age, breed and health — it can be as little as 30 minutes a day or as much as a few hours — but virtually all dogs need exercise in some form. However, I hope you get the idea and will also take advantage of the many resource articles listed at the bottom of the page.

When I am out walking, especially with three dogs, a frequent comment is “who’s walking who?” I just smile and say “We are walking each other.”

Just as it should be.