I’m a Veterinarian… The Dog Breed Most At Risk From Heat Waves And Hidden Dangers Owners Overlook
MOST dog owners think twice before walking their dogs when the temperatures are high. They also check with their hand whether the pavement is too hot for their dog’s paws.
But there’s one potentially deadly summer hazard that most pet owners aren’t aware of: humidity.
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With the mercury set to rise again this weekend, Dr. Karyn Kanowski, a veterinarian who works with Catster magazinesays humidity is a hidden killer, making dogs more sick than heat.
“Not walking your dog won’t kill him, but taking him for a walk will,” she said.
“The most common mistake I see dog owners make is overestimating the heat but underestimating the danger that humidity brings.
“Everyone knows you shouldn’t walk your dog when it’s really hot. But when it’s 20 or 21 degrees, people walk their dogs.
“But when humidity levels rise to 75 or 80 percent, dogs still get very hot during exercise and can’t cool down.
“That’s because they pant to cool down, but if the air is humid, the saliva doesn’t evaporate and the cooling mechanism doesn’t work.
“They are essentially cooking from the inside out.”
Dr Karyn originally trained in Australia and worked in Alice Springs, where she rarely saw dogs with heatstroke because the heat was dry – and people were aware not to let them outside.
Since working in the UK, she has seen several dogs die from high humidity.
“A dog that exercises for 10 minutes on a 75-degree day with high humidity is at greater risk than a dog that does the same thing on a 95-degree day with 20 percent humidity, because the dog can cool down on the warmer day under the right conditions,” she explained.
Most weather forecasts will indicate the expected humidity levels for each day. This can be a useful tool to ensure that you do not leave your pet in danger after a walk when the mercury is lower.
Another common mistake dog owners make is leaving their pet home alone, assuming they are safe because the animal is out of direct sunlight.
However, this poses a risk of them overheating if there is no air circulation in the building.
“In England, houses are designed to keep heat in and not let it escape,” says Dr Karyn.
“They can even heat up and act as a sauna for your pet when there is no moving air.
“People probably don’t leave their doors and windows open when they’re not home.
“Because dogs pant to cool down, they need some form of air movement for this inefficient system to have any effect.
“A simple solution is to leave a fan on when you are away. This will keep the air circulating in your home and help your dog cool down if it gets hot.”
Frozen water hack
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Not only our four-legged friends suffer from the heat, cats can also suffer from it.
Dr. Karyn has a simple trick that works for almost all pets in your home.
“Forget putting ice cubes in water, it doesn’t really work,” she said.
“Instead, fill their water bowl half full and freeze it. Then when you take it out, refill it with cold tap water and it will stay cool all day.
“The cool water helps cool down both dogs and cats because it lowers their body temperature.
“When it comes to your smaller furries, you can do the same with their dropper bottles. Freeze the top half and fill with cold water.
Dog Breeds Most Prone to Heat Stroke
While all dogs can suffer from heatstroke, certain breeds are at greater risk.
Dr. Karyn sees the following breeds with heat problems more often than others.
Brachycephalic – French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Pugs and others. Dr. Karyn says this is because not only are their faces squashed; their tongues and soft palates are squashed, their nostrils are constricted and often their trachea is also constricted. This means their inefficient cooling system is even worse, plus their respiratory system is inherently compromised.
Fluffy and double coated – Pomeranian, Siberian Husky, Malamutes, Labradors, Akita, and Chow Chow. This is because their coats are designed to keep these dogs from getting too cold. Dr. Karyn says you can make it better by brushing these pooches thoroughly to remove dead fur and keep them a bit cooler.
“Hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs can also get too hot when it is warm.
“Another tip is to freeze a large block of ice and put it in a bowl for them to lick.”
Karen recommends freezing ceramic water bowls because they heat up less quickly.
Plastic and metal bowls heat up quickly, and so does the water in them.
She also recommends placing multiple food bowls in shady areas around the house so your four-legged friend has plenty of choice.
Advice for cats
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Cats can be harder to convince to stay out of the sun than dogs, but Dr. Karyn says owners don’t need to worry.
“Cats are much better at self-regulation than dogs,” she said.
Make sure they have plenty of shade in and around the house.
“Another good thing about fans is that cats will choose to lie down in front of them when they get too hot.
“A cheap plinth will suffice.
“If you can convince them to get out of the sun, try it.
“But we all know that cats just do what they want, no matter what we try.”
Little Pet Tricks
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Rabbits and guinea pigs are often kept in outdoor cages, so when it gets hot it is important to put them in the right place.
Dr. Karyn recommends placing them in a shady spot, under a canopy if possible.
If you need to temporarily hang something to create shade, make sure it hangs high, not above the cage.
“If you put a blanket or covering over the cage, it can do more harm than good,” she said.
“It does provide shade, but you’re restricting airflow and there’s nothing to stop it from heating up underneath and getting very hot.
“If you plan on installing some sort of shelter for the summer, make sure it hangs high above the cage so it has plenty of airflow.
“The only exception to placing anything on the cage is a towel soaked in cold water with a fan pointed at it, but even then it shouldn’t cover everything.”
Another way to cool the cages is to place frozen ice blocks underneath. This allows the coolness to seep through the bottom.
Dr. Karyn advises against putting them in cages, as the little animals will likely chew through them and the contents could be harmful to them.
If you see your rabbit panting heavily in the heat, it probably means he is having a hard time.
“One way to help your rabbits in the heat is to put a cool flannel cloth over their ears,” she said.
“Rabbits lose most of their heat through the veins in their ears.
“By placing the cold flannel on them, it helps cool the blood and therefore the rabbit.
“Also try to keep them in the shade so it doesn’t get to that point.”
Danger warning
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Animals suffering from heatstroke often pant heavily as they try to cool down.
Another sign that they are struggling is vomiting and diarrhea, which can occur the next day.
“Many owners associate these symptoms with a sick pet, but not necessarily with the heat,” she says.
“If you notice these symptoms in hot or humid weather, it’s worth taking your dog to the vet to be on the safe side.
“Another sign of heat stroke in dogs is seizures. If they have had one, it doesn’t look good, unfortunately.
“By the time your dog has a seizure, there is cell damage and the prognosis is not great. That is what we want to avoid.”
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