Hot doggies - advice please

[Spudlet]

So here's the thing.

Tomorrow as far as I know is forecast to be hot. Henry can have one walk in the morning when it is still cool. However he will then need to go out at lunchtime as this is his routine, and he will need the loo and anyway he'll be hyper all afternoon if he doesn't.

Today we went to the lake, but it is revolting, full of geese and stinks to high heaven. He made the whole office smell awful!

SO... do you think he would be ok if I was to take him for normal (probably shorter than ususal) dry walk at lunchtime but then hosed him off afterwards to cool him down - OR should I hose him before the walk to keep him cool?

I'm really not sure I can cope with another afternoon of Swamp Thing, and this is from a person who couldn't smell it when he rolled in a decomposing bird one lunchtime and made one of my colleagues retch with his stench...

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Hehe!!

Hose him off when you get back - sound like you need some of the lavender wash I use on the neds and Sweep - its great as it washes them but doesn't need rinsing of and makes them smell better!!

Nothin worse than a stinky spaniel

- and I am the voice of experience notching up nearly 20 years of stinky spaniel ownership......

 

[Spudlet]

Oooo what is this lavender substance of which you speak?

Although - Henry might pack his bags and leave home if I perfume him

I need a doggy Febreze for him!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Sweep will only just tolerate it - just easy than shampoo as you don't get all the suds etc

Go to horsey section of feed shop its called Lavender Wash - I think its made by Barrier Health - not to smelly but enough to make the stink less!!

Will look for a link......back in a mo!!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Here you go - its this stuff - you will find it in a tack shop etc
http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_91&products_id=469

Hope Henry enjoys his bath.....

 

[Spudlet]

LOL he's looking at me.... he does not look impressed...

That stuff looks considerably posher than the stuff I bath in

Will have to have a look next time I am in a suitable shop!

 

[Goya]

Hi everyone. sorry this is long but I feel relevant to the question posed. It was omn my Flyball website because, as you can imagine, we have to be sooooocareful when running our dogs in the current climate.
I have also been advised that you can purchase a K9cooler jacket whichI haven't yet seen but I'm having a demonstration of one on Sunday at my Flyball event at Newark. Hope you all find it useful.

> Article by Dr. Henry De Boer who is a Working K-9 vet. Following his
> 1973 graduation from Cornell University, he established Pioneer Valley
> Veterinary Hospital, based in western Massachusetts, in 1975.
>
> Heat stroke occurs when the dog's ability to regulate its body
> temperature is lost. A dog regulates body temperature primarily
> through respiration. When the respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat
> quickly enough, the body temperature rises. Normal body temperature is
> less than 103F, but once the temperature goes over 105F a number of
> physiologic events can occur that make it even more difficult for the
> animal to regain control of its temperature. At this time, oxygen
> delivery to the system cannot keep up with rapidly elevating demand.
> If the temperature exceeds 108F, cellular damage starts to occur in a
> number of organ systems including the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal
> tract, heart and brain. The extent of the cellular damage depends on
> the magnitude and the duration of the temperature elevation. Clearly,
> this can be a life-threatening situation, but for those animals that
> survive there is the possibility of long term problems after the
> occurrence.
> Watch out
> There are a number of predisposing factors for heat stroke. Some of
> the most significant are listed here:-
> . Heat
> . Humidity
> . Muscular activity
> . High body mass
> . Anxiety
> . Poor ventilation
> . Dehydration
> . Obesity
> . Anti-histamines
> . Phenothiazines (some medications for vomiting)
> . Brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed breeds)
> . Increased age
> Symptoms
> Dogs experiencing heat stroke will have a muddy pink colour of their
> gums instead of the nice red-pink colour that normally exists. Their
> heart rate will be dramatically elevated and they will be panting
> furiously. They tend to stand or walk very slowly without regard to
> where they are. Some will lay on their sternum. Most dogs will have a
> wild or panicked expression and are not particularly aware of their
> environment.
> Any combination of these symptoms should have an owner scrambling for
> a rectal thermometer and taking those steps necessary to help drive
> the temperature back down. If a thermometer is not available, presume
> it to be heat stroke and initiate treatment. If the animal does not
> respond favourably, the diagnosis can be re-evaluated later.
> Significantly delaying the treatment of heat stroke can dramatically
> increase the risk of long-term consequences or death.
> Emergency treatment
> Heat stroke is an emergency that requires veterinary assistance, but
> you can effectively initiate treatment in most cases before heading
> for the veterinary hospital. You must aggressively assist the dogs'
> efforts to lower body temperature with the use of water and air. Since
> the lungs cannot keep up with the heat build up, we now have to cool
> the skin and associated blood vessels so the body's temperature will
> decrease. Submersion of the dog in cool water will start to bring the
> temperature down quickly. You will want to avoid extremely cold water
> or ice since they cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict and
> will not allow for a meaningful heat exchange. If there isn't anything
> available to submerse the dog in, you can start wetting him down with
> a hose. Wet him down all over, but let the water run continuously in
> the groin area since there are large numbers of significant and
> relatively superficial blood vessels in that area that will allow for
> more rapid cooling of the blood. The dog should be in a
> well-ventilated, shady area to allow for evaporation of the water.
> Evaporation cools body temperatures very effectively. When you are
> transporting him to the veterinary hospital, keep the air conditioner
> on or the windows open, or use the back of a truck to increase
> evaporation. Do not use an enclosed style crate since it allows for
> very little evaporation or fresh cool air for the lungs. Do not cover
> the dog with a wet towel as it will prevent evaporation.
> Once the temperature starts dropping, you should seek veterinary
> assistance. It is advisable in most cases to start these animals on
> intravenous fluids and monitor kidney and liver function for at least
> several days. The necessity for this laboratory work depends on the
> magnitude and the duration of the elevated temperature, but even in
> relatively short mild occurrences, it is a wise precaution to take.
> Prevention
> Obviously prevention of heat stroke is a far better alternative than
> treatment. Everyone is aware of the risks of having a dog in a vehicle
> in the summer, but there are some less obvious risk factors that we
> all need to be aware of. Even moderate environmental temperatures can
> be very significant when there is little or no ventilation. Heavy
> muscular activity drives body temperatures up with alarming speed.
> Following intervals of high activity, return the dog to an air
> conditioned vehicle, or wet the dog down and go to an area that is
> shaded and preferably breezy to allow for evaporation. Do not wet the
> dog down and return it to an enclosed style crate, as you will be
> creating a steam bath like environment. Make sure there is access to
> reasonable volumes of cool fresh water both before and after activity.
> We also need to be conscious of those animals that are at increased
> risk, which would include those dogs that have high body mass, older
> dogs, and those that are carrying more weight than is normal for them.
> Being aware of the various risk factors as well as the environmental
> considerations should help all of us avoid this potentially
> devastating problem.
> Visit also http://www.working-retriever.com/library/drj/heatpros.html