Jack Haskins: Summer heat can be harmful to dogs

DEAR OLD TRAINER: We have a 9-month old husky, Lola. This is one of the hottest summers ever in Oregon, and your column on summer haircuts made me wonder what else we should do to protect her from the heat.

A: Raymond Chandler wrote of the effect heat has on humans:

“There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands’ necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge.”

But what is merely discomforting to humans is deadly for dogs, so keep the following in mind:

▪ Dogs need plenty of cool water in the heat. Add ice to ensure it’s cool.

▪ Keep your dog inside both night and day during extreme heat. If you can’t, hose her down every few hours and make her a bed of ice like the University of Georgia does on the sideline for their Bulldogs mascot, Uga.

▪ Make sure your dog has shade when outside. If you have no trees, use a tarp or sheet to create a shelter from the sun.

▪ Never chain a dog outside in hot weather. If the chain becomes entangled, she cannot reach shade or water and may die.

▪ Walk your dog during the cool time of day and stay in the shade. Skip the walk if you can’t stay in the shade. Cut back on exercise in the summer. The perfect amount of exercise in the winter may be deadly in the summer.

▪ A hot sidewalk will burn a dog’s feet in minutes, so stay on the grass.

▪ Never take a dog along in the car unless you will be in the car at all times. Never leave a dog alone in a car with the air conditioner going. If the car dies, the dog dies.

▪ Keep in mind dogs are closer to the ground – and the heat – than you are and take longer to recover.

▪ If you notice excess panting, check her tongue and gums. If they appear bright red, she is in danger and you must act immediately to save her life.

Take the following steps at once:

1. Wet her coat with cool water and place her in front of a fan. An old myth holds that fur acts as insulation and protects a dog from the heat. The truth is that once a dog becomes overheated, the fur traps the heat, making it harder to cool down. A fan helps dissipate heat through her fur.

2. Provide cold water for her to drink.

3. Get her into an air-conditioned environment, preferably on a tile floor or other cool surface.

4. Give her ice cubes.

Use the same common sense you would use with a child in hot weather. Make the cautious choice when you have to make a decision, and your dog will make it through the summer with no problems.

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Jack Haskins: Summer heat can be harmful to dogs."