By: DOGeNEWS
Summer is generally the time to have fun with your family and
enjoy many activities together. Days are usually longer than
usual and the children are out on vacation. The downside to this
fun is that summer also ushers in a season of heat stroke,
sunburn and exhaustion. This can threaten your family as well as
your dog.
How to Protect Dog from Sunburns
Yes, dogs can also get burned by the sun! What then can you do
to protect your dog? The first thing that you need to do is keep
your dog away from the sun when it's most intense.
Also you can apply some sun block to areas on your dog that are
exposed the most; the tip of the ear as well as the nose.
I wouldn't recommend applying sunscreen on your dog's lips
since there is a high chance that your dog will ingest it which
can harm him. Thirdly, check if your pet has a lighter colored
fur. If this is the case, the dog will be vulnerable to the
damaging effects of the sun just like humans. Should you notice
that any part of of your dog's skin becoming red, please seek
the services of a vet
How to Protect Your Dog from Heat-Related Conditions
A few precautions can help protect your dog from exhaustion
caused by heat as well as heat stroke.
First of all, its not a good idea to leave your dog in your car
without turning on the air conditioner. A few minutes out in the
hot sun can send the temperature inside your car soaring to
fatal temperatures if the doors and windows are closed.
If you know you will be away for some considerable amount of
time from your car, its best to leave your dog at home.
Secondly, make sure your dog is left in a well ventilated
resting area that is constantly shaded regardless of the
position of the sun. When the sun is hottest, the recommended
place for your pet is an air conditioned structure.
The third tip is to ensure that your dog has constant access to
clean and cool water. Have the water placed in a cool area that
will not get warmed up as a result of direct sunlight.
Stagnant water can cause bacteria to thrive so do change it
often. If the dog will be outdoors most of the day, give him a
shaded wading pool filled with water. This will allow your pet
to cool himself by jumping in and out of the water.
The fourth tip is to make sure that your dog is not in a
situation that will have him stand on a sun-baked surface for
long periods of time. Such surfaces include streets, beach sand
and sidewalks, streets and beach sand.
What will happen is that the heat will burn the skin of your
dog and can prevent your dog expelling heat from his body in an
efficient manner
Treating a Dog Affected by Heat Stroke
Your dog can develop heat stroke if his temperature gets too
high. Symptoms that show your dog suffering from heat stroke
include excessive panting, pronounced fatigue, collapse,
unconsciousness & seizures.
Should your dog show these symptoms, get him away from the heat
and place him in a shaded area. Also, you can place the dog in a
tub with cool water. Its not advisable to use cold water or ice
on him as this will make the blood vessels of the dog to
contract & prevent the animal from releasing heat from its body.
When your dog shows signs of heat stroke, please seek the
professional advise of a vet
About The Author: Visit http://www.dogperfe ction.com, a site
for dog lovers. Get more information on dogs and also learn how
to train your dog to obey you:
http://www.dogperfe ction.com/ dogs/dog- training/ how-to-train- dogs-obedience/
