our advice: ASK DR. CATE
Vet Rap by
Dr. Ryan Cate
How To Vacation With
Your Pup
Secrets To Enjoying the ‘Dog’ Days of Summer
lead to overheating. If your dog is exhibiting any of the signs of
heat stroke, cool their temperature slowly without causing over-
cooling and the possibility of hypothermia. Get the animal into
the shade and place wet towels over the back of its neck, in the
armpits and in the groin region. Also, wet the earflaps with water
and then rotate the towels frequently with cool ones. The water
will heat up and lose its effectiveness. If possible, position a fan
to blow cool air on the dog. If possible, take a rectal temperature
of your pet. The goal should be to reduce the body temperature
to 102.5 to 103 degrees while taking it to the closest animal
hospital and call your vet as soon as you can. The animal may
need intravenous fluids and the stroke may be causing problems
that you can’t even see, such as kidney failure or blood clotting
issues.
Here are some tips to help you plan for a great trip with your
family and your furry friend.
•Always have a non-metal water bowl and fresh water for your
pet
•Never leave your animal locked inside your car. Temperatures
can soar up to 160 degrees in the sun.
•If you are exercising with your pet go in the mornings or early
evenings when it’s cooler. And work up to exercise. If it’s not
good for you to be sedentary and then go for a five-mile run, it’s
not good for your dog either
•Dogs can get sunburned, especially those with light colored
skin. There are pet sunscreens available on the market
•Keep your animal’s weight within the healthy range
•If you can, take a kiddie pool with you so your dog can relax in
the water in the hot afternoons
•Don’t assume your dog can swim. All dogs are not good swim-
mers and can get themselves in trouble if their abilities are less
than the distance to get to shore. Also, make sure if your dog
can’t swim, to keep it away from open water like swimming
pools, lakes and stock tanks
•Ke