Summer finally appeared in the North Country and it was about time ! After days of rain, the grass was in dire need of mowing. The grass was so long that PC wasn’t even able to see Jake’s poop (in our household, PC is in charge of the poop patrol). So he cut the grass first and picked up whatever was left of Jake’s little smelly gifts. We cleaned the windows, inside out, and washed the house’s exterior. The house is now spic-and-span !
Since we worked all day Saturday, yesterday, Sunday, was a day reserved for fun and relaxation. In our house, fun and relaxation days involve the whole family, PC, E, me and The Beast.
The day was beautiful, sunny and warm. Very warm. 80 degrees. We had shorts and camisoles and we were still sweating.
And that brings me to our furry friends who spends as much time as we do outside. And not only do they spend time outside, but they play outside too. Well, my Jake plays outside all the time. Running after squirrels, birds and whatever his little brain conjure for him, spotting a green spot for his next pee-pee (Jake likes yellow you see) and mostly, playing ball, when he is not chewing it like a bubble gum.
As we were playing ball, I saw my Jake’s tongue more and more out. When he decided to not return with the ball but to lie down in the dirt under the cedar edges, I realized that if I was hot, so was he. And the problem with Jake, is that when he hot, because he has so much stamina that he doesn’t know when enough is enough. At least, he doesn’t know it most of the time.
Jake under the cedar edge
It made me think about what are the basics when you have a dog and it’s summer.
Fresh cool water : I always make sure that Jake has fresh water when he hangs outside (whenever he sees the sun, he wants go go out and lie down on the deck. He is so cute 
), and when I say fresh, I mean fresh. There is no sense in having water if it’s so hot outside that the water gets warm and evaporate. Also, whenever we go, I always keep a water dispenser for dogs. Google it and get one, I promise you you won’t regret it.
Shade : We installed the parasol on the deck yesterday mostly because of Jake. I want him to have a “safe spot” when it’s sunny. When the “safe spot” is not enough, he’ll go lie down on dirt. And I let him do it because I think his comfort is more important than the dirt he’ll bring inside. I can always wash him, but I can’t replace him if he suffers from an sunstroke/heatstroke.
Cars : As much as I love to bring Jake with me everywhere I do, I won’t do it during summer. Cars can be deadly to dogs. No, I correct myself : cars are deadly to dogs. Do you know that an idle car can reach 100 degrees in a manner of minutes when it is under the sun ? So Jake stays home, with the AC.
Running/Walk : I like running/walking with The Beast. But I don’t go or I don’t bring him with me if it’s too hot. If I do run/walk with him, I wait until it’s dark outside because the temperature will have lowered.
There is also a fact that is mostly unknown to everybody. The reason why we have to take to precautions, is because dogs don’t react to heat the same way we humans do. Humans can regulate their body temperature with their whole body by using their skin, their sweat glands, etc. Dogs only have two ways. Their tongue and their paws. Yes, you read that right.
Tongue
Next time you play ball with, for the purpose if this post, let’s call him Fido, notice this : the more you’ll play with Fido, the more his tongue will stick out and he will pant.
The more his tongue is sticking out and he his panting, the more he is trying to regulate his body temperature. The way it works, in short, is that by panting, Fido is cooling down his mouth and his tongue and makes a draft of air go in to cool the major blood vessels surrounding his nose. It keeps his brain from overheating (frying) and it helps to cool the blood that goes through the rest of his body.
The more the tongue is out, the more area is out to be cool through evaporation. Same goes for panting. It cools down the respiratory system through evaporation. But when Fido pants, you are to be careful because he can start to pant so rapidly that he could start to hyperventilate, which can also be dangerous.
Jake is cooling down by panting
Paws
The other way Fido have to regulate his body temperatures, is …. with his paws. Yeah, you read that right. Since most of Fido’s sweat glands are situated along the base of his feet, you have to be careful not to make him walk or stand on a burning surface (sidewalk or asphalt). Provide him with a cool surface or, let him lie down where it is cool.
What is a heatstroke ?
You might think a heatstroke is really not that important. I mean, if the Fido is hot, just give him cool fresh water and let him cool down inside, right ? No.
The signs of a heatstroke can include : an accelerated or abnormal breathing and heart rate, a dry mouth and nose, heavy drooling (when your dog’s tongue is out and you can see big drops of saliva drooping from it), seizures and pale or extremely dark gums. What follows those signs, is major organ damage and death, if the condition is not addressed immediately by a veterinarian.
Also, and this is scary, the difference between normal body temperature and a heatstroke is 3 degrees F. Only three. The normal body temperature is 101-102 degrees F and a heatstroke is only 105 degrees F.
Is it really worth it to have Fido waiting for you in the car while you are grocery shopping or having breakfast at your favorite restaurant ?
Yeah, I didn’t so either.
