DOGS: Heat and other summertime hazards

With the summertime heat currently upon us, it is certainly appropriate that I alert companion animal owners to the extreme danger of heat-related illness when the temperature reaches triple digits. I have read lists of ways to keep a dog safe and cool, most of which are just plain common sense; water, shade, etc. But I do agree every pet owner needs a reminder of even obvious things when the heat gets extreme.

There seems to be one point in summertime safety for your dog that causes some controversy with professionals, and that is to shave or not to shave. I read a lengthy article in a leading East Coast paper by a professional dog writer I respect and usually agree with, that stated "never shave a dog." The writer's reasoning was that a heavy coat provides insulation and protection from the heat, direct sun and parasites. I have heard the same from some veterinarians. However, the local ones with whom I've worked advocate shaving.

I don't think anyone can responsibly make a blanket statement referring to every dog on earth. What is beneficial for one dog may not be for another because there are so many variables: environment, age, breed, physical condition, behavior and level of care the dog enjoys, naming but a few.

Long ago, a wonderful 12-year-old golden retriever mix came to live with me. I'm not sure what Beary was mixed with, but guessed it to be husky or malamute. Only a northern breed could be the origin of this dog's

incredibly thick undercoat, though he looked like a golden. If Beary were a house dog, the thick coat wouldn't have been a problem because of the air conditioning. But Beary had always lived outdoors and didn't like to be in the house; as far as he was concerned it was confinement, which made him uncomfortable and restless. One of Beary's behavior traits was to dig himself a nice big hole to sleep in. He had three major ones, two up against the house and the third under a tree against the fence. Before plopping down in one, he'd take three or four swipes with his big old paw to stir up the dirt. That sort of exaggerated denning instinct made it impossible to keep the dog clean. In summer he was a walking sticker/dust mop and in winter he was caked with mud and smelled like a sour dishrag. An old dog allowed to stay dirty, whether or not he lives inside, is at greater health risk than a young dirty dog. Geriatric dogs dribble small amounts of urine occasionally or get

traces of fecal matter stuck in their heavy coats. Beary happened to drool a lot and lick his front legs. Those things, especially in the heat, make a perfect breeding ground for flies that are especially drawn to old dogs, even the clean ones. In the course of a single hot day flies can bloody ear tips and tops of noses on dogs that live outside.

Imagine how miserable it must be to have a cloud of flies constantly buzzing your face and eyes. Flies can actually lay eggs in a dog's eye that turn into hair-like worms that need to be picked, one by one from the eyeball (that's a fun job I helped with back in my vet assistant days). Even that is minor compared to a maggot infestation. As mentioned above, older outside dogs, especially the heavy coated ones, are at risk of fly strike. With our oven-like temperatures, a slight incontinence problem or small wound can cause an explosion of maggots living on the dog. (I've seen it on cats a couple of times). With all the disgusting things vet assistants must clean up, believe me, maggots are the very worst and the only thing that grossed me out so badly I nearly lost my cookies.

Nowadays, there is a good selection of insect repellents for people, as well as our canine companions. I use a stick repellent for tops of noses and ear tips for the dogs, and a pump spray on all of us. Even though Bigfoot Bob is now considered a geriatric dog (he just turned 13), I haven't yet experienced the biting fly trouble with him, but he's in the house most of the time. Now that I'm retired, none of my dogs spends all day outside, no matter the air temp. They are out for a couple hours, while I'm playing on the computer or doing a few household chores, but then they come inside with me, so the fly issue is not a problem at all. But I remember how hard it was, when I was away at work all day, to keep the dogs safe and comfortable in my absence.
