I know we are all careful but just one to be reminded about. The wife took Teddy out this morning about 0600 hrs for his morning walk. We are over in Germany and it had already reached about 20 degrees. She checked the ground and it was cool enough to walk but was a bit humid. They were out for no more than half an hour, sticking to the shade and no ball throwing. He was having a nice cast around sniffing out his usual haunts and Ceri kept him topped up with drinks every now and then. All of a sudden he started lumbering around like a drunk and would have hit the deck if Ceri hadn't have caught him. After a desperate sprint into the woods to find them we managed to get him home and cooled off with wet towels and cool water. He had small drinks and we hand fed him slowly with food. It was a worrying time but after fifteen minutes or so he was on his feet again and wondering what was going on. Although he was sick an hour or so later and lethargic for the rest of the day. He's been to the vet and they have taken blood to make sure it's nothing sinister but it's likely a sudden bout of heat stroke. Ceri and I did everything we could to ensure he was okay and kept cool and watered during his walk and the vet praised us on our quick action with cooling him off but the humidity was just too much. I'm very surprised considering the location of his previous job but I suppose he just needs to re acclimatise to the heat like the rest of us. Just thought I would share this to make sure everyone is doing what they can to keep our boys and girls healthy in the heat. Anybody got any hints and tips on how we can safely walk in the current weather?
Gosh, that must have been a shock I'm so glad he was ok. It's a bit surprising, really, though. I've never heard of a dog having a problem in 20 degree heat - that's not at all hot. Was the humidity very extreme? I'm careful with my dog in the heat, but having grown up in the med on an army camp and seen army dogs work all day in temperatures far exceeding anything that we get in the UK I don't tend to fuss all that much (with a young, fit dog). Germany might get hotter, I suppose. Even so, you say it was early in the morning, without any extreme activity, and plenty of water available...it sounds strange. Did the vet say whether Teddy might have any underlying problems at all?
It does sound like heat stroke. Does he have a very thick coat? With this very warm weather I've been taking Pops to the stream at the beginning and the end of our walks, so she can cool herself down. Might be worth wetting Teddy's fur before you start out?
She has taken blood to check genetics and wants to rule out fits. The humidity was absolutely bogging (We had a storm about lunchtime yesterday and it hit 40 degrees in the afternoon) so I think he just got hit by the closeness (I hope that's all it is anyway). Like I said, I was surprised as he has spent the past four and a half years doing tours and it was always hitting 50 in the summer.
I should think very high humidity would make it difficult for a dog to cool itself by panting. Well, so glad he is ok anyway. Karen's idea of water is a good one - if you are already walking early in the day, limiting exercise, and supplying drinking water....swimming instead of walking would be the next thing to consider I guess.
What a fright ,glad he was ok .Vets here advise extreme caution when it's humid......it's a lot worse than the dry heat. Dexter can easily do an hour and a half in the morning,I start off at daylight 5 am as I have until 6.30 when it is definately too hot to be out.In that time it will got from 28 degrees to mid 30's Dex will be panting of course but nothing that looks alarming.I have a friends Flattie staying with me at the moment ,she starts panting heavily and quickly ,I only give her half an hour and watch her like a hawk.She absolutely has no ball games . I think her coat is a massive factor,it's so thick.You feel like you want to get she trimmed right down but i've read that cropping them down during the hot months can do more harm than good,something about air being trapped with within the layers has a cooling effect.Wilma gets a swim in the pool when we get home ,Dexter has recovered in the 5 minutes it takes to drive home,all he wants is his breakfast! Everyone stay safe through the heat,humans as well as doggies x
