Hot Dogs & Happy Holiday! Info on Keeping Your Dog Safe & More

Many of us are in the US, so Happy Independence Day on July 4th to those who celebrate! For a fun little game, please participate in our COLOR CHALLENGE during the next week! Just post a picture of your dog (you are also welcome to be included!) wearing or holding something red, white, or blue, or any combination thereof. I'll make a compilation picture for a cute social media picture we can share. I will have a thread in the community for you to put your pictures.

I don't know about where you are, but in my neck of the woods, there are a lot of fireworks that go off close by on holidays like these. If your dog hates the noises and you need sedatives or something similar, today is your last day to get that stuff ready. My dogs are pretty okay with fireworks, and one of them actually loves the loud bangs, but I have a 9-month-old puppy who has never done a holiday with us, so we'll see how that goes. I predict there will be lots of snacks at my house tomorrow night.

Keep your dog secure during the holiday chaos and make sure they are easily identified in case they try to escape from the noise. Such a scary thought!

It's also crazy hot in my neck of the woods. Florida has been an absolute oven for most of June. Remember that dogs overheat faster than humans. Watch for signs like

Heavy panting
Excessive drooling or thick saliva
Weakness or lethargy
Vomiting or diarrhea
Bright red gums or tongue
Uncoordinated movements

If you see signs of overheating, start cooling the dog first, and then transport them to a veterinarian. Pour cool water over the dog or submerge them in cool water (don't dunk their heads since they will already be struggling to breathe). Speak to your veterinarian about how to safely cool your dog in the event of overheating.

Prevent overheating by erring on the side of caution, especially in humid environments where it is easier to overheat. Train and exercise outside for shorter periods of time and during cooler parts of the day. Make sure that water is available at all times, and that there is good ventilation where your dog spends most of their time. And, although it seems obvious, in most places, this is not the time of year to leave your dog in the car, even during short errands with the windows partway down.

Another weird thing that can happen as you and your dog do hot weather activities like playing in the pool or hose is water intoxication. When the body is overwhelmed by excessive water intake, life-threatening symptoms can occur. If you see odd symptoms after water play, like bloating, lack of coordination, lethargy, and more, go directly to a veterinarian and be sure to mention that it could be water intoxication, so they can move quickly. Learn more about water intoxication here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/can-dogs-drink-much-water/ I actually know people who have had this happen to their dogs, so even though it sounds like something that can never happen to you, it totally can.

In other news, I'm offering private online agility lessons! Specifically, I'll design courses that fit the space and equipment you have to work on the things you need to work on. You can get more info here: https://buymeacoffee.com/brennafender/extras. Feel free to reach out to me at brenna@brennafender.com to ask questions or get more info.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend! Tell us about what you're doing in the comments here!

(Random picture of Oliver included.)

--Brenna

3 comments

Hot Dogs & Happy Holiday! Info on Keeping Your Dog Safe & More