How Hot is TOO hot?

We need to be aware of the temperatures when it’s too hot to walk our dogs on pavement or macadam. Also, we need to know how temperatures in a car heat up so quickly – much faster than we realize. If possible, leave your pet at home, but if not, know what temperature is forecasted and plan for it. It was an unusually hot June and July and August will undoubtedly continue in the high temperatures.

Friends Don’t Leave Friends Inside Parked Cars. I copied this from the animalfoundation.com site. From that same site I copied the same information: Temp Outside vs Temp Inside Car: 85 degrees outside but 104 degrees inside car, 90 outside = 109 inside car, 95 outside = 114 inside car 100 outside – 120 inside car and at 110 0utside (which I hope we never reach) it is 129 inside car. The 104 degrees happens in as little as ten minutes inside the car. You might have someone break your car window to rescue your pup.

How about walking your dog? Asphalt heats up very quickly. If it is only 77 degrees on a sunny day, the asphalt surface could be 125 degrees. Too hot to walk your dog. Walk early in the day before the sun heats up the pavement. I don’t think many folks realize that a dog house is a hot closed in space. Have a place open on three sides with a roof and in the shade. Check where it is shady in the morning and afternoon – you might need two spaces to provide shade. Obviously fresh water is an absolute necessity and may need refreshed several times daily. Your dog might appreciate a kiddie pool – one they can’t tear holes on the bottom. As to cutting or shaving your dog’s fur coat, it is much better to allow the dog’s coat to do its thing which is to protect the skin from the sun and cool it the way hair is supposed to.

Signs of heat stroke include excessive thirst, rapid heartbeat, fever, dizziness, breathing difficulty, vomiting, tongue changing color to red or purple, seizure and unconsciousness. Run cool, not cold, water over them and apply cold towels or ice packs to their head, chest and neck and run cool – not cold – water over them.

If it’s too hot for both you and your dog, you can avoid making doggie treats that require baking. Here is a recipe for a no-cook treat: ½ c pumpkin puree, ½ cup applesauce, ¼ c peanut butter, ¼ c plain yogurt. 1 strip cooked and crumbled bacon and 1 ½ c old fashioned oats. Stir together the first four ingredients. Stir in the bacon and oats. Form into cookie sized treats and refrigerate or freeze. You can use low-fat, low sugar, and unsalted ingredients.

Enjoy your summer with your best friend and stay cool.