Dogs need cool air to survive
Glazed eyes, purple tongue are signs of canine heat stress

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was leaving the Collin Creek Mall in Plano, Texas, and found a group of security officers standing around a car parked near hers. The head of a small terrier mix could be seen poking out of the passenger side window of the expensive sports car.
The little dog was barking continuously and was obviously in distress. When she asked the security officers how long the dog had been in the vehicle, they told her "10 minutes." She was able to give the small dog some water from a cup she had in her vehicle. The dog drank several cupfuls of water and slobbered on the expensive interior of the vehicle.
While they were talking, the owner of the dog and car came out of the mall. When questioned why he left his dog in the car, he said some extremely unpleasant things to the officers and to my friend, got in his car and drove off.
What this unthinking pet owner failed to realize is that on a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 120øF in as little as 10 minutes - even with the car windows partially opened. His pet could have quickly suffered brain damage or died from heat stroke or suffocation while trapped in the high temperatures of a Texas afternoon.
Dr. Tim Ashley of the Animal Hospital of Wichita Falls explained that dogs have so few sweat glands (chiefly on the pads of their feet) that they must pant to cool themselves. If there is no cool air to breathe, there is a serious risk of heat stress. According to Ashley, dogs that are especially prone to heat stroke include the very young or elderly and short-nosed breeds, such as pugs and boxers. Heavy-coated dogs, such as arctic breeds, are also very susceptible to heat stroke. Ashley advised that pets that are overweight, those that suffer from cardiovascular or respiratory problems, and animals with a history of heat stress are all at a higher risk of having heat stroke.
Ashley provided the following tips concerning heat stroke in your pet:

• Be alert for the signs of heat stress. These include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue.
  
• If your pet becomes overheated, you must begin to lower his body temperature immediately.
  Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not icy cold) water all over its body to gradually lower its body temperature.
• Places cool towels to your pet's head, neck and chest only.
• Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
• Cool with a fan. (Since you will be using electricity near water, be careful to avoid electrical shock.)
• Finally, take your pet directly to a veterinarian - it could save your pet's life.

If you see an animal in a car exhibiting any signs of heat stress, call your local animal control agency or police department immediately! Wichita Falls Animal Control Supervisor Pat Brown said that if a person leaves his dog in a car, he will be issued a citation and may have to pay a fine up to $250. Brown also said that the Animal Control switchboard receives more than 1,000 animal-related calls each month, and animal control officers impound an average of 60 dogs a day during the hot summer months.
Taking your pet for a ride may seem like fun, but many pets prefer to spend time with you in the comfort and safety of home. Explore activities that you and your pet can share at home and avoid taking risks by leaving your pet in the car.
The Wichita Falls Times Record News and the Humane Society of the United States have provided pamphlets on how to recognize signs of heat stroke in your companion animals. These pamphlets are available at Petco and at selected veterinarian clinics.
Eamon P. Riley is a certified master dog trainer and an animal behavioral consultant. For comments or suggests, he can be reached at 689-9247 or by email at dogmanusmc@aol.com. Do you have a question for The Dog Man? Send it in to www.cutecritters.com and have it answered on line.