Since summer is here and the temperatures are soaring I thought this would be a good blog article.

Sometimes people assume that because a dog can pant that he can cool himself off. This is far from being true. Dogs are actually rather inefficient at cooling their bodies compared to humans. Where we can sweat in response to heat, dogs can become overheated easily. A dog suffering severe heatstroke can die. What’s more, it doesn’t take very long for a dog to experience severe heatstroke. If their body temperature rises over 106 degrees it can be deadly for them.

As a dog owner, you should be able to recognize the signs of heatstroke:

1. Rapid panting

2. Red or very pale gums

3. A bright red tongue

4. Thick, sticky saliva

5. Vomiting (there can be blood)

6. Diarrhea

7. Dizziness

8. Weakness

9. Depression

10.Shock

11.Coma

Your dog can develop heatstroke many different places. We commonly think of heatstroke in association with leaving a dog in a car in the summer time but dogs can be overcome with heatstroke even when you are with them. If you take your dog to the beach, go hiking together, go jogging, or your dog is just out in the sun too long, especially if they are overdoing the exercise, he or she can develop heatstroke. Owners with brachycephallic breeds (short-nosed) need to be especially vigilant about having their dogs out in high heat.

If you see your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms in relation to heat you should act immediately. Bring your dog in from the heat and sun. You should make plans to get him to the veterinarian immediately. Before you even head to the vet you can start lowering his body temperature by wetting him all over with cool water. Do NOT use ice cold water. Very cold water can cause a serious reaction when it is applied too quickly. Use cool water to begin bringing your dog’s body temperature back toward normal.

You can apply alcohol to his paw pads, ears and groin area. These areas are sensitive and will respond to the cooling sensation of the alcohol.

As soon as your dog’s body temperature approaches 103 degrees (you can check with a rectal thermometer), you should be on your way to the vet’s office.

You can allow your dog to have access to cool water or to Pedialyte. Don’t try to force water into him. He could choke.

Your vet will continue to bring your dog’s body temperature back down to normal. He will provide your dog with oxygen and IV fluids. He may wish to keep your dog to check for any lingering effects such as shock or organ failure.

If your dog has had moderate heatstroke he will likely recover without serious problems. A severe heatstroke could cause organ damage and your dog may require a special diet and other care. He will be at increased risk for another bout of heatstroke afterwards.

To prevent heatstroke be sure to do the following:

1. Keep your pet out of hot cars. Cars heat up quickly and may reach 140 degrees.

2. Make sure your dog has access to water at all times.

3. Make sure that your dog always has access to shade.

4. Restrict exercise on hot days.

5. Don’t muzzle your dog. It prevents panting which allows your dog to get increased air.

6. Avoid the beach and concrete areas on hot days since there is no shade.

7. Wet your dog down or let him swim on hot days.

Air conditioning is great if your dog is indoors, but it’s not always reliable. If your dog spends the day in the house you can help make sure that he stays cool by purchasing a cool pad. These are pads that can be wetted and frozen overnight. Your dog can lie on the pad if he chooses, to cool himself off.

If you take the appropriate precautions you should be able to keep your dog from ever experiencing heatstroke. If your dog does have an attack of heatstroke follow the suggestions here and get him to the vet as soon as possible. Take the heat seriously! Stay cool in the summer time.

Until next time….

It’s a truism that our dogs can’t talk to us. They can’t tell us how they feel or if there is something ailing them. In fact, most dogs tend to hide ailments. Your dog may have an injury or be in pain and you might not know it for several days unless you are paying close attention to any departure from his normal behavior.

You can learn to tell if your dog has a health problem by doing the following:

1. Pay attention to your dog’s daily routine. Did he finish his food? Did he follow his usual bathroom habits? Is he drinking his normal amount of water? More? Less? All of these things can tell you important information about your dog’s health. They are often first indicators that something may be wrong with your dog.

2. How is your dog’s overall condition? Has he lost weight? Gained weight? Is his coat shiny or is it looking bad? Again, these are important indicators that your dog may be experiencing a change in his health. Watch them closely. It can be easy to miss your dog gaining or losing weight since it may happen gradually, but if your dog begins losing hair or having other skin problems, these are usually very noticeable and they can be an indication of thyroid problems, allergies or other conditions.

3. How is your dog’s energy level? Is he as active as he usually is or does he lie around more? Is he lethargic? Is he hyperactive? A change in your dog’s energy level can indicate a change for the worse in his health. Lethargy could be an indication of anything from hypothyroidism to heart failure.

4. Is your dog sensitive about his ears? Ear problems are very common with dogs, especially long-eared breeds and breeds with long hair. Ear problems can take the form of yeast and bacterial infections. If left untreated they can even lead to hearing lost or require surgery.

These are some of the things that are easily observable. You can also check your dog’s gums to see if they are healthy and pink. If they are too pale that could be an indication that your dog is not processing oxygen as well as he should — perhaps a sign of hemolytic anemia or a cardiovascular problem.

If your dog is limping for more than a few hours you may need to take him to the vet to see what the problem is. Dogs can twist or sprain a limb the same way people can, but if your dog limps for more than just a short period of time he could have a bony growth or be feeling some form of arthritis. Your vet would need to make the diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

With dogs, as with humans, there are so many possible health conditions that it’s hard to say what might be wrong with your dog just by looking at him. However, you can usually tell by looking at a dog if something is wrong, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.

You know your dog better than anyone. If you sense that something is “off” or just not right with your dog you should trust your instincts and take your dog to the vet. Better safe than sorry where the health of your dog is concerned.

I just want to tell you about a exciting, new service we are offering at Canine Behavior Specialists. I receive many phone calls and emails from people throughout the globe who want my assistance in training their dogs. For those clients who do not live in Nashville, I am offering the SAME program I offer to local clients in their homes by using new “Webinar” technology. This is also an affordable way for all dog owners to learn the secrets to having a well-behaved 4-legged family member.

Our new online training programs are also a great way for local dog owners to achieve great results without the expense of one-on-one training.

Several topics we will be discussing include “Surviving Your Puppy”, “Housetraining the Easy Way”, Solving Behavior Problems and “Selecting the Perfect Dog For Your Family”. These Webinars allow everyone to participate in a training program at an affordable price from the convenience of your home.

Today’s technology allows you to ask questions and interact via your computer. You will be able to see the instructor through your monitor and ask questions as if you were in the same room.

Please take a look at www.CanineBehaviorSpecialists.com/webinars.html .

Until next time………..

We all hear about “socialization” and how important it is to socialize a new puppy or dog, but what does it mean and how do you do it? Why is it important?

Socializing your puppy or new dog is about introducing them to new things but it’s really more than that. When you introduce your puppy or new dog to things they’re not familiar with you want them to have a positive experience. Even if they’re encountering something that could be frightening you want them to learn that they can handle it and come away from the experience with more confidence.

Socialization helps to build a puppy or dog’s confidence in himself. When a puppy or dog has more confidence they can face all kinds of things later on without becoming anxious. Well-socialized dogs are less likely to suffer from separation anxiety or to be aggressive because they have the confidence to deal with being alone or with meeting other dogs and people without overreacting.

Whether you’re bringing home a puppy, an adolescent dog or an older dog, there are some very good ways to socialize them. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take puppies to puppy pre-school or puppy kindergarten classes. These classes are a great way to let puppies interact with other puppies and their owners. Puppies get a small taste of simple training while at the same time getting lots of socialization. They learn that friendly strangers like to pet them and that there’s nothing to be afraid of when they go to new places. They also learn to play nicely with other puppies in the same age range. All of these things are important lessons for puppies.

2. Take adolescent dogs and older dogs to obedience training classes. Obedience training gives many dogs more confidence. When a dog is focusing on you and training he has less time to worry about his surroundings, other people or things that might frighten him. Going to classes where there are other dogs and people helps a dog get used to strange people and places. All of these things are good ways to help your dog with his socialization.

3. Take your puppy or dog places with you. If you’re going to the park, for a walk or just for a ride in the car, taking your puppy or dog out with you exposes him to new places and people. If your puppy or dog is shy about meeting people make sure you always have some treats with you so you can hand them to people who can pet your dog. When your dog allows petting the person can then give him a treat. All of these things help in the socialization process.

4. Take your dog to places where dogs are particularly welcomed. Places like pet supply stores often encourage people to bring their dogs. Some of these stores are very large so they may be a little scary to your dog at first but if you persevere (and have lots of treats) your dog should enjoy his trip. Let him look around and sniff things. Let him choose a toy. Let him see other dogs — but don’t approach them unless you are sure they are friendly and your dog seems interested in being friends. Again, make sure you have treats with you and encourage people to pet your dog. Pet stores can be great places for socializing your dog.

5. Make things fun. Your dog’s socialization depends mostly on you. Your attitude is very important when it comes to how your dog will react to people and situations. If you soothe your puppy and tell him “Poor boy!” when an umbrella scares him, he will always be scared of umbrellas because you’re giving him the feedback that umbrellas are really scary. If, instead, you laugh and joke and play with your puppy when something potentially frightening happens, like an umbrella opening unexpectedly, your puppy won’t think it’s a big deal. It’s all up to you whether or not your puppy or dog will develop the confidence he needs to be a happy, secure adult dog. Even rescue dogs who have gotten off to a bad start in life can be socialized and develop confidence through socialization if you make things fun for them and give them courage.

Good veterinarians are hard to come by. It’s getting harder to find the country vet who knows all about you and your dog and can tell you all of the local gossip. Vets who offered discounts for multiple pets and client loyalty are disappearing. In his place we have vets with more sophisticated equipment but often less time for you and your dog. He or she may see lots of clients every day and be part of a large practice. You may not see the same vet each time you go to the offices.

How can you find a good veterinarian these days? Here are a few tips.

1. Ask around. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a good vet. If you have friends with pets ask them who they use and whether they like them or not. Ask them about their experiences with the vet. Have they been satisfied or are they looking for a new vet? How is the vet with their dog? (Or cat or whatever!) You can learn a lot just by talking to a friend.

2. Make a list of some of the things that are important to you in a vet. Do you need a vet who specializes? Probably not, unless you are a breeder or you have a dog with a particular health problem, but if you do need a specialist, start looking. They can be hard to find. Do you need a vet who will write prescriptions for you so you can buy heartworm medication online? This can be a bone of contention with some vets so you may have to try several vets before you find one who is willing to do this for you. It’s certainly worth pursuing because heartworm medication usually costs twice as much at the vet’s office. Do you need a vet who handles his own emergencies? This is becoming rare. You may have to look far and wide for a vet like this. Most vets now send their emergency cases to a vet emergency clinic at nights and on the weekends.

Decide what is most important to you and look for a vet who can meet your needs.

3. Call vet offices near you and talk to the receptionists. Better yet, go by and meet them in person. Discuss billing arrangements. Veterinary care can be very expensive, especially if your dog has a serious problem that requires surgery and post-op care. What is the vet’s policy about payment? Does he or she require you to pay upfront? Can you make payments? Will they turn your dog away if you can’t pay for the entire procedure ahead of time? These are important considerations and it’s best to know how your vet handles these matters before your dog is in a life or death situation.

4. Does the vet take pet health insurance? Some vets do take health insurance for pets now. If so, which ones?

5. Find out the days and office hours for the vets near you. Do they fit your schedule? Some vets are closed on Saturdays or may only be open half a day. They may not stay open late through the week. Will you be able to work with their schedule? You can have the greatest vet in the world just down the street from you but if you have to work when they’re open it won’t do your dog any good.

6. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a listing of state veterinary medical associations. You can find veterinarians who are listed with these state medical associations here: http://www.avma.org/statevma/. This is an excellent place to look for accredited vets in your area.

Until next time………