Jerrybo66
AZ
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I have experienced heat exhaustion/stroke three times so I know how it occurs and feels. 100*+ days are here and our pets are susceptible as well. Our Pit was out in the yard with me on a hot day. He had shade and water available and access to go into the air conditioned house. I noticed him drooling excessively and staggering. I immediately hosed him down with water, especially on his head, the same as I did for myself. He refused to drink water and was lethargic for a couple hours as was I. I'm thankful I was on the right side of the shop to see him in distress. I think I would of lost him. I no longer let him decide when he needs to come out of the heat, ten minutes is the max. Heat exhaustion/stroke is nothing to mess with. It sneaks up on you or your pets and sometimes is irreversible. When I see some irresponsible idiot riding a bike with their poor dog being dragged along in the heat I wish my insurance would cover my knocking him and his bike in the ditch with my F-350. It's hard to imagine how fast it can happen. Working, sweating, to dry, dizzy within minutes. I guess it's the same with our pets. Please be aware.. IMO..
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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This is so.... and pits are more susceptible than most breeds. Some airlines won't fly them because they are short-nosed. I know Zig gets very hot very quickly.
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
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bullmastifflover
Gilbert, AZ
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Wow, that's scary! Good thing to keep in mind.
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xteacher
Newnan, GA
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Here's a link to heat exhaustion/stroke in dogs: Heat Related Illnesses in Dogs.
There's some good information in this article for our furry friends.
As has been mentioned, extra care has to be taken care with brachycephalic (snubbed nosed) dogs. Here's an article about this type of dog and the extra care that must be taken with them: Brachycephalic Dogs: Short-Muzzled Breeds Need Extra TLC
Here's a link to heat exhaustion in humans: Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
Often times, we don't realize what's happening until it's too late, so be careful out there!
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Searching_Ut
Utah
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Dogs vary a lot as to how they handle heat, and knowing your animal is very important if you like to hike and explore with them. I used to have a little cocker mix that handled heat or cold remarkably well, and he would hike with me in all sorts of weather without issue. My current dog, a german sheppard mix, is one that you can't take out if the temperature is going to reach upper 70's or higher. She overheats easily, but fortunately it's easy to tell when she's having issues with the heat.
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joflora
Indiana
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A good reminder!!
Thanks!
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Jerrybo66
AZ
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Code2High wrote:This is so.... and pits are more susceptible than most breeds. Some airlines won't fly them because they are short-nosed. I know Zig gets very hot very quickly.
That's weird. Our other dog, built like a coyote with the pointy snout, looks like a coyote at night but is a black brindle sometimes lays on the sidewalk in the hot sun, until he gets chased inside. I don't care what kind of a nose he has I don't want to deal with anymore heat strokes... 
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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Tigger was part pit and would lay in the sun and roast herself. And Zig likes the sun on a cool morning... she is often to be found with Tinkerbell, resting in a sunny spot in the yard. But she has a lot less tolerance to heat than Tig did.
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silvercorvette
Anderson SC
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The reason I moved to SC is I love the heat and will not consider turning the car A/C on till it was 100 degrees. In a convertible I keep the top down, in a regular I keep all the windows open. That all changed about 5 years ago when I got my first Boston Terrier (Bostons to not take heat well). I take both dogs in my car where ever I go. I didn't have the female yet so it was just the male in the car next to me when I noticed he was breathing heavy, heck it was only in the lo to mid 80s and the was a nice breeze coming into the car at 60 MPH. I would never think of leaving them in a parked car but in my mind it wasn't all that hot with the car moving. I sure as heck was not taking any chances so I rolled up the windows and turn on the A/C (the funny thing was my car had one of those fancy dual zone individual temperature set controls and I never used it till I got my dog or had a passenger in the car) and I noticed an almost immediate improvement. The dog stuck his nose right in front of the outlet and seemed to love the cold air coming out. I usually keep the A/C set to 76 or 77 and my dogs are comfortable and they seem happy to stick their nose in the A/C duct. If I set it much lower than 76 I am too cold so 76 seems to be a good temp for both of us.
I still always take my dogs with me but a few weeks ago I left them in the car while I made a quick stop at Walmart. When I got out and started walking back to my car I noticed a cop standing next to the car and guessed someone reported the dogs in the car. I am thankful someone reported it but was afraid he (the cop) may break open a window before I could get there.
I explained to him that I had an electric car and the air conditioner was running but the A/C is powered by the battery and the engine does not need to run to keep the car cool. I opened the door and let him feel the cold air coming out, he said the dogs looked OK but he just wanted to be sure. By the time I got done I almost talked him into buying a Volt. The others cars I owned the engine would run and people would hear it running and assume the A/C was on.
From now on I keep a thermometer in my car with a sign and arrow pointing to the thermometer to avoid having a well meaning person breaking a window to "SAVE" my dogs
I once read that studies have shown that most accidents occurr within 10 miles of home, so I moved
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silvercorvette
Anderson SC
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Code2High wrote:This is so.... and pits are more susceptible than most breeds. Some airlines won't fly them because they are short-nosed. I know Zig gets very hot very quickly.
Bostons are short nosed and you are correct all short nosed dogs do not take heat well
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