While we wish you all a terrific summer and lots of fun with your family and pets, it’s time for a quick reminder for our dog’s health in the heat. A dog’s symptoms of heat stroke may include increased respiration, redness of gums, distressed or frantic behavior, profuse salivation, vomiting and diarrhea. Here are seven tips to stop your pooch from becoming a hot dog..
1. Never leave your dog in a car (even with the windows slightly down) on a hot day.
2. If your dog has white ears or nose, make sure you use a pet sunscreen. You can grab some from your local dog doctor or vet.
3. If your yard doesn’t have many shade trees it is very important that you construct some sort of well ventilated shade area for your dog.
4. Check the weather forecast and if it is going to be really hot make sure you take your dog for a walk early in the morning.
5. Make sure that you have a number of water bowls placed around the yard (in a shaded area) just in case one is tipped over.
6. If you have a metal tray in the back of your truck make sure that you put a cover over it so that your dog’s footpads don’t get burnt.
7. If you have shade trees, an open porch or constructed shade areas make sure that this is where you put the bog’s bed and kennel.
Just had to call Animal Control on a woman who left her GSD in a car with windows slightly rolled down in the Whole Foods parking lot – in this heat!! Don’t people get it??
The other thing I couldn’t get over is how many people walked by, noticed the dog, hesitated as if they were obviously bothered and didn’t do anything.
We first went into the store and handed someone at customer servivce the license plate and explained the situation – thought maybe they would make an announcement or something? Nothing….
Animal Control said a dog can go from good to bad in a matter of a couple of minutes…
Bravo for being a good watch dog, Carolyn!
Just a little update. Whole Foods manager did contact me and said that yes they do have a policy that includes tracking down the owner while they are in-store. He said they do take this very seriously and he was going to review the process with his store personnel. That makes me feel better about them…