Overdid it

Just a little heads up!

Took Dempsey for his normal walk this morning, a little later than normal so it was getting quite warm, but on the way out he met a little mini schnauzer bitch who he loves, and a neighbour from across the street who also likes. So he was a bit hot & bothered before we even got to the park.

When we got there he did his usual lumbering around - heading from tree to tree to stay in the shade, but then a regular dog walker came in & I didn't see them arrive! She has a working line cocker spaniel bitch and a super-hyper young Stafford - male & entire! Both dogs are friendly, but the Stafford is mental!

So I didn't get a chance to put Dempsey on the lead. Not a problem as they played very nicely (mainly because both the other dogs are so quick that Dempsey can't keep up with them!) and then carried on. While we were still in the park, Dempsey was fine - lively (for him) and cheerful. But once we left & started to walk home (only about a five minute or so walk) he started to flag.

We got a few yards & he just laid down. I let him rest, and then got going again. Down he went again.

I'm getting concerned now, because that's just not something he does on concrete; damp grass, yes, but not the pavement! I kept him in the shade & stopped whenever he needed to, but he was obviously getting a little distressed & I wanted to get him home. The 5 minute walk took nearly 15 minutes with all the stopping.

Got home, put his Kool collar on, dampened him down with cool water & gave him a little water to drink - just a small amount with breaks in between. He had a good drink over about 5 minutes, and then went and laid on his cool mat, didn't even want his breakfast!

It took him a good hour to cool down and relax properly! At one point he laid on the sofa & whined in between panting. He was lively enough & totally 'with it', not spaced out or anything - just couldn't get comfortably cool. He eventually laid down by the computer desk, where he still is - flaked out!

The warning is - you don't always know how hot your dog is until it's already too hot. Take care in the warm weather!

Thanks Caryll - I hope Dempsey's feeling better soon.  I've not been taking mine out until 8:30 - 9:00 pm - they keep going for longer than they should, otherwise.  It's crazy what a dog will do to please his mum.

Dempsey has to have his morning walk - it's the only one that's a must. He's happy enough to skip the others, but not that one. I normally take him at 7am ish, but woke up later this morning.

He doesn't cope well with the heat, but seemed ok until on the way home. A bit scary, really, but he's fine now - snoring!

Poor boy!

I thought it was strange when I came into the living room this morning, as he'd left his breakfast in the kitchen. I'd picked up one of the pieces of coconut, which he loves, and offered it to him. He wasn't interested at all! Then mum told me what happened.

I suggested keeping an ice tray in the freezer, so that he can have ice in his Kool collar while he's out for walks when it's hot.

He's fine now.....

Ohhhhhh Dempsey!  What's the temp there?

Kisses from us. XXX
I just want to lay beside him from that pic.

Right now, at almost 7:00 PM, it's 27C.

This morning, probably hotter!

Thats quite warm actually! Even Spok doesn't like it that warm.

This morning it was thankfully cooler!

Sounds like I can be thankful that mine are used to heat. They take care of themself, don't run to much etc.. they adjust their play.
Glad he's better now and that he had such a good time.

It's obviously down to what you're used to. In the UK sustained temperatures of more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit are rare, so we tend not to be prepared physically or mentally!

70f is 21c! Are you saying that you rarely have consecutive days of 21c or more?    I dont even take off my jumper in that weather!

You poms make me laugh. 

It's usually around 20C Drops into minus C in the winter most of the time, but spring/summer/autumn is usually anywhere from 15C to 25C.

Hahaha....thats winter here....  made it to 17c today so I finally got to open the windows.
But minus....now that isn't funny at all!!! 

Also fitness, weight, age, health etc play a role.

tracyp wrote:Hahaha....thats winter here....  made it to 17c today so I finally got to open the windows.
But minus....now that isn't funny at all!!! 

No, minus 7 or 8 which we had for quite a lengthy period two years ago, isn't funny at all!  

Shisa wrote:Also fitness, weight, age, health etc play a role.

Yes, very much so.

Minus 15 on my duties!

Dempsey's getting a lot fitter, so this year hasn't been as bad as usual.

There's also breed and coat colours. And just some dogs who can't take the heat, bless them. So many factors!

Xan is very sensitive to heat and cold. It's because he has so little hair. Don't think you can get him outside if it's raining!
Axel and Lequita (although they suffered as pups) are actually pretty immune to weather changes now.

Taking up Tracy's point about "what's hot and what's not", I've said it before and I'll say it again - humidity makes a lot of difference as to what is a bearable temperature. If the air is moist, then the normal cooling apparatus of sweating doesn't work efficiently - and dogs don't sweat (a divine design fault, I often think!)

In England, there's a generally accepted adage that there is "an overcoat's difference" between temperatures in the north and south of the country (and maybe this can be extended to our eastern counties too, being influenced by the cold North Sea.)

I live in the south of England and 21C is generally a comfortable temperature and pretty average for summer. However the past few weeks have been consistently 30 - 30C where I live and with the aforementioned humidity most dogs, especially the darker shades, have been finding it difficult to deal with.

Yes, 30c if its humid is awful.
Obviously we & our animals are used to the heat here. But neither I nor my dogs would function in -7c.

In -7c I might murder the person trying to get me out of bed.

I must admit that on a cold winter's morning, when I'm tucked up in bed with the duvet wrapped closely round me it's difficult to drag myself out!

You should hear me complain on a cold morning! It takes me ten minutes to get dressed, purely because I don't want to get cold!