Seasonal Advice
Summer Advice
‘Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’
Hot weather coupled with dogs and children spending long periods outdoors, can lead to bite incidents taking place. Dogs can suffer heat exhaustion a symptom of which is irritability, that along with the long school holidays meaning the presence of children racing around or squealing in a paddling pool can result in a bite incident, as can family barbeques where food and is present, perhaps music is blaring, and the dogs owners are otherwise engaged.
A larger number of people than usual are present and enter and leave the premises at will, a door left open can lead to the dog escaping, being stolen or being involved in an incident or accident for which the owner will be legally responsible for.Visitors may also not be comfortable with or know how to act around dogs. It is the owners responsibility both legally and morally to ensure that their dog is not put in the position where an incident could take place, and thought should be given to putting the dog into a quiet room during parties or gatherings.
Health risks
As soon as the weather becomes warmer it seems as if the dog population has risen, dogs who have been walked around the block during the winter months are taken to the beach, local beauty spots or the countryside, but its important to remember that hot weather affects dogs in many ways. It can cause irritability leading to bite incidents and even death for your pet. Even a short walk during the hottest part of the day can cause heat stroke which causes the dogs core temperature to rise rapidly, unfortunately if this happens on a walk it is often fatal before a dog can be taken to a vet. All breeds of dogs can suffer in the heat, white dogs or dogs with white ears or faces can suffer horrific sunburn, Black absorbs heat so black dogs can succumb to heat stroke far quicker than a different coloured dog in the same situation as can long coated breeds, and dogs with very short muzzles such as bulldogs or pugs can struggle to breathe as the mucus membranes in the tongue , mouth and throat swell in order to attempt to cool them, and foot pads can also be damaged due to being walked on extremely hot floor surfaces and tarmac. Yet still we see the seasonal droves of people heading out at midday for a stroll with a heavily panting dog trailing at the end of a lead. Please please please take dogs out only in the early morning or late evening, your dogs life is a very high price to pay for the sake of a midday stroll Heat exhaustion is often caused by over-exercising or running with a dog during hot weather it can occur even in the early evening so care should be taken with the nature of the exercise given during the summer months. Both heatstroke and heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time. Again short muzzled or thick-coated breeds and mixes are particularly vulnerable, although any breed may be at risk, particularly black dogs. Always bring cool water along when walking with your dog during hot weather. To cool off an overheated dog, offer him plenty of water, then wet the dog's body and paws with cool water, then fan. A dog's normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 degrees F and 02 degrees F. Signs to watch for are: heavy, loud breathing, staggering gait, bright red gum tissue and tongue. If heatstroke is suspected, try to cool your dog down as quickly as possible with cool but not cold water, so as not to shock the dogs system and seek veterinary care quickly as this is a serious medical emergency.
Outdoors
If your pet spends any length of time outdoors during summer, make sure he has a shaded place and plenty of fresh water to drink. Your pet will need much more water in the summer to replenish what he loses by panting. Many dogs also enjoy swimming for exercise and to cool down, though care should be taken if they are allowed to swim in canals or slow moving water as there is an increased risk of leptospirosis and although dogs are vaccinated against this as part of their vaccination course they are only vacced against the more common strains and there is doubt that the vaccination lasts more than six months, this is a terrible illness that is transferable to humans and often results in death for the dog. Please do not allow your dogs off lead near a canal as the high sides prevent your dog being able to climb out if he should fall in.
Dogs die in hot cars
Leaving your dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the window left a few inches open), can cause heatstroke within minutes. Note: Leaving your dog in a car parked in the shade does not assure that your dog will not become seriously overheated. Shaded cars may still get very hot due to the the greenhouse effect, and the sun may also move enough to change shaded areas into sunny ones. Dogs left in parked cars also risk being stolen.
Prevent your dog from hanging his head out of a moving car window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, small pebbles and other debris can injure his eyes, and he is at risk of jumping out of the vehicle.
Open Windows, Fire Escapes and Rooftops
During hot weather, many people leave a few windows open in their home to help create a nice cool cross-breeze. If you have a dog or cat at home, be certain to install secure window screens (or safety bars) in any of the windows which will be left open, or close all windows before leaving the house, if your dog sees or hears something exciting outside he may use an open window as an escape route even if he has never done so previously, also many companion animals fall out of windows, and fire-escapes every year and are often seriously injured or killed.
Protect Your Dog From Being Stolen
Companion animal theft is unfortunately a serious problem in this country. The number of companion animals that are stolen from backyards and from outside stores and supermarkets increases dramatically throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. Even the "safest" neighbourhoods are not immune to this growing problem. The bottom line is: never leave your dog unsupervised
Fireworks and Thunder
How you can help your dog
The first thing to do if you are concerned about your dog’s reaction to fireworks is to watch him for signs of stress and anxiety. These can include:
1. trembling
2. restlessness
3. destructiveness
4. hiding
5. pacing
6. panting
7. attention seeking
8. shaking
9. escape behaviour
10. loss of house training
11. whining
12. barking
Any of these types of behaviour could indicate that your dog is developing a phobia towards noise. Occasionally, once a phobia begins to develop, your dog may begin to display similar symptoms towards other sudden noises, so it is very important to seek advice at the earliest opportunity.
Early experiences are very important for the development of puppies and if dogs are exposed to a variety of sights and sounds from an early age, they’re less likely to have adverse reactions when they grow up. However, there’s no guarantee that even the soundest of dogs won’t display an unexpected reaction later in life – it only takes a single scary event to induce a fear response. Bonfire night is the main cause of sudden noise phobia
What you can do
Make sure his environment is safe and that he cannot escape.
Ensure he always wear a collar and disk – just in case of a successful escape attempt.
Ignore any signs of restlessness and stress and reward any calm, relaxed behaviour.
Prepare a “den” for him, away from windows.
Cover a table with a blanket or placing his bed behind a sofa where he will feel safe, secure and comfortable, or use a dog crate covered.
Close the curtains to reduce the likelihood of flashes, and turn on the TV or radio.
Feed your dog before the noise starts – this should encourage him to rest.
Don’t leave him alone – dogs are pack animals and need the security and confidence provided by the presence of others.
Occupy him with food-filled toys or other fun activities.Choose safe times for exercise and toileting.
Temporarily move his sleeping area. Moving it closer to you can increase his confidence.
Remaining calm and relaxed yourself (even if you’re frightened of fireworks too!).
Use a desensitization cd to gradually encourage your dog to become used to the sounds he fears.
Try a D.A.P diffuser, this plugs into the wall and releases dog appeasing pheromones similar to those released by a bitch rearing puppies to help calm a distressed dog.
Use a natural remedy such as Rescue Remedy, Anxiety, zylkene or serene-um
It may be nessesary to seek a prescription of stronger sedatives from your vet as an interim measure whilst you address the problem.
What not to do
We would advise you not to:
Let your dog go outside when fireworks are sounding, even if he shows no signs of stress.
Exercise or walk him when fireworks are likely.
Punish your dog for being frightened.
Leave him alone during the firework period.
Fuss or try and reassure your dog when he is frightened, as this rewards the fear behaviour and will encourage him to repeat it.
Take your dog to a firework display.
Further help for you and your dog
If you take all these steps and your dog is still very distressed by firework noise, you may need some additional help from a health advisor, dog trainer, behaviourist or vet.
The earlier you begin your preparations, the more likely it is that your dog will be able to cope with the sound of fireworks. A vet can give you specific techniques to help him/her to adjust to sudden sounds in a safe environmnent, or may refer you to a behaviourist.
The first thing to do if you are concerned about your dog’s reaction to fireworks is to watch him for signs of stress and anxiety. These can include:
1. trembling
2. restlessness
3. destructiveness
4. hiding
5. pacing
6. panting
7. attention seeking
8. shaking
9. escape behaviour
10. loss of house training
11. whining
12. barking
Any of these types of behaviour could indicate that your dog is developing a phobia towards noise. Occasionally, once a phobia begins to develop, your dog may begin to display similar symptoms towards other sudden noises, so it is very important to seek advice at the earliest opportunity.
Early experiences are very important for the development of puppies and if dogs are exposed to a variety of sights and sounds from an early age, they’re less likely to have adverse reactions when they grow up. However, there’s no guarantee that even the soundest of dogs won’t display an unexpected reaction later in life – it only takes a single scary event to induce a fear response. Bonfire night is the main cause of sudden noise phobia
What you can do
Make sure his environment is safe and that he cannot escape.
Ensure he always wear a collar and disk – just in case of a successful escape attempt.
Ignore any signs of restlessness and stress and reward any calm, relaxed behaviour.
Prepare a “den” for him, away from windows.
Cover a table with a blanket or placing his bed behind a sofa where he will feel safe, secure and comfortable, or use a dog crate covered.
Close the curtains to reduce the likelihood of flashes, and turn on the TV or radio.
Feed your dog before the noise starts – this should encourage him to rest.
Don’t leave him alone – dogs are pack animals and need the security and confidence provided by the presence of others.
Occupy him with food-filled toys or other fun activities.Choose safe times for exercise and toileting.
Temporarily move his sleeping area. Moving it closer to you can increase his confidence.
Remaining calm and relaxed yourself (even if you’re frightened of fireworks too!).
Use a desensitization cd to gradually encourage your dog to become used to the sounds he fears.
Try a D.A.P diffuser, this plugs into the wall and releases dog appeasing pheromones similar to those released by a bitch rearing puppies to help calm a distressed dog.
Use a natural remedy such as Rescue Remedy, Anxiety, zylkene or serene-um
It may be nessesary to seek a prescription of stronger sedatives from your vet as an interim measure whilst you address the problem.
What not to do
We would advise you not to:
Let your dog go outside when fireworks are sounding, even if he shows no signs of stress.
Exercise or walk him when fireworks are likely.
Punish your dog for being frightened.
Leave him alone during the firework period.
Fuss or try and reassure your dog when he is frightened, as this rewards the fear behaviour and will encourage him to repeat it.
Take your dog to a firework display.
Further help for you and your dog
If you take all these steps and your dog is still very distressed by firework noise, you may need some additional help from a health advisor, dog trainer, behaviourist or vet.
The earlier you begin your preparations, the more likely it is that your dog will be able to cope with the sound of fireworks. A vet can give you specific techniques to help him/her to adjust to sudden sounds in a safe environmnent, or may refer you to a behaviourist.
