This entry was posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Pet Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Though you nay not realize it, dogs can be burned by the sun, just like humans. So what to do?
Sunburn.
First, keep him in the shade when the sun is hottest: approximately 10AM to 4PM.
Second, apply a little sun block to his most exposed areas: the tip of his nose and each ear. Although his lip area is also vulnerable, it is wise not to put sunscreen there because he could easily ingest it.
Third, if your dog has lighter colored hair, pay more attention to the effect of the sun. This is similar to the problem faced by light-skinned humans. If your dog’s skin becomes quite red or even blistered, check with your veterinarian.
Heat Stroke
If your dog’s temperature gets too high (over 105 degrees), he could develop heat stroke (hypothermia). Symptoms of this include an inordinate amount of panting, labored breathing, bright red gums or eye membranes, pronounced fatigue, collapse, unconsciousness, and seizures. If your dog displays any of these signs, get him out of the heat right away and into the shade. As good idea would be to put him in a tub of cool water or bathe him with wet, cool towels.
For additional ideas, products and services, including dog bowls, visit The Canine and Feline Store.
