The “Hot Dog Days” of Summer
from Nor'westing - May 2007
Finally! We’re only one puffy white cloud away from fireworks, baseball, and, of course, those glorious summer days spent cruising in our boats. It’s almost time to pack our ice chests, make sure we have PDFs aboard, and help our four-legged crew members into their favorite spots on deck. While we’re slathering on that SPF 30 (or higher) sunscreen, no doubt our best buddies will be watching our every move with tail wagging anticipation. Now is a great time to consider the special needs our dogs may have during the warmer “hot dog days” of summer.
I learned a great deal about “hot dogs” and how to keep them cool and comfortable while traveling with my Border collie, Kip McSnip, through the tropical jungles of the Caribbean, wandering the beaches of Mexico, and searching for shade in the sultry heat of French Polynesia. Although we don’t expect to experience the smoldering heat of Papeete while cruising the waters of the Pacific Northwest, we still need to take precautions when exposing our dogs to the summer sun. Obviously, on a hot day in our home port, we don’t leave our pets in the car – even with the windows rolled down. We leave them in the air-conditioned house and take them walking around the neighborhood in the evening. But what should we do if we’re anchored off Salt Spring or strolling along a rocky beach on Camano?
The third time Kip and I cruised Mexico, he spent most of his time panting. He hadn’t done that very often on earlier trips so I thought it was just another sign of his advancing age. That is, until a friend of mine, another sailor, compared Kip’s silky fur to a down jacket.
“I don’t know why he wasn’t bothered before,” my friend commented, “but he sure looks hot now.” Maybe she had a point. I got on the Cruisers’ Net the next morning and made a request for information about finding dog groomers. I don’t think I’ve ever had a question that couldn’t be answered by someone on a local cruiser’s radio net. Within minutes of making the request, two cruisers radioed back with the name of a local woman who did dog grooming. By early afternoon, Kip and I were scouring the streets of Zihuatanejo, looking for the woman’s shop. When we located the groomer I used my eight words of Spanish to explain what we needed. A beautiful young Mexican woman listened carefully and then told me (in perfect English) to go have lunch and come back after siesta.
When I returned, three hours later, I didn’t recognize my buddy. He’d gone from an elegant, long-haired beauty to a scrawny, almost hairless, street gang-looking mutt. And, he pranced – yes, pranced – out of the shop and into the afternoon sunlight. He’d lost a heavy coat and gained a new lease on life.
There are other things you can do besides a coat trimming to keep your pooch cool. Providing shade is critical. My boat has a fully enclosed cockpit with panels that open all around for air circulation. If your boat doesn’t have cover, you can copy my friend, Bob, and erect a colorful beach umbrella. When Bob pops the tops on a couple of cold beers and opens his “shade tree,” his cockpit turns into an instant fiesta!
If you have the luxury of having an ice maker or freezer aboard, slide a couple ice cubes in your dog’s water dish. For a special hot day treat, make ice cubes out of water and no-salt beef or chicken bouillon. They are the equivalent of popsicles for dogs and are just as much fun for pets as ice cream is for people.
I keep a spray bottle of water in the reefer and send Kip into a happy trance with cool spritzings. Add a few drops of Serene® into the water and your crew – all of them – will be both calm and cool, even on the hottest summer days.
A technique used by the military when deploying working dogs overseas is use of the Canine Cool Coat® by the Ray Allen Company. This vest contains a UniPak® of non-toxic coolant. You just put the UniPak® in ice water or a freezer for a half hour and then slip it into the vest. It will keep your dog comfortable for up to two hours.
Sunburns and Sunscreens
Just like people, dogs can get burned, sometimes seriously, from overexposure to the sun. This is particularly true for light-haired, pink-nosed dogs. However, even dark-haired dogs, after a close clip or summer hair cut, are susceptible to sunburn. Generally the burn will peel and go away, but in severe cases, sunburns can turn into infected lesions or even cancer. The easiest way to deal with this is simply to keep your dog out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. Take walks in the cool of the mornings or evenings. And if you’re on a beach at noon, make sure your dog has shade and plenty of water.
There is an ongoing debate in the veterinary community about the wisdom of using “people sunscreen” on dogs. Dogs will probably lick the stuff off – almost immediately – and there is a chance of a negative reaction to the ingredients in the skincare product. Although some products may be harmless, the use of human sunscreen products on dogs is too risky for my tastes. There are companies that manufacture sunscreens specifically formulated for dogs. These are a safer bet. Still, the best treatment is prevention. Use common sense and keep Fido as protected as you would a human baby.
Dehydration
Dehydration can be extremely serious for dogs as well as for people. Lack of water in any climate can contribute to dehydration but it’s especially important that your pet receives plenty of clean, fresh water while traveling in warmer climates. Sun exposure and seasickness can cause a drop in fluid levels. Diarrhea and vomiting can also speed the loss of fluids. Dehydration, or lack of fluids, can cause disorientation, confusion, exhaustion and eventually death. Common symptoms include appetite loss, depression, a dry mouth and foul breath. To conduct a simple test for dehydration just pull up on the skin on your dog’s back. It should flatten back naturally without your pet needing to shake it down. If the skin remains up, in a tight ridge shape, it’s highly likely your buddy suffers from dehydration.
Kip suffered from dehydration once after a particularly grueling plane ride. He could barely move and lay still, completely flattened. I couldn’t get him to drink and had no way of reaching veterinary help. Taking a sport bottle filled with cool water, I pulled his gums back and squirted a slow stream into his mouth. I’m not sure if he swallowed the water or not, but I kept a steady dribble running across his gums and into his mouth for several minutes. Then, I repeated the process every thirty minutes. It took about four hours of administering water like this until he eventually perked up.
You may need to do something like this if your dog has been sick (vomiting or experiencing diarrhea) or if he’s simply too listless to drink. If you need to give your dog water this way, be sure to squirt slowly because too much water, too fast, can cause choking or even more vomiting. If your pet is alert and interested enough to handle licking an ice cube, give him one made with beef or chicken bouillon. This is an excellent method of getting water (and nutrition) into your pet slowly.
Replacing electrolytes is an important element in getting your pet back to good health. You can purchase expensive electrolyte replacement formulas, or you can use Pedialyte®, a formula for children. Pedialyte® is available from almost any drug store in the U.S. and Canada. Read the label to ensure that you are buying the latest formula, as older versions contained aspartame.
Even healthy dogs can get dehydrated quickly when exposed to too much sun or when doing strenuous exercise in high temperatures. Remember to pack a bowl and bottle of water for your dog when you go hiking or exploring new territory. In many remote areas it’s easier to find cold beer than potable water. Unless your four-legged buddy can belly up to the bar, it’s up to you to provide the refreshments. You can pack a folding water dish or just take a lightweight bowl with you. Before I discovered folding water bowls I poked a hole in the rim of a small Tupperware dish and clipped it to my belt with a carabineer.
It’s easy to become dehydrated when we’re playing, hiking and exploring. It’s easy to forget to pack water and even easier to forget to drink enough water along the way. But dehydration can be serious and we, as responsible boaters and pet owners, simply have to make the effort to remember to provide shade, plenty of water and a cooling off time during any activities undertaken in high temperatures. We need to do this for ourselves and, especially, for our furry friends.
Heat Stroke
Unfortunately, dogs don’t handle the heat as well as people. Even if you do use the methods described above, you may have to deal with heat stroke at some point in your travels. Heat stroke is most likely to occur when the temperature is extremely high and your dog is in any kind of unshaded or confined area. Short-nosed dogs, like Pugs and some Bulldogs, are more likely to suffer from heat stroke than other breeds. Muzzled dogs are extremely vulnerable to heat stroke as well.
There are distinct symptoms of heat stroke. Your dog will start panting with noisy, frantic breathing. His gums and tongue will turn bright red and he may vomit or have bloody diarrhea. He may appear to be drunk – staggering and toppling over. Heat stroke can kill – quickly – and needs to be treated immediately.
Get your dog to a cooler environment at once. An easy procedure is simply immersing him in cold water. If you’re onboard and have a wash-down hose, hose him down. Pour a bucket of water over him if you have to. The main point is to drop your dog’s temperature as rapidly as possible. Simply getting water down his throat won’t do it. You need to cool his entire body and get him into a cool, shady place immediately. As his body temperature lowers, he’ll become less agitated and his tongue and gums will return to their normal color. Then just stay with him and keep him quiet and calm as long as possible. By the time the sun sets and the temperature drops, your buddy should be back to his happy, frisky self.
So there now – your two, and your four-legged, crew members are ready for safe, comfortable fun during the glorious “hot dog days” of summer. Fair winds and happy boating!
RESOURCES
Serene® by Here,There and Beyond, Inc. www.oils4u.com Serene® is a blend of twenty-one essential oils. It comes in two forms: a liquid concentrate and a spray bottle. Both are extremely useful for calming anxiety due to grief, shock and sea sickness. Just add a few drops of this to a spray bottle filled with cold water and all the members of your crew (two or four-legged) will enjoy a calming, cooling summer treat.
The Canine Cool Coat® by the Ray Allen Company. www.rayallen.com Because the Canine Cool Coat® is designed for working dogs it comes in fairly large sizes. I’m still looking for a version designed for our more petite pets. Any ideas?
Sunscreens These are specially formulated for dogs and are available on-line. You may also wish to check your local pet store for additional brands.
PET Sunscreen SPF 15 www.funstuffordogs.com
Pethealth Factor 30 Sunblock in a cream formula. www.ultimateanimals.co.uk
Pethealth Sun Block Stick version and waterproof. www.ultimateanimals.co.uk
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