Overheating Too Quickly?!?

[Cami]

I've seen cooling bandannas at the pet stores.

 

[moburda]

We don't have a cooling collar but when Patrick and I go out for warm weather walks I always carry two water bottles. One for him to drink from and the other to pour over him. We'll go nice and slow and take breaks whenever he starts panting too much.

 

[samsons]

Don't know how true this is, but my vet told me use cool or cold towels or packs on a dogs belly to cool him down, but she said never to try to cool him down with anything on his neck. She says it only weighs him down but does not cool him down, but cooling his belly down will cool your dog down.

Again, don't know how accurate that is, but if its good info, then Iam passing it on. Just something to consider I guess.

makes since to me ..

when sam and i are working .. he cant wait to get in the store and lay on his belly on the tile ~ everyone thinks he has a "super settle" .. .. nope, he is just hot - i stop - he flops ! its funny !

 

[Gatorblu]

When we last lived in FL, Star would go non-stop at the dog park. I would have to go get her, put a leash on her, and lead her out. I knew she was done, she would never want to accept it. I was about a 2 min drive from the park. Before I left I would put a damp towel in the freezer. Just in case it was one of those days that she would elude me for too long. If it was particularly hot I would take a cooler with damp cold towels. If it was REALLY hot we just wouldn't go. We never had anything serious happen. She would sometimes throw up from drinking too much cold water but that was it. Sometimes she would pant so hard it would scare me and I just wanted to be prepared.

 

[Kilby'sMum]

Yep you can get those bandanas that freeze here in Australia... we had one for Kona but to be honest, it really didn't do much around her neck but putting it under the 'armpit' on her front legs really works well.

I find that Kilby handles the heat much better than Kona but I also take a water bottle with me on walks if it's warm. Actually, I take a back-pack with the water in it because trying to walk 2 boxers and carry 2L of water is pretty tiring for me! Both girls very happily drink out of the 'pop-top' bottles (it's like feeding baby lambs from a bottle.... so cute).

Dogs also cool themselves down through their feet... Kilby will often put her feet in water to cool down if she can. Note - the other dogs at obedience class were not so impressed by her trying to get all 4 legs into a standard size bucket (the group drinking bucket) at the same time... it was pretty funny though! So if the ground is hot, puppy's pads might be heating up too?

Anyway, it will be a while before you can take go on runs (best to wait until they are around 18mths+ as they still have soft joints/bones and you can risk injury) so just take it slowly (go earlier or later in the day if you can) and gradually build up fitness. Try going earlier or later in the day if you can.

But, I think you're doing the right things taking your cues from them