People are really mad about dogs and heat stroke?

Not sure if it’s the same post or not but the post I’ve seen with the mention of 20 degrees and dogs was about a dog locked in a car in 20 degree heat and car parked in direct sunlight. That’s definitely a risk of heatstroke

So...what are you suggesting? That we should tell our dogs to knuckle up and get used to it?

One of ours died in the heatwave a couple of years back, despite keeping them in and using portable air con (as well as all the other sensible precautions). Many dogs in the UK are breeds that are adapted to cold/temperate climates, and as a result can't survive 40C weather. This is not a case of the dogs just getting used to it, it's genetics.

I don’t care what Italians do- it’s cruel and can be deadly.

Friends of ours have just got back from Cornwall and they said it was significantly cooler there than where we live in Berkshire.

You need better shoes.

It’s a shame they don’t seem to care as much about all the dog poo that’s all over the pavements these days. My children have to constantly be reminded to watch where they are stepping on the way into school and you can often see huge ones right outside the school with a footprint right in the middle where some unfortunate child has stepped in it. It never used to be this bad.

I lived in Italy for many years believe me anyone taking their dog out in the summer heat in the south in the middle of the day when it is 30-40 degrees is judged and not thought of as a responsible dog owner by other Italians.

Are you acclimatised yet? No of course not. We have a different types of heat to Italy, its close, there's been little breeze. High pressure has been holding the heat down. In Europe many days start hazy and the water gets burnt away. Not here. Apparently its actually equivalent to being c10oC warmer here at the moment versus Spain/Italy.

And in any case, dogs have a bloody fur coat on.

We walked ours once in the cool of the evening one day and our GSD just flopped when we got home - it was a total of 1500 steps. It was probably about 23oC and there was a slight breeze - put another way I had a light jacket on.

We decided then that we would not risk it.

Our dogs sit on the patio outside cos the paving stays cool or lie on the tiled floors in the house. We've switched their food too so there's a lot more broth (we cook for ours every day).

Im going to fill the paddling pool tomorrow after work and leave it in the shade so they can go cool off.

Same with my greyhound. 20 is very warm for him, as the breed is basically thin skin and no padding.

He's happy lazing at home rather than panting down the road.

Oh goodness, when we had some ridiculously hot weather in 2022 (around the time it got to 40°C) I saw people walking their dogs when the pavement was so hot I could feel it through my shoes and had to keep stepping off onto the grass. When it was actually 40°C I was at home with the fan on (and thanked my lucky stars I'd booked annual leave that week!) this was a few days later.

We live down the road from a park with a large field and the amount of people heading to the park in the middle of the day with dogs is unbelievable.
It was 31 degrees here and I just feel sorry for the dogs. I think anyone who walks their dog at that time in that heat should do it barefoot with a fur coat on. Bet the owners would stop pretty quick.
I wouldn't challenge anyone but there would only be a few reasons why people have to walk their dogs at the hottest time of day.
We used to take our dog out early, around 7:30 for an hour. Then again in the late evening around 8 for another hour. No need to do it between 11 and 4.

Have you ever witnessed a dog die from overheating? It's bloody awful. Truly traumatic painful distressing and unfair for the poor dog. It stays with you.

Despite this, I give people the benefit of the doubt but will always ALWAYS tell someone if they're putting their pet in danger. There is no threat to life for a dog who misses a walk. But dogs can and do so easily die from overheating.

This will be very helpful for the dog owners. Visible checks you can make when exercising your dog because, as noted above, some dogs struggle more than others

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18T7JBZR54/

I live in Australia, in a warm area. High 30s not unusual for an extended period over summer. I have two long haired dogs. Management involves leaving air conditioning on for them during the day, free access to cooling mats, plenty of water, exercise in the morning as that is the coolest part of the day. Horse was also exercised in the mornings then hosed off and in a very shady paddock.

If they get really hot a cold pack wrapped in a tea towel and tied around their neck (supervised of course!) can really help. A kids splash pool is also handy.

I think extremely poorly of anyone exercising their dogs past 10am and before 4pm. Even those times can be mid 30s. It's cruel and can be fatal. Get out of bed at 4 or 5am(dawn) and walk the dog if you have to take it out. Mornings are at least 10 degrees cooler than evenings, even after the sun goes down. A couple of days without a walk won't kill the dog. A walk in the heat of the day can.

Just because they do it in Italy,it doesn't make it right.

It's currently 31 degrees in Surrey. I'm struggling to cope so my dog with a layer of fur is going to be. In hot counties they are acclimatised. Despite being short haired, my dog really struggles. He doesn't like fans, cooling mat, cooling vest etc. There's no way I'd walk him in this heat. I'm spending all day trying to cool him down.

It was 34 degrees where we are today. A man was out on a run during the hottest part of the day with his wee dog who was really struggling. The runner couldn't give a fuck.

Honestly, the weather temperature is so changeable in the UK, dogs aren't built to cope with sudden heatwaves, they can and do die from heat stroke. So no fucker should be taking their dogs out for a run in the hottest part of the day at 34 degrees C.

We walked our dog at 9.30pm for a short half-hour walk, we make sure she's in the shade during the day at home, she spends most of her days in our living room which is the coolest room in our house.

I think that most health advice is aimed at people who are not particularly intelligent and lack common sense 🤦‍♀️

My JRT died from heatstroke in 2019 ,I spent days keeping her on her cool mat and covering her with cold wet towels. She was my best friend and I tried everything. She fell down our stairs and was so stunned. She couldn’t walk,no obvious injuries but I had to take her to the vet…absolutely bloody heartbreaking. She was only 12 and am now paranoid about my 10 yr old JRT ,we have only now got home from a quick walk around the block.

People love to start on others about dogs in this country, they think they get some ‘better than you’ points or something. Meanwhile dogs are getting more spoilt, I’m sure they didn’t used to have separation anxiety etc years ago, they spent most of their time in the wash house, had scraps for tea and took themselves for a walk.
I wish just as many people were as concerned about kids sometimes.

They’re given guidelines by the organisation they’re part of. Most guide dog owners are able to still get out with their long cane and leave the dog at home in the hottest part of the day.
If that’s not possible they might get taxis to work with the dog rather than walk the whole way.
Basically they are just sensible about it but it doesn’t help when people are having a breakdown at anyone leaving the house if it’s 20 degrees.

Personally I won’t take my dogs out in the heat but I won’t judge anyone who does because I don’t know the full story

What full story can justify subjecting your dogs to uncomfortable heat/burnt feet/heatstroke for the sake of going on a 'walk'. Unless you are having to transport your dog somewhere then most the people I see walking their dogs in ridiculous heat are the same ones that walk every day, at the same time, no matter what, with absolutely no consideration for the dog they claim to love.

Selfish thick fuckers basically, just thinking about themselves and their own needs as usual.

Were you in west wales? I saw someone kicking off on instagram about this and she drives a Range Rover…

I saw a bulky bulldog panting like crazy yesterday and the kids were asking the dad what was wrong and the dad got annoyed saying “nothing is wrong” and pulled the dog on - the kids were speculating if the dog was super unfit. I said nothing as the man seemed angry and I didn’t want to annoy him but felt guilty about holding my tongue when I got home as perhaps he didn’t know it was dangerous. They didn’t even have water with them.

Key thing to note is dogs don’t have sweat glands so can’t perspire like we do, they have to exhale instead- it’s why they are so prone to dying of heat stroke. Obviously how bulky a dog is, how hairy and the type of mouth it has also factor in but rule of thumb is high heat isn’t great for them even if they don’t always die. I’ve walked my mums hairy bulky dog in 20degree heat and she has been panting like mad (we go to the river 5mins walk away) - my friends skinny shaved cockapoo prances around not a bother. We keep it short, stick to the shade and tend to go to a body of water - if it’s much hotter than that we don’t bring dogs as even her dog over heats once it gets above 25. Next time I see a bulky short snouted dog heaving in the heat I will politely let the owners know as many people aren’t aware how dangerous heat can be for dogs and I would hate someone to experience that pain.