To tell MIL not to walk the dog in this heat?

[crazycatgal]

MIL thought it would be a great idea to take the dog out for a walk at 1pm when the temperature was 28 degrees.

DP and I have had to argue with her to get her to keep the dog inside. We've told her that the advice from the RSPCA is to walk early morning or evening, her response is that she's had dogs for 30 years so knows what she's doing.

Were we being unreasonable to tell her to keep the dog inside? We ended up in an argument because she couldn't accept that she was in the wrong although she eventually gave in.

Boss I'd rather go by the advice and facts given by pps on here who work in vet surgeries than your informed and controlled decison

I don't even have a dog

So your opinion is worthless on this thread then.....

Oh, you're a peach, aren't you?!
All I was saying is if you can read news articles and interviews with experts and still come to the conclusion its OK - well,there's no words really as clearly you know best above all else or not

YANBU - it's far too hot.

I work in a dog-friendly shop and I've seen loads of people walking their dogs in the middle of the day. The dogs are hot, panting and in a lot of cases resisting yet they're still being dragged out on hot pavements.

Ours is little and hasn't been walked recently - just playing in the garden and sleeping!

Depends on the dog.... DDog is little and non-brachycephalic. He also loses the plot if he has anything less than 2 hours a day of brisk walkies; he's not a dog that can just go without.

Yesterday we did 2.5 hours, starting at 7pm, went swimming, went on open parkland, went through the woods, took water with us... he's absolutely fine.

Based on our vet's advice we are only walking our dog very early morning while this weather continues. On the hottest days we are keeping her indoors with a Kong to play with and regularly wiping her down with a cloth that's been soaked with cool (not freezing water). Our vet also advised not to leave dogs out to sunbathe as they can get sunburn, including on their snouts! Also hot pavements/patios/manhole covers can cause problems, the rule is if you walk on it with bare feet and it feels very hot then it will be a problem for your dog too.

im talking about up to the start of this year not the fucking seventies

Are you saying that this advice was only something you heard this year? I was a dog walker for quite a time and this has been the advice for years In hot weather. You just happened to miss it seemingly, for the last 14 years. Luckily your dog made it though.

@yolofish Do it yourself, very easy, just take off tiny bits with the fab little nail clipper/guilootine thing from any pet shop. If it's white claws, the quick is visible, if not, put pressure on and if the dog flinches, you're too far up.

My lot are going from the car to the river-all of one minute and going after swans because they are idiots) doing water retrieves

And my point remains the same whatever the era. We become more aware and it's ignorant to just say "well we were fine!".

Yes you have to tell her, not only is the ground too hot, they cannot self regulate their temperature. Wod she like to go for a walk with a hot coat on!

brigante he wont let me! tried once and unfortunately cut into the quick, which traumatised us both...

YANBU. No dog dies from missing a walk, they do however die from being walked when it's too hot. It's not fair for the dog to suffer presumably because your MIL doesn't like the inconvenience of walking her dog early morning or late evening. Tell her to ring her vet and ask them, they'll tell her the same.

Things like this really get my back up.

If there is a potential risk to your DDogs health, why would you ever consider putting them in that situation? I cannot understand it AT ALL.

Having worked in the veterinary industry for over a decade and having seen countless dogs, suffering and losing their lives, year after year, brought in by owners who thought it would be fine to walk their dog in this heat, I still cannot understand why people think this will ever be ok. Same for leaving them in cars, it's outrageous that it continues to happen.

I think if the people who think this is ok actually saw the devastating after effects of their ill informed choices, perhaps they would think differently.

You say you're experienced dog owners etc but if that were the case, wouldn't you prefer to walk in the early morning and late evening instead of putting your dog's life at risk?

If you can't be arsed to have some common sense to care for your animal, that relies solely on YOU, don't have one in the first place. Pure stupidity leads to these dogs suffering and it's completely avoidable.

These guidelines are given for a reason, they are put out there to try to protect innocent animals from the stupidity of the general public.

I walk my four early morning 6:30am if not too hot by then and late evening, approx 9:30-10pm. Yes, it's probably not ideal but when you have animals you have to make the right decisions on their behalf. It's called being a responsible owner.

I walk mine at lunch time in the woods near a stream. Common sense.

And my point is - if you can't make decisions for yourself then you really shouldn't be looking after a fecking dog...

Indeed. Also if you can't discuss this without swearing and becoming irritated with posters because they question the statistical evidence you provided from your cohort of ONE dog, you might want to take a look at that too.

HTH

Read as far as 2 comments saying depends on the dog.
No, no it doesn't!! It's just highly irresponsible to walk them in that heat! I would think that someone who has had dogs for 30 years would realise that.

Poor dogs is all I can say.

I guess it depends on the owner and how much they value their dogs health.

My dogs haven't been walked for 3 days. It's been hot day after day here and I work nights, too hot by the time I get home and too hot before I set off for work. Nights off they're walked about 5.30am and again about 10pm. Have an hour in the garden on my work days where I'll gently play and search for treats etc, cool wet towel on the ground to lay on, plenty of water on hand. I'd rather they missed a few walks and were healthy than the opposite. Horses are staying out, but they have shade in the field that is no hotter than the stables. Water available and electrolytes available should they need them. They're not being exercised at all even on days off.
I think the advice exists for a reason, but common sense and experience would have told me to do what I'm doing anyway, without the advice.
My dogs are quite fit, an overweight and unfit dog would be at more risk I would think. Though ultimately if it's her dog all you can do is point out the advice and let her make her own decision and bear the consequences.

I agree that dogs shouldn't be walked on a long walk in this heat, unless shaded with plenty of water or going swimming in the sea.
However I do think that people think they have a right to have a go at other people about how to deal with their dogs (I'm talking total strangers op, agree with you with regards to mil). I have no garden so have no choice but to take my dog out several times a day to the toilet. Literally just around the small block which is enough for her to have a wee and poo on a patch of grass, but I am so paranoid people think I'm going on a long walk and will get shouted at by people. I've even got my argument ready in my head in case someone questions me! Definitely has gone a bit mass hysteria especially on social media

I think someone's irritated because they've been called out on not knowing how to look after their dog properly.

Our dog had a very brief walk on Sunday and nothing since. But she seems to seek out the sunny spots in the house. Total sun worshipper. But she is skinny and short haired so not especially high risk for heat stroke.

Although she did race round the garden yesterday for approx 2-3 mins and was panting so hard I made her come inside and stay inside. The pavements are so hot it's a wonder dogs are not visibly distressed when being walked in this heat?!

Are the posters saying it's perfectly fine for some dogs to be walked in the heat of the same mindset of those who think it's perfectly fine to leave dogs in the car in the middle of heatwaves too?
As I've always wondered what goes through their heads as to how they could be so stupid.
Maybe they think it's fine for some dogs too? It never is by the way, but they must be daft enough to think so.