People are really mad about dogs and heat stroke?

[Brayndrayn]

In Italy there are dogs out in the midday sun with no shade with their owners for bloody hours. Personally I walk my dogs very early in this heat but it is kicking OFF on the local FB page about dogs being out today. People shouting at those with dogs as they go past in a car etc. Nobody knows others’ circumstances or where they are going or for what reason. Yes I know about paws on hot pavements but by Christ those pavements/sand in Italy were boiling and the dogs didn’t seem to care. My dogs also ran out of the house onto my patio and wanted to stay there this afternoon. I’m not saying there is no risk but this country loses the plot over dogs to point of being really very rude to other people about it. Realise I’m probably going to get flamed…

My friends dog died after over heating. She was only three.

There’s lots of factors - type/size of dog/ where you are walking/ how long. But personally I wouldn’t risk it

Well, obviously, dogs who live in hot countries are used to the heat. Dogs in the UK are not.

I have a friend who is a veterinary nurse and every year sees far too many dogs with heatstroke. Sadly some of them die. All the deaths and heatstroke could be avoided if dog owners used their brains.

NO dog died because it didn't get a walk but far too many dogs do die because they were walked by idiots when it was too hot

Not the point but am I in the only place in the country where it is not fucking boiling?

I think like many things, there needs to be a balance here. It’s been over 30 degrees here today and I wouldn’t take my dog out in that. I’ve been desperately trying to keep him confined largely to the coolest room in the house but the fucker keeps getting the zoomies 😂

I think when it’s this hot, it really needs to be avoided at all costs. But I have seen people reacting just as badly to dogs out in 20 degree heat as well.

It's one of those things people love to get on their high horse about.

Sure - but it is getting pretty warm here each summer now so I do think we have to accept some acclimatisation

Surely what you are used to makes a difference. Dogs will be acclimatised to heat in hotter countries

Yes! There’s a poster flying around saying even at 20 degrees there’s a risk of heatstroke. 🙄

I’ve only had a dog for 18 months so I’m not incredibly experienced. What do you consider a good cut off temperature? We went out at 08.30 and it was about 20 degrees. Went to the local park and I kept her under the trees for 70% of the time and did not do tons of running off lead. We took water with us which she drank and we were back by 09.30. Does that sound reasonable. ( she’s a 3 year old mutt)

I think the vehemence some people show around this is OTT. Lengthily walking your dog in the heat of the sun, obviously to be avoided. But my parents have been too afraid to take their dog (who won’t toilet in their garden or on the street) a few hundred metres up the road to the park since somebody accosted them angrily last year to berate them for having their dog out. Not good for poor dog.

Does anyone know what happens with service dogs in this heat?

People go so OTT about it imo. You get people who wont walk their dogs when its 20degrees.
My dogs are Spanish rescues, and they love the good weather, but they wouldn't be walking or running around in the heat of the day of their own accord
My previous spanish dog used to make dens under bushes in the garden. She would dig a hole under there and sit in it.
The owners that walk their dogs in the hot Spanish sun are not being kind to their animals either.

Sounds sensible to me

Sadly as a Vet Nurse I see too many dog admitted with heatstroke, some of them die. In this country we flip flop from warm to cool to boiling hot and dogs just don’t have the ability to adjust quickly. If you’re sweating on your walk think how bad it must be for the dog with a fur coat. Dogs cannot sweat to reduce heat like people, they have to pant. Flat faced breeds in particular cannot cope with this and can go into respiratory distress.
I honestly don’t know why people risk taking their dog out for a walk in this type of weather. As someone has said further up the thread your dog won’t die from missing a couple of walks but they might die of heatstroke from walking outside on a very hot day. Keep them at home, keep them cool with a fan and mist, provide plenty of water and maybe a cooling mat and if you really must go out make sure its very early in the morning or very late in the evening.
I hope for you and your dog’s sake I don’t see you at my work with an avoidable emergency.

Sounds sensible to me

Nope. There is quite a contrast north to south.

There is a risk of heat stroke in dogs at that temperature. It depends on the dog's general health.

I don't fancy a walk at 3pm on a 33C day, and I wear shoes and a hat and don't have fur. We finish the dogwalk by 9am when it's very hot. Dogs die of overheating in Italy, too, and you get irresponsible owners everywhere.

That said, yanbu about the ott warnings - I know what you mean. Some people do need to have a word with themselves.

It rarely gets this hot in June. Some people have no common sense so it's as well to raise awareness. Dogs have been known to get blisters on their feet and no doubt it happens in Italy too. Personally I want to avoid unnecessary suffering

Where are you? I woke up to thick mist this morning. Drove to work listening to the discussions about the heatwave and had to have my windscreen wipers going. It did clear and we had a hot middle of the day but by 6 the mist had closed in again. I’m in Cornwall.

Acclimatisation takes a couple of months hence why dogs in hotter countries cope better, inc working dogs.

I live in a flat, so have to take him for short toilet breaks, regardless of the temp.

Bit like leaving a dog outside in the snow, some are built for it, some aren’t.

Thanks to us, some can’t breathe normally in good conditions.

There’s raising awareness and then there’s shouting at strangers from cars cos you’re a self-righteous twat. 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

Up north. It was nice enough in the afternoon but definitely not heatwave weather! Think we're due rain tomorrow!