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…

Those are the dogs taken to Vets Now... not all the dogs that died of heatstroke.

Firstly, whilst it does seem like it, Vets Now do not own every vet practice in the UK.

Secondly, and very significantly, many dogs do not get taken to a vets. I know, because I am often the person answering online posts asking what to do with the caveat 'Can't get to a vet/can't afford a vet', even at work where clients are told we are not vets and cannot answer veterinary questions, we are responding to health queries from people we are absolutely certain will NOT follow advice to see a vet..

So a lot of dogs will die in their owners homes and gardens, or out on a walk - some owners will realise what it is, others will come down in the morning to a dead dog and won't make the connection. I've seen many people assume their lethargic, vomiting, fitting dog has eaten something nasty and will 'get over it' when in fact the dog is dying of heat stroke (both whilst working at a vets and as a behaviour consultant offering subsidised or free advice online for charities/rescues).

You could probably quadruple that number of dogs suffering if you take into account these factors.

Now this IS something to get irate about. Why the fuck get a dog if you’re not going to provide it with proper care? I hope it’s not a common occurrence that people don’t bother taking their pets to a vet when they’re clearly not well!

I honestly don't know but between social media and work I think I deal with two or three people per SHIFT that have some sort of medical issue with their dog that is relevant to behave and urgent or indeed life threatening... and they have a million and one reasons why they can't get to a vet -too far, no transport, no money... yadda yadda.

I wish they just wouldn't get a pet - the reason we're down to three dogs and almost certainly when the oldest goes we will not get a puppy is the insurance and veterinary costs - they have gone up enormously and w hilst I afforded basic insurance and vet costs on a much lower income in the past for up to 6 dogs, I can't do it now.

People think it won't happen to them - as they do with pet theft and heat stroke - that magically, their dog won't suffer any injury or illness ever.

I have some sympathy for those who got a pet whilst their life circumstances were very different and for reasons beyond their control, things have changed and that is what things like PDSA and RSPCA vet hospitals/vets should be for.

But for those who can't afford it and never could, before they got the pet... no, all my sympathy goes to the animal.

Mmm...I find the argument problematic that people would intervene if they saw signs a dog was struggling. I really don't think you can tell unless you are the owner.
For example, my SIL's dogs (staff and a bulldog) literally pant and sound like they are snoring and struggling to breath all the time! Its literally how they always sound. If they went on a walk int he sun someone who didn't know them could think they are panting excessively but thats their norm.
My lab would mid walk literally refuse to move sometimes and just lie down. Nowt to do with heat - this was all year round. Cue passers by laughing at me trying to coax and overweight stubborn lab to get up off the floor!!!!
God he was a prick, but I miss that goofy bastard.

Labs are the best, @bigkahunaburger - extra points if they are flat on their back, all four paws in the air, refusing to move! 😂

Mine will refuse to move to get their own way on which route we take. You'll see them sit down and refuse to move because she doesn't like to get short changed on her walks, and then trot on happily when I agree. It makes me nervous on a warm day that someone is going to think I am "forcing" a dog to go for a walk, when actually she just doesn't want to go home.

We saw a massive golden retriever refusing to leave goodwoof last year, would take 5 steps and then flop down on the ground, woman would finally coax it up and it would just throw its self down again. Must've done it 30 times or more, it was the best entertainment of the day.

Ours does this @lighthouseahoy
She knows all our local routes so well that she starts dragging her feet the moment we turn for home. We're not walking her when it gets above 20, but I still have a fear that someone will think she's an old dog that's suffering, when in fact she's just a belligerent adolescent fighting me to get her own way.

My spaniel tries to get me to go to Pets at Home - if we're within a few hundred metres, he'll walk if I'm going in the direction of the store but as soon as I change my trajectory away from the store, he sits down.

I read a story on FB about a woman who was walking her husband’s dog, when it dragged her into the local pub, @Lovemyassistancedog. Her dh usually walked the dog, and she realised he’d been using the dog walks as an excuse to nip into the pub for a swift one.

Shopped by his own dog!

Mine does this too. He's old now and sometimes I struggle to know whether he's sore or is making his feelings known about going a shorter route. He's 13 and knows his own mind!