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…

I adore dogs and never walk my dog in the midday sun during a heatwave. However, I appreciate that some people don’t have gardens or their dogs will not toilet in their own garden (as they see it as an extension of their home). Sometimes they DO need a quick wee, or a car trip to the woods (where it can in fact be much cooler than the home).

I find a lot of people getting hysterical on Facebook moaning about hot paws and dogs dying of heatstroke are the types that NEVER walk their dog anyway. So, a heatwave gives them the perfect excuse to feel justified in their lazy arse dog owning ways.

Someone actually put a post up on my local Facebook page about someone leaving their kids in a hot car (windows open) but still, apparently they were gone for 20 minutes. The comments were mainly people telling the poster to mind their own business. No one got hysterical at all!

Mumsnet has been kicking off about it all week too. I didn’t know it was such a thing till I read it here. I’ve lived in much hotter countries and dogs go about their days as normal.

Obviously if you have dogs with particularly thick coats or whatever that’s different, but I’ve been surprised to discover it’s considered cruel to let ANY dog outside AT ALL in hot weather.

Particukarly as we mostly don’t have aircon here so in many instances it might actually be cooler outside under the shade of a tree than it is indoors.

My large, double coated dog normally goes nuts when I get in from work, she has DH at home all day and an open door into the garden, so can go out when she wants. Today only the slightest interest and a fill of her paddling pool and play with hosepipe and she was done.
She not used to the warm weather, she's built for 'northern' climate, she's not acclimatised for heat. Lets face it 'summer' doesn't tend to last long before endless grey starts again. We can play games and we do have a local private dog park a few miles away that's in woodlands as a last resort if the heat last more than a few days.

A few years ago DH took the dog out during warmer weather after dark.. we live in the north and doest even get particularly hot. He'd been throwing the ball for him and when he got home was panting uncontrollably, legs going weak etc. We ended up having to drag him into the front garden and pour water on him to try and cool him down. I honestly thought he was going to have a seizure or die. I was furious 😡 unfortunately he doesn't let the heat stop him running round like an idiot, so keep him on a lead or don't take him out if it's warm (gets to like 25 midday here, not 35)

It was 24C on our walk this morning but I used a cooling vest and re-cooled it with some water from a dog bowl in town....which was promptly shaken all over a woman's legs 😁. I've got portable air conditioning so we stayed in with that on for the rest of the day.

My dog was more lively than usual so will use the cooling vest even when it isn't quite as warm.

I did feel as if everyone was looking and criticising. Not everyone can get up and out of the house early due to poor health.

I have to say that does sound very traumatic.

There can be, depending on the dogs size, age and coat. We don't walk our dog at anything over 19. She's a giant breed dog with a double coat and she does not cope well with heat.
You can eyeroll all you want.

Absolutely, I realised that when our labrador went camping 🤣 14 degrees at night and he was shivering so much he ended up needing a huge blanket 🙈 definitely used to the heating haha

Agree, it couldn't have been more than that when my dog over heated. A gentle walk in the shade might be fine, but nothing vigorous

Yes I agree completely, so patronising some people! I walked my dog this morning down to the river and he had a lovely time splashing around. Admittedly it was definitely too hot this afternoon but I think people love to get on their high horses! Also read something about not letting dogs run in grass because they may get bitten by an adder! Honestly feel like people will do what they’re doing with cats next and keep them permanently indoors!!!!

One of the things I like about this country is the affection for dogs and the hatred of cruelty to animals. It can’t be a bad thing that people worry about dogs suffering in the heat. I’m sceptical of the idea that dogs in Spain or Italy are more used to heatwaves that dogs in the U.K. Surely a spaniel suffers in 90 degrees no matter where he lives.

I'm a veterinary nurse and have had the very sad experience of dealing with heatstroke cases and it is horrific and a traumatic death if we can't save them, obviously totally avoidable when commonsense is used.
I saw a struggling overweight bulldog out yesterday in a public place ,idiot owners like this never cease to amaze me, absolutely no excuse other than sheer stupidity and selfishness .
Most of the dogs that came into our practice today were clearly miserable even with air con.
I think our country is correct in losing the plot over this, uk dogs have very little experience of this heat unlike dogs in hotter countries.
I will completely judge an owner taking their dog out in this heat regardless of why they did it as there is simply no excuse and enough information out there in the public domain about how dogs -and other pets are affected by heat .

I think until you’ve been on the receiving end of this you don’t realise how unpleasant it is. If you are trying to do your best by your dog and get shouted at and called an “ignorant bitch” and told you don’t care about your dog, it is really nasty. You can explain that you are only out for 10 minutes and they need a wee, and you’re in the shade or have a cooling coat on them-but the person being nasty doesn’t want to hear it.

Hatred of cruelty to animals? Let’s not start on animal welfare when it comes to the industrial meat/egg industry then…

I live abroad (frequently in the 40s) and it’s rare to see dogs out in the heat unless they are going ac car into ac building. Walking them in the day is not the norm and would be heavily judged. We have constant messaging about this and children being left in hot cars anytime the temps get over the 20s.

I don’t know, but I’d love to be wherever you are.

Mad dogs and English Men out in the midday sun. Dogs in hot countries tend to find shade and snooze the hottest part of the day. Tyson being dragged round the park during lunchtime does not get that .

I took my elderly neighbour out for a drive at lunchtime today and had to have the aircon on as it was 32degs. Whilst we were out I saw two elderly couples walking their dog in the hottest sunshine! I was so cross with them and I think they could see that from my face as I stared at them 🥵😡

I certainly wouldn’t defend that kind of behaviour. You obviously love and care for your dog, and such people are out of order - especially when they don’t even know you. But in general I do understand the concern for dogs in hot weather. And if people are getting angry about this issue, it’s no bad thing. At least it shows they care.

YANBU
People love passing judgement on dog owners. No one loves that dog more than their owner so the idea that they would
do something to cause harm to them is ridiculous.

Let’s all go around shouting at parents to put a sun hat on their child, make sure they have a bottle of water and wear factor 50. Except that doesn’t happen because we aren’t all self righteous idiots.

@Divebar2021 That sounds absolutelyy spot on and really caring💗

Yes it doesn’t fail down here at night. I’ve just gotten back from Morocco where it is very hot.
But the sun sets earlier and it cools right down around 3am until 6am. You could actually use a blanket. Here? No

No, we've had to put the heating on today for a bit.

The way dogs are treated in this country is honestly bonkers 😂 obviously excercise common sense, but also 🤪

I agree with you. Strongly.