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…

We had this issue with our rescue dog when we first got him. Really inconvenient at times! Our trainer told us to take one of our dogs poo's home and pop it in the garden. It worked!

I was on holiday near Sorrento on e May and the hotel had a beautiful golden spaniel. One afternoon when I got back, they’d had him clipped short all over except a tuft on his tail. This was to help him stay cool.

Honestly couldn't agree more. We are farmers and have sheep, cattle and numerous dogs. The sheep and the cattle just get on with it in the same way the dogs do. Yes it's hot but make sure they've got access to water and shade and ours will still choose to be out with us even when given the option to stay. Our Collies even still try to work sheep and get extremely distressed if they hear the quad leaving without them. Unfortunately we don't get to stop working because it's hot! We only don't work the dogs if it's very, very hot, otherwise it's business as usual and the dogs wouldn't have it any other way and have never come to any harm (neither do the poor sheep with their thick wooly fleeces!!). I find it so weird when people go on as if a dog can't stand hot weather.... we've got 6 dogs at the moment (4 collies and 2 spaniels) and have had working dogs for generations, not once has the hot weather ever been an issue. We can't move sheep without the dogs and we can't just stop working when the Mercury climbs.

I’m in Italy with my dog at the moment. She loves the warmer temperatures but we have to be really careful with her overheating while the local dogs seem completely at ease with a 15km hike up a mountain. It’s been almost two months and my dog hasn’t acclimatised in any way!

Some people do. My upstairs neighbours have two dogs (and a cat) and only the big dog ever goes out (for all of five minutes.) It's a Labrador as well. The little one I have never seen (although I hear it all the time) and I've lived here for nine and a half months.

I had to rush my dog to the vets a few years ago and was without a car, I couldn't find a taxi driver willing to take him so I took him on the bus. It was a blistering hot day and the looks and comments I got off busy bodies was awful (too big of a dog to carry).

Equally I saw somebody walking a German shepherd puppy today at peak of 31c. I was only outside because I had an appointment I wouldn't have left the house otherwise and I did judge very very hard.

No you are not! It was warm here today but certainly not scorching and it was fairly cloudy. The forecast is for rain over the next two days before brightening up to abut 22°.

Agree, I get nutters trying to get my dog to drink from their water bottle. My dog is 100% thinking - I don’t know what’s been in your mouth, not sharing with you!!
I live so close by, my dog is hydrated. If he’s not drinking from all those water bowls outside the shops, he’s not thirsty. Dog & I used to live in place 32* every day, no dogs there died from hot streets.

The other new crazy human behavior, is think it’s cruel/ irresponsible/ abandoned/ theft risk, to tie a dog outside a shop. Not bringing a dog into Tesco, pharmacy, etc. Plus, there are shops my dog does not like to go into, he prefers to sit outside. Lunatics wait outside to berate me, or hear them talking “oh he’s abandoned… let’s have a selfie”

He is 10 yr old Labrador, neutered, with some joint issues. He is not financially attractive to a thief.

Depends on your dog breed and the dogs fitness level. I took mine out at 7pm, for a short walk. She took ages to stop panting when we arrived home. Was worrying

People go OTT. It should be common sense. If you need to walk them, do it early or late, or take them to somewhere shaded/with a stream. Don't walk in the hours of peak sun. Don't lock them in cars. Cool your car down first. Just don't be an idiot basically. It's the same logic as young children in the heat. If it's too warm for your 2 year old to play in the garden, it's too warm for your dog. And don't take out your elderly/frail dogs.

Sadly some people have no common sense.

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.

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

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.

If someone had to let me know about dogs over heating then I’d like it to be you. You sound kind and non-judgemental

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.

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.

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.

I’m so sorry. That is very sad

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.