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…

Oh goodness, when we had some ridiculously hot weather in 2022 (around the time it got to 40°C) I saw people walking their dogs when the pavement was so hot I could feel it through my shoes and had to keep stepping off onto the grass. When it was actually 40°C I was at home with the fan on (and thanked my lucky stars I'd booked annual leave that week!) this was a few days later.

Same with my greyhound. 20 is very warm for him, as the breed is basically thin skin and no padding.

He's happy lazing at home rather than panting down the road.

Are you acclimatised yet? No of course not. We have a different types of heat to Italy, its close, there's been little breeze. High pressure has been holding the heat down. In Europe many days start hazy and the water gets burnt away. Not here. Apparently its actually equivalent to being c10oC warmer here at the moment versus Spain/Italy.

And in any case, dogs have a bloody fur coat on.

We walked ours once in the cool of the evening one day and our GSD just flopped when we got home - it was a total of 1500 steps. It was probably about 23oC and there was a slight breeze - put another way I had a light jacket on.

We decided then that we would not risk it.

Our dogs sit on the patio outside cos the paving stays cool or lie on the tiled floors in the house. We've switched their food too so there's a lot more broth (we cook for ours every day).

Im going to fill the paddling pool tomorrow after work and leave it in the shade so they can go cool off.

I lived in Italy for many years believe me anyone taking their dog out in the summer heat in the south in the middle of the day when it is 30-40 degrees is judged and not thought of as a responsible dog owner by other Italians.

It’s a shame they don’t seem to care as much about all the dog poo that’s all over the pavements these days. My children have to constantly be reminded to watch where they are stepping on the way into school and you can often see huge ones right outside the school with a footprint right in the middle where some unfortunate child has stepped in it. It never used to be this bad.

You need better shoes.

Friends of ours have just got back from Cornwall and they said it was significantly cooler there than where we live in Berkshire.

I don’t care what Italians do- it’s cruel and can be deadly.

So...what are you suggesting? That we should tell our dogs to knuckle up and get used to it?

One of ours died in the heatwave a couple of years back, despite keeping them in and using portable air con (as well as all the other sensible precautions). Many dogs in the UK are breeds that are adapted to cold/temperate climates, and as a result can't survive 40C weather. This is not a case of the dogs just getting used to it, it's genetics.

Not sure if it’s the same post or not but the post I’ve seen with the mention of 20 degrees and dogs was about a dog locked in a car in 20 degree heat and car parked in direct sunlight. That’s definitely a risk of heatstroke

While I do think some people massively overreact, I often wonder if those saying “it’s fine, they do it in Italy and Spain” have ever seen a dog suffering from heatstroke. I’ve only ever seen videos and it is genuinely distressing to watch - I can only imagine how much worse it would be in real life.

Yes, many dogs are fine but for me it’s just not a risk I’m prepared to take with my dog. He’s absolutely fine at home even if he does get a bit bored or restless sometimes.

Vets aren’t making it up - dogs do die of heatstroke every year.

That’s because 20 degrees is a heatstroke risk for some breeds.

But dogs in hotter countries are more used to heat and so can cope with hotter weather. Also, breeding comes into it. There will likely be less brachycephalic and thick coated dogs in those countries.

My recently passed dog (who made it to a grand age) loved the sun and heat and you could have probably walked her in any weather with no ill effects. My Shih Tzu really struggles and we have to be very careful with her.

The UK is quite a cool country temperature wise, so when we have heat, nobody copes well. Animals or human. You only have to look at the threads on this forum over the last couple of weeks!

Off topic! We complain about dog fouling too, but that subject has no relevance to this thread.

this. I adore dogs. But I wish people had the same fervour when it comes to children!

Mine don’t go out for walks when it’s hot but we have a large garden with lots of shady parts and I counted 6 water bowls yesterday.
They love to sunbathe so we do have to encourage them into the shade.

No you are not..North Cornwall and it was pleasantly warm but cloudy. The sun came out for a few hours then by 4.30pm the mist rolled in.
This morning woke up to more mist..
But I'm actually relieved because the menopause broke my thermostat!
Back to dogs..
In countries where they have very hot weather animals are used to it and their paws are very thick and tough..
A vet nurse in our family says there are many deaths of dogs every year because of heat stroke..
Why risk it?

I live in the much cooler NE of Ireland , I think our highest temps this week have been mid 20's ( shade ) - and our roads are melting

I have a flat faced breed of dog - a cross with a pug - he's out for a short walk early mornings and that's it until the sun drops

The minute the tongue makes an appearance when walking, that's when we turn and go home

I also have a fan for him

Always had cocker spaniels before and they always coped better in the heat - but they always got a summer shave anyway. A pug has a double coat

I'm really glad you started this thread OP. I'm tired of the brigade who are much more interested in performing than truly caring about the welfare of dogs. Every time the temp gets to 20, you can be sure there will be some people on the look out to find someone to post about on FB.

Of course there will be idiots who have no clue just like you get parents who will take their kids to the beach with no suncream on but these are rare. Most dog owners know their dog's limitation and act accordingly.

I despise those warriors. On year, one posted on FB filming someone walking their dog in the park under 22 or so degrees and made a whole post about irresponsible owners and so many chip in. What they didn't k ow is that the dog was a rescue, from Cyprus, used to be on the street and used to much higher temperatures. The dog needed to be socialised and active.

Unless you see a dog genuinely suffering with evidence of it, keep your opinion to yourself!

To be fair spaniels could be on their death bed and you might never know. They are amazingly joyful even when sick in my experience

A vet nurse in our family says there are many deaths of dogs every year because of heat stroke
Here we go! What a lot of rubbish! Under 400 dogs a year are admitted for heatstroke. One in 7 will die...that 60ish dogs a year....per the 13 million dogs in the UK!

People shouting at those with dogs as they go past in a car etc.

I don't know about anyone else, but my car (air-conditioned) was the coolest place all day for me and my service dog! He has to go out if I do (and we were not out for long, deliberately (I find the heat hard too!) but we also do plan for it - cooling jacket and protective boots. That said the bloody dog insisted on sunning himself on the patio half the day, and had to be ordered to come in the house!

My cocker is just moving from tiled floor to tiled floor switching positions every now and then but if I offered him walkies he would jump right up and be wanting to go. Here is France the thermostat outside the pharmacy was reading 28degrees at 8:20 this morning 🥵

You’re right that I never have seen a dog with heat stroke but a couple of descriptions on here have sounded very traumatic. I guess we have to accept people know their dogs and we have no idea why they are outside with them and for how long and we shouldn’t be shouting at them. I also wonder how many of these dogs dying of heat stroke were very young, very old, obese, or had comorbidities. Much like humans, I guess these are the ones most at risk (along with the coat and face type risk)

I love spaniels so much. Are tiles cooler than carpet?