Corgi's in the summer heat
Well Bella and the rest of us are moving to Miami next month, and I'm wondering what the difference will be with her in the heat. I took her to the dog park today and she looked like she was struggling... and it is only like 60. Is there any special or extra things I can do for her to make sure she is comfy, and doesn't get sick...like less time outdoors or breaks.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charlie on
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Here in Texas, where we had a very mild winter (one day in February, the temp hit 93 degrees!), our dogs need to be protected from overheating...especially as spring and summer temps start to soar. Regardless of the region of the country, most of our dogs will spend the majority of time in our air conditioned home and can heat stress very quickly with the changes from the indoor to the outdoor temperature.
Here are a few suggestions to help keep our Corgis cool and safe this summer:
Reschedule walks to either early morning or just after sunset. If you need to walk during the heat, take more walks of much shorter durations.
Substitute some backyard water games instead of a really long mid-day walk. Teach your dog to "water" fetch by tossing a ball through a garden sprinkler, or "go get the ball" in a baby wading pool.
If you're going camping, try to pick a park which has a creek, river or lake where the dog can swim. Beach trips are a great choice for those of you who live closeby. Some dogs don't swim well and others can get tired. A doggie life jacket is good safety insurance.
For day trips where swimming is not available, consider purchasing a cooling bandana with polymer beads and take a small cooler of ice water, both to soak the bandana and for the dog to drink. Cooling body vests that cover more area than just a bandana are also available.
If your dog is outdoors for any extended length of time, make sure it has access to shade in a grassy area and never runs out of water.
Water, water, water. Always make sure to have a bottle of water with you when you're out with your dog in the sun.
Grooming, grooming, grooming. Do not shave your dogs coat! Double-coated dogs should never be shaved. The undercoat will grow back fairly quickly, but the guard hairs of the top coat may take to two or three years, may come back thin and damaged, or may never come back correctly. The top coat's guard hairs insulate cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. Instead, brush the dog daily with a shedding blade to remove any dead hairs from the undercoat as they shed. A clean coat, free of dead undercoat fur will help keep your dog cooler. Your vaccuum cleaner will also appreciate the break.
Sunscreen. If your dog has a white muzzle (like most Corgis) and you can see pink or light skin under that short fur, put a little doggie sunscreen on the dog's nose. Sunburn is as painful to dogs as it is to us, and can lead to skin cancer.
Have fun outdoors with your dog this summer! He/she will love summer activities and the play time with you. Just take reasonable precautions to make it the coolest summer ever for you both!
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Permalink Reply by James on
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^^ all great advice for people too (except for the shedding blade). Remember to protect yourself and your pooch. Most Miami beaches are dog friendly, but remember to bring an umbrella to stake into the ground and something for the pup to lay on that stays fairly cool. (a thin towell, a piece of white plastic, not a thick dark colored blanket). The sand is really hot, and not all dogs know to dig a hole before laying down.
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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And make sure to keep her at a trim weight! Obese dogs really suffer in the heat.
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Permalink Reply by Patti on
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Hello and welcome to sunny south FLA! We live not far from you, in Jupiter just north of W Palm Beach and generally change our entire schedule during summer because of the heat and lack of wind - charlie gives some excellant advice, and we have learned that our dogs just cannot handle the beach anywhere from 10am on, because of the heat. We do our long walks very early and very late, use sunscreen on our blue merle who has a lot of white - she has been sunburned and it was horrible! , and Kai cannot handle the heat - even with precautions like short times at the beach, it is difficult for him to walk across the blistering hot sand to get to an oven hot car, it's just not worth it - and we're beach people! On overcast days, the dogs get to go! Luna has a set of "doggles", which she rips off, but they do last for maybe 10 mins....
Sorry for the length of the following, but you should know this if you take your dog to the beach!
What happens in heat stroke?
Heat stroke happens when heat gain exceeds the body's ability to dissipate heat. High temperatures cause chemical reactions that break down body cells which lead to dehydration and blood thickening. This puts extreme strain on the heart and causes blood clotting and subsequent death to tissue. Liver, brain and intestinal cells are usually the first to be affected and this can occur quickly. Normal body temperature for a dog is about 101 F to 102 F. If his temperature reaches 106 F, he is in danger of brain damage, vital organ failure and death. Reducing body temp quickly is imperative. A dog who recovers can still have organ damage and lifelong health problems. Temperatures above 106 F are extremely dangerous.
Symptoms
Rapid, frantic panting
Wide eyes
Thick saliva
Bright red tongue
Vomiting
Staggering
Diarrhea
Coma
First Aid
Heat stroke is deadly! Heat stroke is an emergency! Cool the dog, in whatever way you can and get him to a veterinarian immediately! Hose him off, immerse him in cool (not cold) water, use fans, take him to air conditioning, or sponge the groin area, tummy area, wet his tongue, place rolled up wet towels against his head, neck, tummy, and between his legs. When his temperature drops to 104 F or 103 F, stop cooling efforts. Cooling too fast or too much can cause other problems.
Treatment
If the dog's temperature is still high when he reaches the vet's office, they may give a cool water enema, cool water gastric lavage (rinse the stomach), and IV fluids, and draw blood samples. The dog will be monitored for shock, kidney failure, heart abnormalities, respiratory stress, and blood clotting time. The dog may be given oxygen, dextrose, cortisone, antihistamines, anticoagulants, or antibiotics. Once he is stabilized, he may require follow up treatment.
Prevention
Never, ever leave your dog in a parked car! Not even for a few minutes! Heat inside a parked car can build, in just a few short minutes, to as much as 40 degrees above the outside temperature. For instance, on an 80 F day, temperatures in a parked car can reach 120 F in as little as ten minutes, especially if the car is in the sun. Leaving the windows cracked helps very little and that's only IF there's a breeze. Factor in humidity and the dog doesn't have a snowball's chance!
For outside dogs, provide shade, ventilation, wading pool, and cool drinking water. Keep in mind that shade moves as the earth rotates.
Make sure water containers are large enough to supply water at all times and secure so they cannot be turned over.
Make sure that tied dogs cannot wind their tether around something, preventing access to water. Caution: Chains will wrap around themselves and shorten when the dog runs in circles.
Crate only in a wire crate.
Clip heavy coated dogs to a one inch length. Leave one inch for insulation, and protection against sunburn.
Allow dogs unaccustomed to warm weather, several days to acclimate.
Do not exercise your dog on hot days.
Take precautions for at-risk dogs when the heat index reaches 75 F.The single most frequent cause for heat stroke in dogs is overheating in a parked car. If this article accomplishes nothing else, I hope it educates readers on the importance of leaving Buddy home, not only on hot days but on warm days as well.>>
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Permalink Reply by Curt, Griffin and Violet on
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Hi there! I'm brand spanking new here, and I expect I will learn a whole lot about Corgis. I just by accident found this site. I'm so excited! Anyway, to the point of your thread...we have a 2 year old Corgi, and we live in the desert, Las Vegas. I was worried when we got him, as it was April and the heat was already starting. It routinely hits 105 during the summer here. While Zepp doesn't exactly like the heat, he seems to do okay. The good news, for us, is that we don't have the humidity to deal with, as you do in Florida. I don't know how much that matters to dogs, though. He stays out of the sun on his own, and he definitely stays in the air conditioning, on the cool tile floors! He's not stupid! LOL I try to get him out to potty before 10am in the summer, and try to keep a watch on him so he won't go out until early evening, when the major force of the sun has passed for the day. Of course, if I'm not here, he has his doggie door, and I don't know what he does then. All I can say is that he holds up well, surprisingly so!
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Permalink Reply by CassieD44 on
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I'm so glad you posted this question! We're moving to Tampa next month and I was worried about these things too! Sounds like you've gotten some good advice though. Sorry I don't have anything to add!
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Here's how I wet the dog with limited water: Sit on ground, legs straight out, put the dog on its back between your thighs. Pour water on belly and soak the fur. Yes, you get wet. Trying to wet an upright corgi is like trying to wet a duck.
The only time I have to wait for our dogs is above timberline in summer sun. They start seeking any shade they can find. I try to find some snow and make a corgicicle.
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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Welcome to Florida! the heat is humid, very different from the dry heat in the west. I personally find the dry heat in Vegas / CA more tolerable. Your corgis will keep themselves in the shade, you will also find them spread out under the AC vent and on top of tiles. Make sure they have access to water at all times. The best time to walk them during the summer is either sunrise or a little after sunset, sometimes it can still be in the 90s at 9pm, depending where you are, spray yourself with some mosquito spray and you'll be just fine. By the way, get yourself and family ready for a hurricane evacuation plan, make sure you have 3 days worth of food and water for you and your dogs in the garage. The hurricane season starts from May till the end of Nov. I've lived in FL for 6 years and survived all major hurricanes in the past couple of years, nothing to worry about, just be prepared.
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Permalink Reply by sheree on
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One of the replies to the heat question talked about clipping the hair to one inch. Is this really a good idea or necessary? Will it help with the heat. My corgi does well in the heat and often goes out in the boat with us. While we are swimming the corgi lies on a float in the water (with his life jacket on!) and LOVES it. The chocolate lab swims around and crawls up on the raft with the corgi when its time to rest. All so much FuN!!
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I think maybe Patti referred to clipping for dogs in general, not Corgis specifically. (Patti -- please correct me if I'm wrong.) Corgi's and other double coated dogs should not be clipped or shaved (aside from for hygiene under the tail if necessary). It can damage their coat. Single-coated dog breeds are frequently clipped/shaved as part of their normal care. One interesting note...I have read from breeders and groomers that it is alright to clip (not shave) "Fluffies", but not Corgis with a standard coat. I would like to know why that is...I'd guess that a Fluffy has a long enough coat that you would not be encouraging the undercoat to come up through the top coat and the dog would still have the protective and insulating top coat??? If anyone knows on the Fluffy clipping, I'd love to know.
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Charlie - u r absolutely correct, my vet whom I respect has advised me that cutting or shaving the hair does nothing for heat issues - and especially for my Luna who is mainly white - she needs that fur for protection - I always advise anyone to check with your vet! groomers are not vets! another tip with regard to sunscreen that we use is waterbabies - it is waterproof and does not sting the eye's. Luna has very pale blue eyes and her eyes have been sunburnt before - vet said if she won't wear the "doggles" - put the sunscreen "IN" her eyes - I thought he was nuts, but we started doing it - she's fine with it, and no more sunburns in her eyes.
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My newest girl is a fluff. Typically they have very little to no undercoat and the texture is quite different. There are guidelines to properly trim/clip up our little fluff pals. This is not done to deal with temperatures but more to keep them from being matted, tangled and full of extra debris!
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