Comment

Comment by John Wolff on September 14, 2011 at 12:32am

I recommend the Chillybuddy (TM) dog cooling vest after this summer's experience above timberline in the Cascade mountains of Washington State.  It's been a record cold summer, record high snowpack, but much of our trips have been above timberline, with no shade, and I do believe the Chillybuddy cooling vest helps.  It is important to keep it wet!  Keep it in a tough plastic bag, pour in the dog's leftover drinking water to wet it.  It has a cotton liner to hold water for evaporative cooling.  REMEMBER:  it is important to keep it wet/damp.

This is a goofy-looking, hi-tech product.  A lot of thought went into it.  I do not endorse things lightly.

Comment by John Wolff on May 21, 2011 at 12:46am

I just purchased this cooling vest, basically a space blanket-like reflective outside with a cotton mesh liner that can be wetted:
http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Pr...
I'll review it maybe by August/Sept after some experience.
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two different things. Heat stroke is an immediate life-threatening emergency wherein you must cool the victim immediately, with copious water if available. How does one diagnose heat stroke in a dog?
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogandpuppyhealth/qt/heatstroke.htm
http://www.doctordog.com/dogbook/dogheat.html
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=hea...
http://www.dfs-pet-blog.com/2010/07/dogs-heat-stroke/

I was looking for gum color as a diagnostic, and I notice these instructions are a bit contradictory: some say "bright red gums", others "pale gums". The warning against very cold water is noteworthy: very cold water can make peripheral circulation constrict, impeding transfer of heat from the core to the skin/extremities. Also, there's a danger of overcooling the animal. I'd not thought of wetting the feet, but apparently they can lose a lot of heat through their pads.
I have noted that the ONLY time I have to wait for these dogs is above timberline in hot sun (in the Pacific Northwest, "hot" is "above 80 F"). They seek any shade they can find.
Hand-feed scraped snow or crushed ice; they love this.
To wet a corgi: Sit, legs outs straight, corgi upside-down between your thighs, pour copious water over/into dog's belly. Yes, you'll get wet and messy. Else, it's like trying to wet a duck.

Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on May 20, 2011 at 4:04pm

this also goes for leaving your pup in a vehicle. If you are just running a quick errand leave your pup at home! It takes no time at all for the interior of your car to be at dangerous levels even on a mild 70 degree day. I think it takes something like 10-15 min for your car to heat over 120 degrees on a 70 degree day, I don't remember the exact numbers but they are alarming.

Comment by Peggy Woods on May 20, 2011 at 3:20pm

well, there was a couple inches of new snow at my house this morning...

 

My tri-boy gets warmed up fast! All that black fur... Even with snow he gets hot. I can tell because he cools off by burrowing & rolling in the snow. We always walk early morning & evenings (I work all day). When it's warm (I've forgotten how that is) I take him to the pond or stream for a dip. I also leave a tub out on the porch for him to sit in & cool off whenever he wants. When I go for my long runs - I leave the low-rider at home. He's a toe dragger so he will wear his front middle toe nails to the quick if he was to go with me.

Thanks for the reminder Sarah! Too bad for that other dog that no one reminded that lady... 

Comment by Tori on May 20, 2011 at 2:55pm

I don't know Sarah! It got awfully hot awfully fast though! Just last week we were enjoying the warmer weather of the high 70s (right about 78,79) but now it's shot up to the mid 80 and low 90s. Yay for Florida heat... Ugh, lol. I'm just really looking forward to when I move out to Washington state - then I can buy Winston a cute little raincoat and booties to wear on our walks. :D

Comment by Sarah C. on May 20, 2011 at 2:48pm

I know right Tori? This morning I dragged myself out of bed to walk the dogs at 5:30am and 10 minutes into the walk I was soaked with sweat. Why's it gotta be so hot?

Comment by Tori on May 20, 2011 at 2:46pm

Thanks for bringing this up. I've noticed that summer is rapidly approaching here in Florida and I've started taking Winston for his walks first thing in the morning and then again after the sun has set. The temperatures are just too high during the day for both him and myself. (What can I say? If I didn't have Winston, I probably wouldn't be walking at all.)

Comment by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on May 20, 2011 at 2:11pm

thanks for the reminder:) i take teddy out for walks all the time but before i go to the lake or on trails during the day i make sure i check the weather so i know what is the best time to take him. i also make sure i take plenty of water.

 

during the summer when the weather is so nice we forget that our poor pups cant enjoy them self's as much as we do in the sun since its like them wearing a wool sweater while we have cooler clothes on. im glad that poor dog was getting help and i hope he will be ok as heat stroke is very serious.