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Animal Welfare CommitteeChair: Vacant. If you are interested in the position please contact Ron Ostrow at ronostrow@ggpnc.org. Meetings: As called. There is no Animal Welfare Committee meeting scheduled at this time.
Committee News: Find out all the animal welfare laws & ordinances in the city of LA here: Meet your match! Hundreds of healthy, beautiful dogs and cats are waiting to love unconditionally at your nearest animal shelter. For a complete list of animal shelters and rescue groups in Los Angeles - here _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Heat Warnings for Your Dog! Is Your Dog In Danger? By Sarah Wilson & Brian Kilcommons Published: August 21, 2005
Courtesy of PARADE magazine On the evening of the Fourth of July, Hogar, a 16-month-old bulldog, went outside with his owner for a game of catch. It wasn’t especially hot in their Detroit suburb. But, with the humidity high, Hogar panted fiercely as he chased a Frisbee (think stampeding canine cannonball). After about 15 minutes, Hogar came inside, drank some water and flopped onto the floor. No one thought much of it. Then Vicki Hodgson (Hogar’s grandma, as it were) noticed that his chest was heaving, his mouth was gaping and his eyes were brick- red. Hogar was in serious trouble. How Dogs Handle Heat This summer, record high temperatures have zapped the energy from both people and their pets. For dogs especially, heat stroke is not uncommon. “Once a dog’s body temperature reaches 107,” warns Dr. Eric Hartelius, a veterinarian in New York, “the cells of the body start to come apart. There is hope—if we get to the animal quickly. But the longer they are hot, and the hotter they are, the less hope there is.” Why do dogs get so hot? They don’t have an efficient system for handling the heat, and most don’t realize that they should decrease their energy level as temperatures rise. While humans sweat all over, dogs pant to evaporate moisture from the tongue and inside the mouth. And since they pant often—even when not overheated—most owners fail to recognize the problem. Remember: A dog’s mouth is his air-conditioning system. So the danger signals emerge as soon as he turns that air conditioner on high. Panting becomes very fast, and the mouth opens wide to allow maximum air flow. The tongue hangs low, widens and thins out to create as much surface area as possible (think “slice of bologna”), while the gums, eyes and tongue may turn brick-red as blood rushes to the area. Also look for wide, panicky eyes; stumbling; restlessness; unresponsiveness; and refusal of food and water. Any dog can get overheated, but the most susceptible are overweight, have a heavy coat or a big body (bullmastiff, Rottweiler, some Labradors) or are excitable and anxious. Short-nosed breeds (bulldogs, boxers and pugs) have especially poor cooling systems. We caretakers must be mindful of our dogs’ vulnerabilities. “Every year, well-intentioned owners jog their dogs to death,” says Beth Lockwood, executive director of the SPCA of Pinellas County in Florida. “Dogs that can normally do the route get into trouble when the heat and humidity climb. We advise exercising dogs either very early or very late.” As we head toward fall and the heat begins to subside, be aware that the danger remains—especially when your pet is in the car. Recently, a dog almost died in the parking lot of the Houston SPCA in Texas. “It was the last thing that the owner would have wanted,” says Patricia Mercer, president of the shelter. “She parked in the shade with the windows cracked open.” Still, in 10 minutes, it was 118 degrees inside the car. Swift action by the SPCA staff saved the dog. Similarly, Grandma Vicki responded rapidly when she realized Hogar the bulldog was in trouble. “I immediately got cold, wet towels and started wrapping him,” she recalls. “I switched the towels when they stopped feeling cold. I concentrated on his belly and around his neck and chest. Now and then, I scooped a handful of water and put it in his mouth.” Vicki may well have saved Hogar’s life. And your own care and caution may save your pet. Pay attention to the changes in your dog’s habits and actions. Those behaviors can tell you a lot, now that you know the signs. IF YOUR DOG IS TOO HOT: •Get him inside or in the shade. Your canine needs a cool location immediately. •Wet him down. Use a hose or wet towels. Get him really wet—and focus on hairless areas, especially the belly and mouth. •Increase evaporation. Fans and air conditioning help. Do not put a hot, wet dog into a closed crate—that creates a sauna effect. •Think cool—not cold. Skip the ice. It will contract the blood vessels and, ironically, lock body heat in. You also run the risk of cooling him too fast. •Let him drink (frequently, in small amounts). If he won’t drink, wet his mouth down often. •Get to a veterinarian! This is an emergency. At high temperatures, dogs can die. There’s no time to waste! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Previous Meeting Agendas & Minutes: |