The other day while I was sitting eating lunch beneath the shade of a tree on one of the picnic tables at Marine Park, I found myself watching a number of people going by taking their dogs for a walk. Part of me was enviaous. I miss having a dog. Another part of me questioned why these people had chosen to take their poor, panting pets for a walk in the heat of the noon-day sun.
I ended up offering my bottle of water to one woman for her dog. It was walking with its head down and panting like crazy. (It might not be a bad idea for the city to put out water bowls around the park area for dogs to drink from – at least in the summer months.)
Any way you look at it, common sense should tell people that when they’re out in that kind of heat, they need to take along plenty of water in order to stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause serious complications for both people and dogs.
Water is essential to all living beings who are dependant on fluid intake to maintain appropriate body temperature, proper circulation, digestion and waste removal.
The best way to avoid dehydration when going for extended walks in the heat of the day is to pay attention to your (and your dog’s) body signals. Drink plenty of fluids at regular intervals – sip water/fluid every 15 to 20 minutes. If you start to feel thirsty, chances are you have already started to become dehydrated. If you drink enough fluids, you will feel better. If you don’t, you may experience symptoms of dehydration, such as a dry or sticky mouth, low and/or dark urine output, low blood pressure, lethargy and in more severe cases, dizziness and confusion.
Proper hydration is essential, so remember, it is always better to bring along more water/fluids than you think you might need. Give your dog water at regular intervals as well.
According to the SPCA’s website, the most common symptom of dehydration in dogs is the loss of elasticity in the skin. If you pull lightly on the skin and it does not not readily come back to its original place, your dog is becoming dehydrated. Another more alarming symptom is a condition known as xerostomia, where the dog’s gums lose moistness and become dry and sticky and the saliva becomes thick. If your dog appears to be suffering from severe dehydration, seek immediate medical attention. A veterinarian will be able to administer intravenous fluids to avoid further dehydration and replace body fluids.
It’s also a good idea to take along one of those commercially made, collapsible dog dishes that fold up. They are easy to carry along in your pocket or pack with the water. It is not a good idea to fill your dog’s dish with lake or stream water as the majority of our lakes and streams are polluted to some degree and may contain nasty microscopic vermin that neither you nor your dog should ingest.
While on the subject of water, if you decide to take your dog along while boating, canoeing, kayaking or fishing out on the lake, the same basic rules apply to activities on the water as on land. Take into consideration that not only are you and your dog exposed to the heat of the sun directly, but also from the sun reflected from the surface of the water. Also, in small watercraft such as a canoe or 12-foot aluminum fishing boat, there are few if any places for a dog to escape the heat, so it is absolutely imperative to have cool, fresh water onboard.
Of course, there is one other alternative when it is really hot outside – simply stay indoors, watch TV or read a book and wait till the sun goes down and the air has cooled off.
