Long Hot Summer

By Tali Lavie

June 14, 2006

	Monica and boyfriend Rotem on a walk. Photo: Tali Lavie

Tali Lavie would very much like her dog, Monica, to accompany her everywhere, but personal experience has taught her that in summer this is not always possible. Our pets are sensitive to heat, and they suffer from it far more than we do. Therefore, she asked well-known veterinarian, Dr. Rafi Kishon, to offer a few tips on how to make it safely through the summer.

Monica, my friendly and endearing dog, goes with me almost everywhere. She's with me at work, at friends, and when I visit family. Any time my boyfriend and I travel around Israel, we choose a route that suits her abilities and limitations.

This spring, however, supposedly the best time to be outside with dogs, several incidents occurred that raised serious doubts about whether including my dog in outdoor activities during the hot months is in her best interest. About six weeks ago, I decided to pop down to the beach, and what makes more sense than taking Monica with me?

We set out at 10:30 AM, not the hottest hour, equipped with plenty of water, towels, toys, and anything else I thought to take along. As always, the moment Monica touched the sand, she burst out running playfully in circles, enjoying every minute. From time to time, she dipped her paws in the water, and dashed back out. When she got tired, I looked for a pleasant spot for us to settle down. Since no such spot was available, I spread out a towel and we sat down in the sun.

At first, it seemed Monica was quite content, but after only a few minutes, she began to show signs of restlessness. On top of the usual frenzied digging, she was breathing fast, walking around agitatedly, and she avoided playing with the other dogs on the beach. She was evidently in heat stress. With that, we ended our seaside visit, but its impressions remained.

The second incident happened three weeks ago, when we went hiking near Bat Shlomo. We chose a nice, easy, and mostly forested route. When we started out, the weather was pleasant and we had enough water with us for an entire platoon. However, after about two hours of walking along a peaceful, shaded trail, the route changed, meandering out of the woods into open space.

Now we were walking directly under the noon sun. Protected by hiking shoes, sun glasses, and hats, this was not a problem for us. Monica, on the other hand, gazed at us with a look full of misery, and then she began pouncing on us, as if asking for something. We soon understood she was hot.

Monica passed the rest of the trip resting on my boyfriend's shoulders, coming down only for frequent drink breaks. All this time, voices of vets were echoing in my mind, saying dogs are susceptible to heat stroke and that it can cause them irreversible brain damage. Fortunately, twenty minutes later, the route became shaded once again, and Monica resumed her tail wagging.

So hot

Because of these events, I am confronted with a true dilemma: on the one hand, as a responsible person, I should refrain from bringing a dog to activities that entail prolonged exposure to the sun. It seems it would be better for her to stay in the coolness of the house, protected from heat stroke and other dangers, and go out for strolls only early in the morning and late in the evening.

On the other hand, 95% of the time, Monica joins me for outdoor activities. She walks jauntily and is full of vitality, as if saying, "I am the happiest dog on earth" (she tends to be somewhat dramatic at times). The incidents mentioned were extreme, and at those times, she appeared to be suffering. Therefore, in most cases, taking a walk or popping down to the beach without Monica means depriving her of meaningful pleasures in her life.

I consulted with Dr. Kishon about this dilemma, and about hot weather issues in general. Here are some of his recommendations:

Dogs and cats

	Make sure they have shade. Photo: AP

Go on walks only in the early morning hours, or in the evening.

Avoid walking your dog on scalding surfaces like pavements and roads. Apart from the risk of suffering a heat stroke, it can cause burns on the paws.

When planning a trip that includes long walks, or when going to the beach, leave the dog at home — he or she will be happy to stretch out in front of the fan or air conditioner until you return.

Do not leave a dog in a parked car, not even for a few minutes, even with the windows open. The car heats up within minutes, to a point where it can be fatal.

Do not leave your dog in the yard if there is no large, covered area, shaded from the sun, with a source of fresh, cool water.

A haircut in summer can be harmful. The purpose of fur is not only to insulate against the cold of winter, but also to keep out summer's heat and sun rays. Often a haircut means exposing the animal to direct sun, with its heat and radiation.

For animals with long fur who suffer from matts that cannot be brushed out, and for animals out of the sun most of the day, cutting the fur is recommended.

It is important to not shave the animal, and to leave at least 1–2 cm of fur to protect the skin from radiation and temperature fluctuations. It is not advisable to cut the hair of animals with particularly fair skin, or those very young or very old. White cats are especially sensitive to sun damage, mainly around the head, so cutting their fur is not a good idea.

Summer is an ongoing celebration for external parasites who feed on blood, like fleas and ticks. These parasites not only cause irritation but also carry worms, cause allergies, and may cause anemia that can result in death of the animal. Ticks also transfer a serious disease, Tick Fever, which kills many dogs every summer. It is important to consult with a vet in choosing a suitable and effective flea and tick repellant for your animal.

Pay attention to any signs of intense itching, ear shaking, and greater than usual hair loss, which indicate the animal is suffering from an allergy, and treat the problem promptly.

When summer temperatures rise, many cats and dogs change their eating times to cooler hours, and they eat less. It is important not to leave food exposed at room temperature for more than twenty minutes, to prevent food poisoning. Adapt feeding times to your animal's needs.

Updating vaccines is doubly important in summer. Among other important vaccines, the injection against "Park worm" (Spirocerca lupi) is highly important during hot weather. Give this injection at least every three months, and even more frequently in summer. Vaccinating against Giardia lamblia is also recommended.

	Parrots are sensitive to air conditioners Photo: Reuters

Rabbits and parrots

  Rabbits

Always make sure a rabbit has fresh water and change it twice a day. Throw away food left out for more than a couple of hours.

Provide a cool shelter for the rabbit.

So as not to create a breeding ground for flies, be sure to remove rabbit urine and feces often, and every day clean off dirt and secretions around the rabbit's eyes, nose, and backside.

If you observe black, grainy dirt on the rabbit's skin, it means the fleas are having a ball. They can be eliminated with certain gentle substances. Ask your vet.

  Parrots

Beware of air conditioners: parrots are sensitive to cold and dry air. Therefore, their greatest enemy in summer is the terrifying AC. Air conditioners may cause a parrot to contract lethal pneumonia.

Finally, with no specific relation to summer, I want to appeal to all dog owners to ensure that your dogs are microchipped with an electronic chip. We at Hakol Chai receive numerous calls for help with cases of lost dogs. Unfortunately, we often receive a negative response (meekly uttered) to our question "Does the dog have a chip?"

Wishing us all — companion animals and guardians — a pleasant and safe summer.

Article reprinted courtesy of NRG.