Heat exhaustion is not uncommon for any dog but I can tell you what happened just this week for Elvis the Shih Tzu and Fonzi the Cockapoo, our true loves.
It didn't take long in the heat and climbing up the mountain trails of Boulder, Co for these little guys to be panting a lot. (ie:sweating) We would stop under shady pines to cool down and get drinks. I carry a small cloth doggie bowl and squirt my drinking water into it. Fonzi did fine and drank sparingly to slightly quench his thirst but Elvis went after the water like a desert rat and slurped a long time! Then poor Elvis began to choke up and he vomited up a lot of liquid. It was just too much sudden cool water for his hot system. He looked bedraggled and began reverse sneezing. It went on way too long so I cooled him down quickly by splashing water on his face, head, paws, belly and it worked. He calmed down, a wet little rag, but feeling much better. We turned around and made our way home pausing in the shade and staying cool. This was not the norm for Elvis who usually hikes beautifully but there's one thing I didn't do that morning he became distressed. Often, this hot summer, I would take the hose BEFORE the hike and really wet down the dogs so that they would start out cool and refreshed with drinks. Me, too! I make sure I have hydrated a lot before and during my hikes - well, folks, obviously, it's just real trouble if you don't so I take it seriously now. Elvis is doing fine as is Fonzi but we have learned some important lessons for dogs and for humans about hiking and overheating. Suzanne in Boulder Meet "Hap the Pup" at http://www.hapthepupdogblog.com ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cockapoo/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cockapoo/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
