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Training in the Dog Days of Summer According to Dr. Leland Davis of Reelfoot Animal Hospital in Union City, Tennessee, heat stroke is the most common cause of death in working animals during the summer. Dr. Davis states that "snake bites are probably the most common summertime problem in our area; however, they rarely result in death. Heat stroke is a different matter. While I do not see as many cases of heat stroke as snake bite, the cases that I do see are much more difficult to treat and more frequently result in death." Dr. Davis says that in the most basic terms, heat stroke occurs when a dog's body temperature becomes elevated to the point the dog can no longer effectively regulate it. Dogs regulate their body temperature in hot conditions primarily through respiration. Therefore when a dog's respiratory tract can no longer evacuate heat fast enough, the body temperature begins to rise out of control resulting in a subsequent heat stroke. Moreover, a retriever is particularly vulnerable during training since the dog's airway is often partially blocked by the dummy or duck that it is carrying! Fortunately, by knowing the causes and signs of heat stroke you can still effectively train during the late summer months without placing your dog at unnecessary risk. Beating the Heat Let's start by taking a look at the factors that contribute to overheating and eventual heat stroke in working dogs. Obviously, one of the main causes of heat stroke for the working retriever is training in times of high temperatures and/or humidity. This means that on particularly hot or humid days you should carefully choose when and where you train. As for the "when", morning is definitely the time to do it. Dew covered grass is much cooler in the early morning, as are surface water temperatures. The afternoon is less desirable. While air temperatures may drop as evening approaches, ground temperatures in areas that have been exposed to direct sunlight will remain high until well after sunset. Choosing "where" to train can be a little trickier. One common misconception among dog owners is that it is always best to train in the water during periods of hot weather. However, that is not always the case. During periods of hot weather and direct sunlight, a small pond can have about as much cooling effect as a warm bath. Additionally, a dog's ability to breathe is reduced while swimming, so his ability to evacuate heat is limited. Finally, wet fur actually acts as an insulator, trapping heat and increasing body temperature. Therefore when water temperatures are high, land may be a better choice. Still you should keep in mind that retrievers breathe much closer to the ground than we do, so ground temperatures can be a very big deal to your dog. Use care in choosing where you train in hot weather, and avoid areas of bare ground or very heavy cover as these can exacerbate temperatures and humidity. For example, if the reported temperature at the airport is 90 degrees and the relative humidity is 45%, bare ground temperatures in the sun can exceed 130, and the temperature will remain as high as 102 degrees eighteen inches above ground! In contrast, ground temperatures on a cut Bermuda lawn will be about 105 degrees, and will run under 95 degrees 18 inches above ground. In uncut grass fourteen inches tall temperatures will be similar, but the humidity will soar to above 70%. That means that you should look for training areas with good, low turf during the summer. Another factor frequently associated with heat stroke is poor physical condition and acclimation. You wouldn't run a marathon without training for it, so don't ask your dog to, either. It is always important to gradually work your dog into condition especially during hot weather. Furthermore, even if your dog is in excellent shape, he needs time to acclimate should a sudden heat wave occur. Likewise, if you have been training in the relative cool of the morning for weeks, it would be very irresponsible to put your dog through the same workout on a hot afternoon instead. Perhaps the largest contributing factor of all to heat stroke is too much exercise and stress. No matter how cool the summer morning or how great the condition of your dog, it can still overheat if you push it too far. The beer commercial advice "know when to say when" definitely applies to summertime dog training. Summer training sessions should be kept short with emphasis on quality, not quantity. Keep a close watch on your dog's physical condition, and evaluate the dog after every retrieve before sending him out again. You should also keep corrections and collar pressure to a minimum. Stress can cause increases in a dog's heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Avoid working on difficult concepts or at extreme distances, especially if your dog has a tendency to get "worked up" under pressure. Reading and Reacting to the Signs No matter how careful you are at controlling the factors that can lead to heat stroke, if you train or hunt in warm weather enough, there is a chance that your dog is going to overheat. The outcome will depend a great deal on how early you recognize that the dog has become too hot, and what you do about it. In the early stages of overheating the dog will begin to appear glassy-eyed and will pant excessively. He may also salivate more than normal and movement may become slow. As the dog's body temperature continues to rise, the demand for oxygen will start to exceed supply resulting in more serious indicators including pale gums, muscle weakness, and mental confusion. He may also lose the desire to drink water and appear very unsteady and unaware of his environment. Any of these signs indicate that it is time to take action to help the dog bring his temperature under control before the situation results in irreversible damage. Start by taking a rectal temperature if possible. Anything under 103 is considered normal, however working temperatures in a well-conditioned dog can range from 104 to 107. Even if the dog's temperature is within the normal working range you should initiate cooling measures if signs of overheating are present. If you do not have a thermometer, but the signs of overheating are present it is best to assume that heat stroke is imminent and take action. If the dog's temperature is elevated, but within the working range you should initiate cooling measures right away. According to Dr. Davis, ice packs are best. For maximum effect the ice should be applied to the abdomen and inner thighs. (I have personally had excellent success in lowering body temps by lying one bag of ice between the front legs and a second between the rear legs). The next best thing to ice is rubbing alcohol. Apply it to all areas of exposed skin to encourage evaporative cooling. Of course, if you do not have ice or alcohol available you should try to wet the dog down. Running cool water over the dog is best, but even rolling the dog in a puddle and drying him off to initiate evaporation is better that nothing. Continue to monitor the dog's temperature every three minutes until it begins to fall. Once the body temperature drops below 104, cease cooling efforts but continue to monitor the dog's physical condition closely. Any temperature above 107 is very serious and should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible in addition to immediate cooling. The same is true for any assumed episode of overheating. Even if the dog's temperature did not get above 107, it is a good idea to seek veterinary attention if the dog exhibited some of the more serious indicators of overheating. In most cases, treatment will include an overnight stay due to the fact that complications often occur one to three days following the actual event. Finally, most vets that I have spoken with believe that once a dog has overheated it is most susceptible in the future. Therefore, if it has happened to your dog once, it will probably happen again. Possible sidebar: Avoiding Overheating and Heat Stroke |
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