Hot Tips for Hot Weather

Welcome to the senior dogs digest from Grey Whiskers. A newsletter is written with one purpose in mind. To talk about, laugh about, and sometimes cry about how we can all improve our senior dogs' lives. It’s a place where I can answer your burning questions about senior dog care, and the products I use, and share news and personal stories that you can all relate to.

Here’s what’s fanning our whiskers this week

• Senior Dog Care

• Recipe to Cool Down

• Summer Product Recommendations

Senior Dog Care in the Heat

As dogs age their bodies don’t regulate temperature as well as they used to, and that can result in various issues.

We all know now that it’s bad to walk dogs in heat waves, and that is 100% true for old dogs, but sometimes even 80 can be too hot, like for our old dog Esther. She used to overheat very easily, so we couldn’t walk her when the temperature was over 75 degrees. And, when I gave her baths, she couldn’t ever warm up on her own, year-round. We put her in a bathrobe and laid an electric throw blanket set too low on her bed to help her with that.

Cool AC in the house on a hot day can be too much for some dogs! When I arrived at 16-year-old Maltese Jackson’s house last week, he was in a winter sweater. His people told me he stays cold all summer because his hair is kind of thin and their air conditioner chills him. He has Addison’s disease, an endocrine disease that may make that issue worse for him. They’re really smart to keep him in that sweater!

On the other hand, when I arrived at 14-ish-year-old Pomeranian mix Shy’s house, her human told me the AC has to be set extra cool to keep Shy comfortable. She has a handful of heart conditions and a super thick coat. In this scenario, it’s Shy’s human who wears the sweater!

My point is, that while it may be obvious that your dog overheats on warm days, it’s not that simple.

Heat exhaustion and Heatstroke:

According to the American Red Cross Pet First Aid Guide, the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke that we are most likely to notice are: excessive panting and slobbering, rapid heart rate, collapse, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, acting drunk, and seizures. There are other symptoms but these are the visible ones. I would like to add that reluctance to continue on the walk, or holding one foot up at a time on hot pavement would be things you might see before the other symptoms set in.

If you see a dog with those symptoms or your dog overheats, take him out of the heat as quickly as possible, direct a fan at him, and wet him down with a hose (make sure it’s cool water!). You can put cool water-soaked towels on his head, neck, chest, feet, and tummy. Then immediately get him to a veterinarian for further treatment.

Dog Ice Cream Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (unsweetened and xylitol-free)

• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

In a blender or food processor, combine bananas, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, and water. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays or silicone molds. Freeze for at least 2 hours or until solid. Pop out the ice cream cubes and serve them to your dog as a treat.

Notes:

Ensure the peanut butter is free of xylitol, as it is toxic to dogs.

You can substitute Greek yogurt with dairy-free yogurt if your dog is lactose intolerant.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Freezing Time: 2 hrs | Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins | Servings: 12-15 treats

Product Recommendations for Seniors

Cooling Collars: This product from Amazon is similar to the one we use for our dogs, and I like it. Our dogs would come over to us after walks to have this put on because it made them so much more comfortable. There are multiple products of this type these days, and they all help!

DIY VERSION:

You can also cut up an old t-shirt into wide strips: Measure the circumference of your dog’s neck. Add approximately 12 inches if you’d like to tie it around his neck. If you can use a large safety pin or clip of some kind you will need less fabric. Cut the width to approximately 6 inches. Roll or fold the strip lengthwise for a more cooling effect. For a small dog, if you have large shirts with wide sleeves, you can cut the sleeves off one for a small dog, roll it up, and use that! Wet down your strip or sleeve, squeeze the excess water out, then freeze in a bowl or plastic container. This version will make the dog and his bed wet as it thaws, keep that in mind. OLD DOG TIP: Don’t choose a color that will stain your furniture or your dog’s coat!

Cooling Vest: This one is better while out and about, as it has more all-over cooling capabilities.

Cooling Beds: Some of our old dogs have loved these. However, fair warning… they can be heavy when filled, depending on the size you need.

Sun protection: if your dog has a thin coat and you can see his skin under it, use a dog-safe sunscreen on his exposed skin areas. The most vulnerable spots are the tummy if he likes to sunbathe, the tops of ears close to where they meet the head, the skin just behind the top of the nose, and the nose itself. This is a good one that is veterinarian-recommended, and FDA-approved. Zinc oxide can be unsafe for dogs in larger quantities so I don’t recommend that.

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

☞Old Rocker Rocking for Old Dogs 

☞ Raising Money for Seniors

☞ Cool Down with Pool Time

Senior Dog Humor

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