Expert Advice — EBKC – European Bully Kennel Club

Summer is the time to have outdoor fun with our dogs. Longer walks in the park, ambitious hikes, beach days, or family travel — the sun is shining, and the outdoors is calling. But hot weather can also make us uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for dogs. From an increased exposure to ticks and other insects, to sunburn, and even heatstroke, all sorts of things can go wrong for your dog in summer. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and follow our tips for summer safety for dogs. They will help you keep your pet happier and healthier during the dog days of summer.

Help Your Dog Beat the Heat

Give your dog a shady spot to hang out on hot days or keep him inside where there’s air-conditioning. Doghouses are not good shelter in the summer because they can trap heat.
Fill a child-size wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.
Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a car can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes.
Provide plenty of cool, fresh water.
Avoid exercising your dog strenuously on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun’s heat is less intense.
Avoid exposing your dog to hot asphalt or sand for any prolonged period; it can burn his paws.
Be mindful of your dog’s breed. Dogs that are brachycephalic (have a short head and snout), such as American Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Olde English Bulldogges, Boxers, and French Bulldogs, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-nosed dogs. Keep your brachycephalic dog inside with air-conditioning.

Keep Your Dog Healthy in Summer

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date, especially since dogs tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months.
Keep dogs off of lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24 hours (or according to package instructions), and away from toxic plants and flowers.
Keep your dog well brushed, clean, and free of mats.
Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive against fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes that carry heartworm.

Safety Tips for Taking Dogs to the Beach

Give your dog a shady spot to rest, like a beach tent or his own outdoor beach pen.
Provide plenty of fresh water.
Protect him against sunburn. Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can get sunburned. Limit your dog’s exposure during the day and apply sunscreen to his ears, nose, and coat before going outside.
Check with a lifeguard for water conditions. Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish.
Keep a check on his activity. Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can pull a tendon or ligament, and running on wet sand can make his paw pads blister.
Don’t let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.
Rinse him off at the end of the day. Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog’s coat.
Check local ordinances before heading out. Not all beaches allow dogs, and some restrict the time they can be there.

Keep Your Dog Safe in the Water

Let your dog go for a swim. Some dogs are natural swimmers; others won’t get a toe wet. Never force your dog into the water. Follow these water safety tips and be mindful of your dog’s preferences and skills before sending him out to ride the waves.
Don’t let your dog overdo it; swimming is hard work, and he may tire quickly. When swimming in the ocean, be careful of strong tides.
Never leave your dog unattended in water.
Put your dog in a life vest.

Traveling in Summer With Your Dog

By Air

Be aware that many Airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to dangers caused by hot weather. Some will only allow dogs to fly in the early morning or in the evening. Check with the airlines for specific rules.
Put ice packs wrapped in a towel or an ice blanket in the dog’s crate if you do ship a dog. Two-liter soft drink bottles filled with water and then frozen work well.
Provide a container of fresh water, as well as a container of frozen water that will thaw over the course of the trip.

BY CAR

Keep your dog cool in the car by putting ice packs wrapped in a towel in his crate. Make sure the crate is well ventilated.
Use a cooling pad as his bed or crate liner.
Put a sunshade on your car windows.
Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent, so you can set up a shady spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on your dog to cool him down.

BY CARAVAN

Never leave a Caravan or motor home completely closed up, even if the generator and air-conditioning are running. Crack a window or door or run the exhaust fan.
Even though there’s lots of space to walk around when you’re moving your dog should be attached to a dog-safe seat belt or ride in a secured crate. If you have to make a sudden stop, he’ll be protected.
Check out the location of the nearest veterinary office, if you plan to stay in one place for any length of time. You should also plan ahead and verify that campgrounds are pet-friendly.

Be Alert to Dehydration and Heatstroke

DEHYDRATION

Dogs can become dehydrated when more fluids leave the body than it takes in. They lose fluids through panting, urinating, and even from evaporation through their paws. If you see any of the following symptoms, the dog needs rehydration and replacement of electrolytes right away:

Panting.
Dry gums and nose.
Thick saliva.
Lethargy.
Sunken eyes.
Loss of elasticity in the skin.

Just giving your dog a bowl of water may not be enough; electrolytes may need to be replaced, as well. Use electrolyte-enhanced water, or an electrolyte solution. Check with your veterinarian for dosage recommendations. You may also need to go to an emergency vet who can administer intravenous fluids.

HEATSTROKE

Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog’s prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Heatstroke usually occurs when high ambient temperature overcomes the dog’s ability to dissipate heat. The degree of damage is determined by how high a temperature is reached and how long the animal is exposed. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your dog is overcome.

EARLY STAGES OF HEATSTROKE

Heavy panting.
Rapid breathing.
Excessive drooling.
Bright red gums and tongue.
Difficulty maintaining balance.

ADVANCED STAGES OF HEATSTROKE

White or blue gums.
Lethargy, unwillingness to move.
Uncontrollable urination or defecation.
Labored, noisy breathing.
Shock.

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should try immediately to cool him down. Cooling methods include getting him into the shade, spraying him with cool or tepid water, and fanning him. Severely affected dogs require fluids, medication, support, and oxygen.

Check your dog’s temperature regularly during this process. Once it’s stabilized at between 37 – 38 degrees celsius, you can stop the cool-down process. If you can’t get the dog cooled down, and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to a veterinarian immediately.

The best treatment for heatstroke is prevention. Limit the time your dog works or exercises in hot weather. Choose cooler periods of the day for training and exercise sessions. Provide plenty of cool, fresh water, shade, and frequent rest periods when it’s hot.

Nothing beats canine companionship on vacations, in the great outdoors, and on the beach. As a responsible dog owner, you can ensure that your vacation with your best friend will be enjoyable for both of you.

For questions or more advice on the subject E-mail us at [email protected]

BACKYARD BREEDING STRAY DOGS AND MIXED BREEDS NEEDS
TO BE PROHIBITED. NOT BULLY BREEDS!

The practice of backyard breeding among stray dogs and mixed breeds must be stopped. The focus should not be on bully breeds. Some individuals posing as animal rescuers are urging for a ban on importing and breeding bully breeds. However, this fails to address the root issue of backyard breeding and the widespread mixing of breeds. When nearly all the dogs in animal sanctuaries are mixed breeds, it’s unfair to solely blame purebred dogs. Why? Because the tactic is to discourage people from buying or owning purebred dogs and instead push them towards adopting stray mixed breed dogs. This tactic is akin to communism. It’s time to end the blame game and enact a complete ban on the mixed breeding of stray dogs.

Enforcing a temporary ban on importing and breeding bully breeds does little to address the root problems of backyard breeding and the proliferation of mixed breed stray dogs. Here’s why:

1. Misplaced Focus: By targeting bully breeds, authorities are misdirecting efforts away from the real issue of irresponsible breeding practices. Backyard breeders will simply shift their focus to other breeds or continue breeding mixed breeds, undermining the effectiveness of the ban.

2. Failure to Address Demand: Temporary bans fail to address the underlying demand for dogs, regardless of breed. As long as there’s a market for pets, backyard breeders will exploit this demand by producing mixed-breed puppies, circumventing the ban entirely.

3. Lack of Long-Term Solution: Temporary bans provide a short-term fix but do not offer a sustainable solution to the problem. Without comprehensive regulations and enforcement measures targeting all breeds, including mixed breeds, the issue of backyard breeding will persist beyond the duration of the ban.

4. Potential for Unintended Consequences: Banning specific breeds may lead to unintended consequences such as increased stigmatization of certain dog breeds and the displacement of responsible owners of bully breeds. This could exacerbate issues related to breed discrimination and unfairly penalize responsible dog owners.

5. Need for Comprehensive Legislation: Effective measures to address backyard breeding require comprehensive legislation that targets irresponsible breeding practices across all breeds. This includes implementing mandatory spaying and neutering programs, promoting responsible pet ownership, and enforcing strict breeding regulations applicable to all dog breeds, not just bully breeds.

6. Underlying Agenda of Choice Limitation: The proposed prohibition of importing and breeding bully breeds is not solely about curbing irresponsible breeding practices; it’s a tactic aimed at limiting people’s freedom of choice in dog ownership. By restricting access to purebred bully breeds, proponents of the ban seek to coerce individuals into adopting stray mixed bully breeds instead. This tactic mirrors a communist-style approach, where the government dictates what choices citizens are allowed to make, infringing upon personal freedoms and preferences in pet ownership.

By highlighting this underlying agenda, it becomes clear that the proposed ban is not a comprehensive solution to the issue of backyard breeding and mixed breed proliferation. Instead, it serves to manipulate consumer choices and impose a singular option, which undermines individual autonomy and fails to address the root causes of the problem.

7. Negative Impact on Beloved Companion Breeds: It’s important to recognize that the proposed ban on importing and breeding bully breeds extends beyond targeting a single breed. Instead, it encompasses a diverse group of beloved companion breeds that fall under the bully breed category. These breeds include the American Bulldog, Boxer, Bull Mastiff, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, French Bulldog, and Old English Bulldogge.

By acknowledging the number of pure breeds affected by the proposed ban, it becomes evident that the repercussions extend far beyond a singular breed. Such a blanket prohibition not only restricts access to specific breeds but also impacts the cultural and historical significance of these breeds to dog enthusiasts worldwide. It’s imperative to consider the diverse characteristics and roles these breeds play within communities and ensure that any proposed regulations are fair and proportionate to the concerns at hand.

In summary, while temporary bans on importing and breeding bully breeds may seem like a quick solution, they ultimately fail to tackle the root causes of backyard breeding and mixed breed proliferation. A more holistic approach addressing all breeds and irresponsible breeding practices is necessary to effectively curb these issues in the long term.

Keep Your Dog Safe in Summer