Overheating and dogs

Rachel Bean is back to provide some warm-weather first aid advice.

Hi there, and hope that you had a great month, so many bank holidays, it’s been brilliant!

It’s been busy in the Bean household, with plenty of canine first aid training sessions, a partnership with raw food firm Paleo Ridge, and some TV stardom!

The partnership came about at Crufts, when I gave a first aid demonstration on the Paleo Ridge stand, shortly before I appeared on Channel 4’s coverage from the Birmingham NEC event to share tips with millions of viewers.

My fox red Labrador Chilli is also a star in her own right and has appeared in a string of TV roles, including currently as the hilarious Linda Biscuits on Joe Lycett’s Friday night show.

Chilli, or should I say Linda Biscuits, absolutely loves Paleo Ridge, and we are committed to raw feeding. We are so proud to be endorsers of this brand which has canine health and sustainability at its heart.

Paleo Ridge prides itself on high quality, high welfare ingredients and a vision of promoting healthy dogs to a wider audience continues to develop.

It is the only raw dog food company to hold the ISO9001 accreditation, and one of the only companies to hold the RFVS RawSAFE certification, giving customers trust in their products quality and safety.

And speaking about Linda Biscuits, what an amazing experience that was for me and Chilli.

Chilli’s character became quite the star of the show, and a petition was even started to bring her back when Joe Lycett jokingly said she had been ‘fired’ from his programme

Chilli is no stranger to showbiz appearances, and has appeared already in TV shows including Dragon’s Den.

I also co-own the Vet On Set business, which sends vets to TV and film sets, ensuring that animal welfare for creatures

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like Chilli is the heart of all filming in the UK.

Everyone loves to see animals on the big and small screen, but no one wants to watch animal stars who have been mistreated. Vet on Set is all about working with the animal during filming to ensure that they are comfortable, happy and that their needs are met at all times.

We have worked on everything from Sky’s Brassic, to a bingo advert with Boyzone star Keith Duffy, and it’s amazing to feel like we make a difference. All of the directors that we work with want the best for the animals on set, and this is the way that they make sure they are well taken care of.

So for this month’s first aid, tip I’m thinking of the season and there are lots of seasonal nasties out there. And I’m going to focus on what to do to help stop your dog from overheating, a real cause for concern on warm days in your salon or business.

Overheating and dogs: How to spot overheating in a dog:

1. Excessive drooling and panting: These can be the first signs that you spot, though some dogs do drool more than others, so it might not always be as obvious.

2. A pumping heartbeat: Is your dog’s heart beating fast, and do they have the tongue out? This could mean that their body is working harder than usual to pump warm blood away from their organs.

3. Heavy breathing: This could indicate that your dog is breathing more than usual to try and cool their body down.

4. Strangely sleepy: Is your dog floppy or lethargic?

5. Dizziness: Is your dog appearing disorientated or dizzy? This could indicate that they have a form of heatstroke?

What should I do if a dog IS overheating or I suspect that they are?

1. Wet the dog with cool but not ice cold water, to help bring their temperature down.

2. Take them straight away to a cool place.

3. Contact a vet, heatstroke can be lifethreatening.

4. If you have a fan, or air conditioner, place the dog close to it so they have a steady source of cool air.

5. Never give an overheated dog iced water as it could shock their system and cause medical problems. Remember overheating, and heatstroke is life-threatening. So even if your dog is recovering okay, you need to get them to your veterinary doctor for monitoring and treatment.

How do you prevent your pet from overheating?

• Ensure there are places that are shady and cool for dogs to rest in your salon, workplace or at home.

• Never walk a dog in high temperatures, wait until it is cooler and more comfortable.

• Always make sure that there is plenty of cool water, and places to drink it in your place of work, salon or home.

• Keep your place of work, salon or home cool.

• Be careful using drying cabinets - it may be best not to use them during hot weather as I have certainly seen heatstroke cases with dryer mishaps.