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IS IT
TO WALK YOUR DOG? By Anita DeLelles
S
ummer is around the corner and it can warm up quickly here in the southwest. The temperatures now are ideal for outdoor activity. It’s a comfortable range throughout the day, but all that can change in a few short weeks. So how do we know when the summer heat becomes too much for a walk or hike with your dog? How do we know when the heat becomes dangerous? First, there are a few things to know about dogs. We can’t assume what’s comfortable for us is comfortable for them. A dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 and 102.5. That’s three to four degrees warmer than us. Their fur provides them with insulation, not only from the cold but also from heat. A lot of people don’t understand this, as it seems counterintuitive. Fur allows air to circulate over their skin and regulate their body temperature to avoid overheating. When we shave our pets to keep them cool in southwest temperatures, we are not only damaging their coat but possibly putting them in extreme danger of heatstroke. A dog’s paw pads are tough but still susceptible to being burned on hot pavements, sand, rocky surfaces or even grass. The darker the surface, the hotter, as heat is absorbed more than reflected.
So with these things in mind, it’s up to us to be responsible for their safety in the sun and heat. Your dog may be ready to go on a hike in any weather condition; but, they can’t make a safe decision, that is up to you as a responsible pet owner. We need to know when the temperature and sun exposure is too much for a dog walk. It’s also vital that we’re properly prepared if we do take a walk on a summer day to choose the best time of day. Here are some important points to consider. What surface will your dog be walking on? Place your hand on the surface — can you hold it there comfortably for 7 seconds or more? If yes then you are good to go. But during that walk, be sure your dog has access to the coolest surface — walk them on the shady side of the street. A sidewalk will be cooler than black asphalt. In fact, asphalt temperature can be dramatically hotter than the ambient temperature. If you’ve ever tried walking across a sunbaked pavement in bare feet, you know how excruciating that can be! And a shady surface can be a tremendous relief. There are some varying factors such as humidity, cloud cover, etc., but consider the following as an example: 77F - 125F surface temperature, paw/skin damage may occur in 1 minute. 86F - 135F surface temperature will fry an egg in 5 minutes.
May/June 2020 | VIEW ON MAGAZINE |
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