Cool Dood!
Keeping Your Labradoodle Cool!
Sheba
It is a hot, sultry, summer day. You are sitting in your chair, in front of the fan, with a glass of iced lemonade. You are wishing you would quit sweating and would just cool down.
You look down on the ground at your faithful labradoodle. You wonder, “Hmmm… I wonder how my doodle is doing. Do dogs sweat?”
Ginger
Well the answer is yes, and no. If you are wondering if they sweat like a human, by perspiring moisture through the pores of their skin, for the purpose of cooling down, the answer is no. However, they do have sweat glands called apocrine glands, which are involved with each hair follicle. Unlike us, they do not produce moisture, that cools the body down. What they do exactly, no one knows. The best guess is that they actually produce chemicals that allow them to communicate with other dogs. Now I for one, am glad to have language to communicate with, not odors!
Dogs also have sweat glands on the pads of their paws and on their cute little noses. These are different. They’re called eccrine glands. These will leave the paw pads and the nose slightly damp.
Primarily, dogs regulate their temperature through panting. As they breathe out, in a heavy pant, it pushes hot air out. As they in hale, the cool air flows over their wet tongue and lungs, and helps cool them down.
The dogs brain is particularly protected from heat also. If you were to have a race with your doodle and a jack rabbit, the rabbit would win. However, if you have a doodle in the dry, hot, desert, chasing a rabbit, the dog would win. Why? Because the rabbit would collapse sooner of heat and exhaustion.
All that’s interesting (I hope!) But what can you do for you labradoodle now, to help the Dood stay cool?
Diesel (the labradoodle, not the fuel!)
First, never leave your labradoodle alone in the car, in the summer. You probably would roll the windows up so Dood won’t jump out or some thug won’t kidnap Dood. A car can increase in heat 40% in one hour, with most of it happening in the first half hour! So if it is 85F (29.5C) out, in a half hour, the interior of your car is 102F (40C)!
Second, dogs can get sunburned too! Be sure to check your labradoodle’s nose for skin that maybe exposed to the sun. There is sun block available for dogs.
Third, if you must leave your labradoodle outside for an extended amount of time, make sure Dood has a shady area to get some cooling and lots of water!
Fourth, be careful of the paws. Check the temperature of the cement, brick or asphalt by putting your hand down on the ground. If it is too hot for you, then it is for your labradoodle too. Try walking your labradoodle in the morning and the afternoon to avoid hot pavement.
Amy and Katie
Fifth, if you have decide to hit the beach, remember Dood might need some shade if it is really hot. Check the temperature of the sand, to make sure it isn’t too hot for Dood’s paws. Drinking salt water can actually dehydrate Dood, so bring fresh water for your labradoodle to drink.
Puppies first pool experience
In the back yard, having a child’s pool or trough is ideal! Your labradoodle can then take a walk through, lay down in it, or at the least get a drink. A lot of dogs love chasing the mist from a hose! That’s another “cool” way of cooling down.
Ice cubes are fun! Throw a few of those out on the patio and watch Dood!
Binky and his pupsicle
Making pupsicles is fun! You can use purchased molds, ice trays, or papercups. Just water and a biscuit is a treat!
On the market you can find all kinds of nifty gadgets. They have beds you fill with ice or cold water. There are jackets that are made to cool. Also neat neck scarves that you soak in water or freeze to cool.
You can make you dog (and yourself) your own cooling neck coolers. Here are directions for making a people one, just cut it down to make a doggy one!
If you are concerned that Dood has gotten too hot, you can look for the following signs: panting hard, not walking right, heart rate is up, seems confused, or not aware, is very unsettled or restless. In his mouth his gums and tongue will be darker than normal. He may even vomit. What you need to do is get Dood out of the direct sun and to a cooler area. Put a cold, wet wash cloth or other cold item on his head, neck or tummy. If you have something you can fill with water and put Dood in, that is ok, but not too cold! You don’t want to shock his body. Give SMALL amounts of water, or ice cubes. And then get your labradoodle to the vet right away!
Lola
By being aware of the temperature and the situation, it will be easy to keep your labradoodle cool and comfortable this summer.
