Prevent this from happening to your pet Dog
71Titan with his presents
Ready to chase the ball
|
Barbie I Can Be... Pet Vet Care Center
Price: $90.66
|
|
Nutri-Vet Glucosamine Peanut Butter Bone and Joint Biscuits for Small Dogs, 8 Ounce
Price: $4.80
List Price: $6.99 |
|
Nutri-Vet 01925 Breath & Tarter Spearmint & Parsley Flavored Biscuits, 19.5 Ounce Bag
Price: $4.00
List Price: $5.99 |
|
MVP Vet Syringe 29 Gauge, 5/10cc, 1/2" - 120 Syringes
Price: $12.98
|
|
Probios® Horse Treats Digestion Support - Apple Flavor 1lb Pouch
Price: $7.00
List Price: $9.39 |
|
We Care Veterinary Embroidered Short Sleeve Tee - Great Medical Gift! (L)
Price: $9.99
|
|
Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel (12-oz squeeze bottle)
Price: $11.95
|
|
Natural Horse Vet Bug Check, 2 Lb
Price: $24.03
List Price: $28.99 |
To my horror, I unknowingly let my dog down
Christmas day, in Rockingham, Western Australia was over 40 degrees Celsius in the shade. It was a beautiful day, we had our Christmas dinner, and after relaxing for a while, we adjourned to the swimming pool to cool off. We blew up a two plastic balls, which the kids threw to each other in the pool, and it was a race of course to see who got to them first.
We have done this literally a hundred times before, with the kids, without any mishap. Yesterday started out the same as normal, with Titan racing around the edge of the pool. He loves to beat the kids to the ball, the problem is the kids have to beat him because once he sinks his sharp teeth in, that is the end of the inflated ball.
The first one lasted about twenty minutes, the second all the fifteen seconds, in other words three throws before Titan swooped. Normally we have a solid plastic ball, which he spends ages bouncing it back and forth to the kids in the pool. It was when the second ball broke that I noticed Titan had started to limp. On inspection, to our horror, we could see that the hot sun on the concrete surrounds had burnt and blistered the pads on his feet. In fact, he had lifted the skin on one right up.
We could not believe how it had happened, as we are always so careful. We rang our vet and he suggested we keep him inside in the cool house. He also advised us to cut the piece of loose skin off, which we did. We felt so terrible, for letting him injure himself from doing something he loves doing and had done so many times before.
From what I can gather, the heat was evidently more intense than usual on the concrete. I also should mention that we have a sail shade over one end of the pool, and there was lots of the normal splashing of water onto the concrete from kids jumping in and out, which normally keeps it cooler.
I have written this in the hope of saving another family from causing their treasured family member from suffering a similar injury. I wrote an article myself two years ago on a similar topic. The other article was to remind dog owners, that when they take their dog for their daily walk, not to let their dog walk on the hot footpaths, because of the heat. Some owners forget, they are wearing shoes, whereas the dog has virtually bare feet. If you ever doubt how hot the concrete can become, just remove your shoes, and walk on it yourself barefoot.
Remember if it is 40 degrees in the shade it will be a lot hotter in the sun and on the concrete, as we were reminded of yesterday.
Please, please do not let a similar thing happen to your family pet.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
This is quite a terrible thing to happen! But I wonder, quite seriously, if there is a market out there for dog socks (or even tights?)
Yes! When I had a beautiful collie, I made sure she walked on grass in summer!
A sad story. We have been told that WA had 45.5 degrees of heat for three days running. The hottest they have ever recorded.
I am sorry to hear about the paws
Yes, you just never know, how easy it can happen. I thought I was pet wise. But definitley stuffed up that day. It was just so unsually hot even in the shade.
I really felt and still do feel awful for not preventing it. As I said Titan had done that many many times before without any problems. He just loves it.
Eileen so sorry to hear that Titan as injured, that must have been painful bless hem. Hope will recover soon
Yes he is on the mend, thanks for that. We were carrying him in and out for toilet stops. I just wonder if he knows that he got carried away a bit more than usual.
He looked so pitiful. But he is coming good wanting to do his little jobs again. And then he limps and we so no, not yet. He just loves to help us.
Poor old Titian - Iam jealous - we are living in Perth but home in NZ where it was 15C and raining on Christmas day - only danger to pets was drowning! I hadn't realised that could happend to dogs in a hot climate but I guess it makes sense really- I know some breeds can get sunburnt
Thanks for sharing this important warning, Eileen. I used to have what I called a small "pack" of dogs who loved the pool. I had to be really careful about the time of day and temperature, though, for this very reason. (Running around the pool on concrete can wear down the pads, like a scrape or brush burn, too, and certainly wear them down to be even more heat sensitive.)
Same thing holds for walking a dog on pavement, such as the hot asphalt of the parking lot in Florida... Think about it. Would the bottoms of your bare feet burn? If yes, then your dog shouldn't be walking there, either!
Thanks everyone for your comments. Yes you can buy dog socks.I checked it out. And yes caregiver I have written articles years ago about preventing this very thing from happening while walking dogs on pavements. I still try and explain to people nicely when I see them do it now.
I'm glad I found this hub, Eileen. I'm a new dog owner, and I have a lot to learn.
Last summer, when the temperature one day was in the high 90s F, my daughter pointed out to me that the dog was walking "funny", picking her feet up one after the other, very fast, is if prancing. As soon as my daughter said that, she and I both realized that Cinnie had been on black asphalt for more time than she should have. Of course, we got her off the road and onto grass right away, fortunately with no harm done.
I felt horrible for my dog, and I can imagine how you felt for poor Titan. Our dogs love us so much, want to be with us, and can't tell us -- unless we are "listening" with doggie ears -- that something is wrong, to the point that they would probably walk over hot coals for us.
After last summer's experience and today's reading of your hub, I know I will be especially vigilant once the hot weather arrives.
Sally 's trove, I just noticed that my name came up here but my comment to your comment didnt show. so am doing it now. Sorry what the saying better late than never. Yes, I agree with you about walking your dog on the road.
Ours had run around the pool every summer and chased the ball without any problems. this particular time. It must have been hotter. With terrible results. No more running around the pool for titan.
Another thing with this breed of dog. Even when throwing a ball or something for the dog to chase. We all need to be careful. Blue heelers go like a bull at a gate and often while chasing flat out he will roll so quickly and occasionally he has hurt his leg. He is so quick. Now I dont throw it so far just little throws so he cannot race after it. He hates that though. BUT we have to look after him, seeing as he won't go slow himself.
PRetty awful thing to happen. But accidents do happen, and hopefully the dog will recover completely and quickly.
Thanks tottie, yes he is great and recovered within just over a week. He races around as mad and fast as any other Blue heeler does. They just do not know how to go slow. Speed is the only thing they know. Thanks for dropping by
Eileen, so sorry to hear about Titan's incident...I'm glad he is doing much better, and thank you for getting the word out about how careful pet owners need to be!
lilymag, we all need to be responsible pet owners. If not then we should not have them in the first place. thats for sure.
omdelhi says:
2 years ago
Wow!, Amazing information on pet. keep it up.