The heat wave started much earlier than normal here in the South. While taking Gracie for a walk one afternoon, I noticed that she abruptly decided that she would not take another step. She does this if she has found something intriguing in a direction I do not want to go. She also does this when she is too hot in the summer time. Usually, though, she makes a beeline for her favorite bed of clover, which is in the shade of a giant weeping willow tree. This day, though, she stopped where she was.
It finally occurred to me what the problem might be. We were at a point in the driveway where it is all gravel, no grass anywhere. I touched the gravel. It was hot. Can you blame her for not wanting to walk further? I scooped her into my arms and carried her back to the portion that had grass on which she could walk. We returned to the house, where she cooled down with a bowl of cold water.
I know all of you are responsible pet owners who would never leave your buddy in a parked car. Heat stroke is not simply a “locked in the car” problem. It can happen on walkies or any other time. The article for which I have attached a link is worth reading:
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/blog/Avoiding-Canine-Heat-Stroke-20306-1.html
I hope you find this article as interesting as we did. Happy summer!
Rescue Mommy
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