Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Summertime, more than any other season, is the most popular choice for hiking and for all the right reasons. With the perfect amount of humidity in the air and a temperature that’s suited to strenuous activity, it does take the lead as the best time to go for an outdoor adventure.

However, if you’re planning to go hiking with a dog this time, then you may have to be wary of certain factors. For one, keeping your dog’s body temperature at bay has to be one of the most challenging tasks. In fact, according to the Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART), overheated dogs are among the most frequent cases they deal with.

The best way to prevent this problem from taking an ugly turn is to recognize certain warning signs and learn how to keep your dog cool when you’re hiking on a hot day.

How Can You Recognize a Heat Stroke?

If it were up to your dogs, they would keep running and playing forever. This is what makes detecting a problem even more difficult because your dog may not even display obvious symptoms until the condition gets severe. However, if the temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you may want to put your hiking plans on hold.

Keep an eye on the following signs to determine whether your pet dog is going through a heat stroke:

Dizziness
Extreme fatigue
Extreme panting
Thick saliva
Rapid heart rate
Vomiting
Pale or red tongue and gums

Remember, ignoring signs of a heat stroke can lead to severe consequences, such as seizures, cardiac arrest, coma and even death if not paid heed to or treated in time. Hence, the moment you notice any of the stated signs, stop hiking, take a breather, get your dog to drink some water and take them to the vet immediately.

Emergency Tips to Cool a Dog’s Body Temperature Down

If your dog’s body ends up getting overheated, you must intervene immediately. Keep in mind that you can go right and wrong in your approach, which is why you should be wary of the following:

Don’t Try to Cool Your Dog Down Too Quickly

Doing so can cause them to go into a state of shock. You should start by slowly applying water to their body. An even better way to do this would be to use a piece of cloth, soak it in water and place it over their head.

You can then slowly move it to their chest, belly, paws and groin. It doesn’t take them long to get back to their regular temperature, so don’t make the mistake of going too fast.

Have Them Drink Water

Again, you don’t have to push them too hard to drink water. However, you can still place a bowl full of water near them and prompt them to drink from it every few minutes. This way, you will be able to hydrate their body, reducing the effects of heatstroke even more.

Keep Them In Shade

If you notice even a minor symptom of a heatstroke, the first course of action would be to cool them down using water. However, at the same time, you should also look for a place with loads of shade and move them there.

Here, you can let them rest for a while before returning to your vehicle. Remember to take every step with caution. Going too fast or too slow with these tips can both be hazardous to your dog’s health.

Tips to Keep Your Dog’s Body Temperature Leveled on a Hot Day’s Hike

While the idea is to avoid going outdoors when the temperature is extremely high, it doesn’t necessarily mean that outdoor adventures are a complete no-go during hot weather.

All you have to do is change your approach to hiking and prepare well, and most importantly, keep the following tips in mind.

Don’t Hike In the Afternoon.

Since the sun’s radiation is at its peak at certain hours of the day, you may want to steer clear of it. Hence, hiking in the morning, especially before sunrise may be a better solution.

You may be wondering if it is the absence of the sun that you need, why not hike in the evening? Well, heat still radiates from the ground after the sun sets as compared to before it rises when the ground is relatively cooler.

Protect Their Paw Pads

Your dog’s paws are the most sensitive parts of their body, and walking on hot surfaces can cause them to heat up quickly. So, protecting them from sand, dirt trails, rocks, and other surfaces that radiate heat requires adequate coverage in the form of dog boots or paw wax.

Hike on Trails with Shade

While hiking on a hot day is quite a challenge, it is possible to minimize the impact of heat by opting for trails with plenty of shade. Hence, hike in areas with high elevation or those near a source of water, so the air is comparatively cooler.

Last but not least, make sure to learn everything about the hike before you head out. However, altitude sickness is also a prevalent condition among many dogs, so do your research before going to a high elevation spot.

Hydrate, Hydrate and Hydrate!

Carry enough water bottles for you and your dog. This is because, at the end of the day, body temperature regulation has more to do with protecting your dog from the inside than the outside. If their body is sufficiently hydrated, you can significantly reduce their chances of having a heat stroke.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, going hiking with your pet dog may be the best way to rejuvenate and strengthen your bond. However, without adequate knowledge and proper preparation, you may expose them to a range of issues, especially on a hot summer day’s hike. Hence, make sure to keep the stated tips at your fingertips at all times and protect your canine buddy safe in hot weather.

by Maria A Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.