Issue Date: June 16, 2002

Also this week: Busy people, needy pets: Pets and the celebs who love them

Special Pets Report

As the dog days approach ...

Check out these summer solutions to help your pet.

By Steve Dale

Each summer, people who say they love their dogs kill them. According to the AAA Chicago Motor Club, if it's 85 degrees outdoors, in 15 minutes your car's dashboard can heat up to 170 degrees -- even if you leave the windows cracked open.

"If it's that hot, you wouldn't sit in a car for 15 minutes," says Larry Fox, former president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. "Leaving a dog inside a car when it's hot outside is reckless and downright inhumane." And leaving a pet unattended in a hot car is now illegal in many places.

"The sad thing is that heat stroke in dogs can nearly always be avoided," says West Hamryka, president-elect of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association.

And hot weather can raise other concerns for pets, too. Some dogs know enough to stop playing endless fetch games when they're too hot, but others keep on going. These fetch machines can break down. "It's your job to end the game before your dog gets sick," Fox says. "At some point, enough fetch is enough. Dogs aren't capable of cooling themselves as efficiently as people." So, on very hot days, play with your dog outdoors early in the morning or after sunset.

Big dogs and those with pushed-in noses, like pugs, Shih Tzus and Pekingese, are most susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs with light-colored coats stay a tad cooler than those with darker coats.

One way to keep Fido cool can be found on the end of a garden hose: Many dogs relish showers. A kiddie pool works for small or mid-sized dogs. "Don't leave a dog in the yard for long hours without shelter [to protect against the sun] and a source of water," Hamryka cautions.

Some dogs actually get hotter today than back in Grandma's day because they're not acclimated to the outdoors. Many pampered pups spend their time snoozing in front of air conditioner vents, not outside in sweltering temperatures as their "great-granddog" did. Even dogs living without air conditioning appreciate relief. During a heat wave, give your dog a frozen treat: Freeze chicken bouillon in an ice-cube tray to create "cluck-sicles." Floor fans can be cooling, as long as puppy paws can't reach through the grating. Or just fill a plant mister with ice water and periodically squirt your hot pooch.

Some other remedies for hot-weather concerns:

Getting skunked: Step No. 1: Get a clothespin that's for your nose. No. 2: Scrub your pooch in a solution of 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap. No. 3: Rinse. No. 4: Scrub with a solution of a quart of tomato juice and a quart of water. No. 5: Rinse. No. 6: Go out while the odor subsides. (Over-the-counter products also can fight skunk stench.)

Cats in trees: In most places, if you call the local sheriff or fire department to fetch a cat from a tree, you'll only hear an amused operator scoff, "You've got to be kidding!" If you do persuade emergency personnel to respond, you'll likely be charged a fee. Otherwise, be patient. Veterinary clinics rarely report treating cats that have fallen from trees. Emergency rooms, however, sometimes treat people who have fallen trying to rescue their feline friends. Entice your kitty with an open can of tuna placed in lower branches or at the base of the tree, then walk away and wait for hunger to overcome fear.

Bubble gum on paws or in fur: Mix vegetable oil and low-fat peanut butter, then gently rub on the area. If it doesn't budge, try Goo Gone (available where cleaning supplies are sold).

Poisonous critters: If rattlers come into your yard, don't leave Fido outdoors without supervision. In the Southwest, there are trainers who teach dogs to avoid snakes. Don't try to suck the venom from a snake bite; hightail it to a vet clinic. And if Fido taste-tests a toad, he may be playing with fire -- the cane toad and others are toxic to dogs -- so call your vet.

Bee stings: A dog may not notice a single bee sting, but dogs investigating hives tend to suffer many stings, which can cause problems. If the face begins to swell, it may affect the pet's ability to breathe, so call your vet.

Eating grass: No one knows why dogs do this. "It may be medicinal, but probably it just tastes good," Fox says. No matter; unless there are pesticides or there's slug or snail bait (which is potentially deadly), the only serious harm may be to your carpeting if your dog throws up.

Steve Dale last wrote about indoor cats for USA WEEKEND Magazine.