Summertime Safety

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The following article from the Hill’s Pet website is a good reminder, as we are in our warmest months, of precautions we should take and signs we should recognize to keep our dogs comfortable and safe.  Please take a couple of minutes to read it.  Our dogs are depending on us!

Overheating in dogs is not something to take lightly. As the weather heats up, it's important to remain aware of how the heat affects your pup. Heat exhaustion in dogs can lead to serious and potentially fatal conditions such as heat stroke and cardiac arrest. To help keep your dog safe and cool during the summer, here is the lowdown on signs that he’s overheating and how to prevent it: hint, a little water does wonders for keeping your pup cool.


Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Unlike people, dogs don't sweat out excess body heat. While your dog does have a few sweat glands located in his paws, these do little to help regulate his body temperature. Instead, he does this through rapid, open-mouthed breathing, called panting. But sometimes panting isn't enough to keep him from getting overheated.
Heat exhaustion in dogs can occur when the body temperature becomes elevated above the normal temperature. This varies slightly, according to PetMD.com, but it's generally agreed that temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit and higher are above normal. If the temperature continues to rise and reaches 106 or higher, your pup is in the danger zone for heat stroke, during which the organs begin to shut down and his heart could stop altogether.


Warning Signs
Fortunately, it's not difficult to spot signs of overheating in dogs. Excessive panting is the first symptom. A dangerously overheated dog, according to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, may collapse or experience convulsions, exhibit vomiting or diarrhea, and may also have gums or a tongue that turn blue or bright red. You may want to identify the problem before it gets that severe, though to intervene and prevent serious overheating. Early signs are more subtle - it may be as simple as your dog seems less responsive to commands than usual. When you call his name, instead of turning to look at you, he may wander away. If there is any question at all, get your dog out of the heat. The Humane Society of the United States adds that signs of potential heat stroke include glazed eyes, excessive drooling, a rapid heart rate, dizziness or lack of coordination, fever, lethargy, and loss of consciousness.


Risk Factors
While all dogs are at risk for overheating if the conditions are right, some breeds are more prone to it than others. This includes dogs with thick coats or long hair, very young or very old dogs, and brachycephalic breeds—those with short noses and flat faces, such as shih tzus, pugs, boxers, and bulldogs. Overweight dogs and those that suffer from medical conditions that cause difficulty breathing or heart problems are especially susceptible.
Extremely active dogs and working or hunting breeds (such as shepherds, retrievers, and spaniels) are also at a higher risk, especially during warm months. You should be careful to not push these dogs too hard, so make sure they get plenty of breaks to rest in the shade and that they are well-hydrated at all times.
Environmental factors can also place a dog at risk. Be aware not just of high temperatures, but also of high humidity, which can increase the chance of heat exhaustion in dogs. All dogs are at increased risk of overheating if they're not given adequate shade or another cooler place to relax indoors. And dogs left in a hot car are in serious danger of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.


What to Do if Your Dog Is Overheated
At the first sign of overheating, immediately take action to cool down your dog. Vetstreet recommends the following steps to treat heat exhaustion in dogs:
  1. Immediately move your dog to a cooler area, either indoors where there is air conditioning or in the shade under a fan.
  2. Use a rectal thermometer to check his temperature. Heat exhaustion typically occurs when a dog's temperature falls between 103 and 106 degrees. A temperature above 106 places him at risk for heat stroke. If he's in the danger zone, call your veterinarian.
  3. If you're near a body of fresh water, such as a lake or a baby pool, let your dog take a dip to cool down. Otherwise, you can use cool, wet cloths or towels to help him out. Place your cool wet cloths on his neck, armpits, and between his hind legs, and you can also gently wet his ears and paw pads with cool water.
  4. If he's conscious and willing to drink, give him cool, fresh water. Don't force it, however, as it may end up in his lungs. If he can't or won't drink, or can't keep water down, wet his tongue with water instead. Don't feed him ice cubes, which could cause his temperature to drop too quickly, leading to shock.
  5. Get him to the vet. If you haven't already done so, call ahead so they can be ready to take immediate action as soon as you arrive


Avoiding Heat Exhaustion in Dogs
Of course, the best cure is prevention. You can help keep your pooch from overheating with some basic safety practices. These include limiting exercise or outdoor activity on excessively hot or humid days, providing plenty of shade and water when your dog is outdoors, and NEVER, under any circumstances, leaving your pet in a parked car—not even in the shade with the windows rolled down. On mild days with temperatures in the 70s, the inside of a parked car can reach 120 degrees in minutes, making this an extremely dangerous environment to leave your dog, even for a short time.

If your pooch has energy to burn and needs some form of exercise in order to stay calm, take him swimming or let him run and play in the sprinkler before heading back indoors. You can also use a cooling body wrap or vest to help keep him cool without getting him wet. 

Additionally, if you take your dog on long walks it might be better to take him during the cooler hours of the day such as early in the morning or later in the evening (keep in mind hot sidewalks and pavement can burn his footpads). Be sure to keep water with you and let him take a break every once in a while. If you run with your dog make sure to not overdo it. Just as hotter temperatures make it harder for you to stay hydrated on a nice run, it's even more true for your pup.

If you'll be hunting or hiking with your dog, or if he has a job to do such as herding sheep or cattle, be sure to give your dog several breaks in the shade and make sure he has plenty of fresh water. Consider wetting him down or using a cooling vest while he's active, and keep a close watch on him for the first signs of overheating. Remember that working dogs tend to become so focused on their tasks that they don't realize when they need to rest and cool down. It's up to you to monitor your dog and make sure he gets the breaks he needs to stay healthy.

Finally, don't forget to put a plan in place for keeping your dog cool if the power goes out or the air conditioner stops working. As uncomfortable as you might be under such conditions, it's even worse for your dog, whose body temperature is already much higher than yours. If you plan to retreat to someplace cooler, be sure he'll also be welcome. Otherwise, consider leaving him at a kennel until it's safe for him to return home to cooler conditions.
Armed with the knowledge of how to recognize overheating, how to respond and how to avoid it in the first place, you can look forward to a safe, fun and happy summer with your four-legged friend.

Shaving you dog's coat - should you or shouldn't you?

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The weather is heating up, and while shaving your dog might seem like the quickest way to keep them cool, it could actually do more harm than good.  A dog’s coat is more than just fur; it plays a crucial role in regulating their body temperature. A dog's fur helps protect them from the sun's harmful UV rays and insulates them against both heat and cold. Shaving your dog can disrupt this natural temperature regulation and expose their skin to sunburn.

There are several different types of textures on dog’s fur, but in a general breakdown there are two coat types; single coated and double coated.  A single coat means that there is only a top (or over) coat that grows all over the body with no different undercoat.  Breeds such as Shih Tzus, Poodles, Bichons, for example, are ones with a single coat.  These breeds can be shaven generally with the only thing potentially occurring to the coat is over time it may become softer or it may have a slight color change.  Even with only a single coat you want to be careful on when you shave them, especially if you shave them right down, as this, although may appear to feel cooler, leaves the dog exposed to the possibility of sunburn.  A dog with a coat shaved right down in the height of summer should not spend any length of time in direct sunlight.  With the simple fact that there is only one coat the hair grows back normally and even after a shaving. 

A double coat means there is both a top (or over) coat made of tougher guard hairs and a bottom or (under) coat that is thick and soft.  Breeds such as Pomeranians, Shetland Sheepdogs, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, are examples of double coated dogs.  With a double coated dog they need to be groomed by brushing throughout the year but most heavily done  in the spring when a major shedding period occurs.  As the weather warms up the thick undercoat starts to do a complete shed, it detaches from the body and is often described as molting.  When you look at a dog in shed, they have “tufts” of fur that is soft and dense peaking through the longer guard hairs of the topcoat, this is called molting. 

All this dense undercoat needs to be brushed out of the dog or Stage 3  from the top image above occurs.  The coat becomes impacted and matted, preventing air from being able to move between the dog’s topcoat and their skin.   Once all this undercoat is removed the air can circulate between and through the hairs of the topcoat keeping the dog cool, while the topcoat keeps the skin protected from the sun.  This topcoat can also protect the dog’s skin from fly and mosquito bites.
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Some may ask, "why not shave them and just keep them out of the sun?"  For one, they may not actually be cool even if they are out of the sun, the topcoat can help to keep the heat off the skin itself  and unlike people dogs do not sweat through their skin.  Dogs sweat by panting and in all but northern breeds, through the pads of the feet.  Shaving them actually removes some of their natural ability to stay cool.  Another reason is that when the hair does begin to grow back it tends to do strange things.  For some, it may mean having patches that don’t grow at all, or that don’t grow both types of coat layers (top and under), older dogs often have issues with proper regrowth and then for others (which happens most often) the undercoat grows in faster than the topcoat (since the topcoat isn’t meant to shed extensively it grows extremely slowly) so now that protective topcoat is matted into the undercoat. Dogs like this generally appear as though they have thyroid issues.  The hair looks fuzzy and varies in length all over the body.  This doesn’t mean the coat will forever stay this way.   Most of the time with regular brushing and the next shed cycle the topcoat will get longer while the undercoat sheds away, eventually leaving the coat the way it once was with long topcoat guard hairs and a thick shorter undercoat.  One other thing to note about those topcoat guard hairs – they actually prevent the dog from getting wet.  Due to the coarseness of the guard hairs water rolls off of this topcoat keeping the undercoat dry, which in the winter is important to keeping the dog warm and dry.

All of this being said there may be times where it is necessary to shave a double coated dog.  In surgical/medical situations the coat must be shaved or if the undercoat has become so matted it can not be combed out, shaving is the only solution.  Once the coat begins to grow in, keeping them brushed and free of matting will prevent the need to shave them in the future.

Bottom line?

The ideal situation:  Keep the hair brushed, remove all the undercoat and allow the dog to remain with their natural ability to keep themselves cool and protected from the sun and some bug bites in the summer and warm and dry in the winter.

How Do We Know When It Is Time To Say Good-Bye?

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It's a topic that no one really wants to talk about, yet as pet owners, it's likely something we all will face - saying good-bye to our beloved best friends.

While some pets die of old age in the comfort of their own home, many others become seriously ill, get injured in some way, or experience a significantly diminished quality of life as they grow very old.  In these situations, it may be necessary to consider having your pet euthanized in order to spare it from pain and suffering.  Deciding to euthanize your beloved pet may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. 

Talk to your veterinarian as he or she is the best qualified person to help guide you through this difficult process.  In some cases, your veterinarian may be able to tell you definitively that it is time to euthanize your pet, but in other cases, you may ultimately need to make the decision based on your observances of your pet’s behavior and attitude. 

Here is an article to help in deciding when our pets are still okay and when they are showing signs that may indicate they are suffering or no longer enjoying a good quality of life.
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Pet Quality of Life
http://lapoflove.com/Pet_Quality_of_Life_Scale_DrMcVety.pdf

The Quality of Life Scale allows you to evaluate your dog’s well-being to help you make difficult end-of-life care decisions. Originally known as the HHHHHMM Scale, this evaluation tool was created by Dr. Alice Villalobos, DVM, founder of Pawspice—a quality of life program for terminal pets—as a scoring system for a pet’s life quality.
Use the Quality of Life Calendar to evaluate your dog every day and mark your pup’s score on a calendar to keep track of their good and bad days. The scale gives you tangible ways to measure your pet’s appetite, mobility, energy, pain levels, and overall well-being. Then your vet can help you decide what type of care your pet needs or if it’s best for your pet to let them go.
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The 3-3-3 Rule of Adopting a Rescue Dog

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Congratulations! You’ve just adopted a new dog!   Like humans who move to a new community, your new pet needs some time to get used to their new surroundings.  That’s why SGRR's adoption coordinators talk about the "Rule of Three," a timeline that gives you an idea of how your dog will adjust after three days, three weeks, and three months.

Here’s what should happen three days after you acquire a new dog:
  • This is a major period of adjustment, because while your home may be roomy and inviting, the dog has to get used to living in an environment different from an animal shelter or their previous home.
  • A dog may sleep a lot in the first three days, or be easily aroused or excited by its new surroundings. This all depends on the animal’s personality.
  • The pet will need to learn what is good or bad behavior in your house. For example, no sleeping on the furniture, no gnawing on shoes like they are chew toys, no going potty in the house.
  • Be patient with your dog in these opening days, and give them plenty of time and patience. Perhaps your pet will need positive-reinforcement training classes so it properly behaves in your house, but keep in mind, improvements are on the horizon!

After three weeks:
  • The dog will be more used to your daily routine such as when it is time to take a walk and when it is feeding time.
  • You will see more of the dog’s personality begin to develop, and they should be less fearful than those opening days when they first arrived at your home.
  • By this time, you will have narrowed down the dog’s behavioral problems considerably. A dog training professional can help teach the dog the difference between what’s right and wrong, if there are any persistent issues.

After three months:
  • Most dogs know they are welcome in your home and understand the rules.
  • Your patience will have paid off, and the two of you can live together and become lifelong companions!

Why Rescue?


Our Goldens and Golden-hearted dogs make wonderful pets.  We want our applicants to also know that rescued dogs come from a variety of backgrounds. Some dogs are older dogs, including well-behaved and cared for pets whose owners have become ill or died.  Many rescued dogs will require continued behavioral work due to a lack of training, neglect, or abuse in the dog’s previous setting. A patient and loving owner can make all the difference.  From experience, we know that these dogs with “endearing imperfections” can move forward, provided their new family gives them necessary guidance and direction. The joys of seeing these dogs become the devoted and contented pets they were meant to be is remarkable. 

New to SGRR...?

Want to Learn More About Us...?

We at Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue take the job of finding the best possible forever homes for our dogs very seriously.  The adoption process is thorough so that we can learn as much as possible about those to whom we entrust our precious pups.  Once a dog is placed with an approved adopter, they are welcomed into the SGRR family and given the tools and support to make the adoption successful.  We have gathered comments from some of our adopters who are happy to tell you how they feel about us!  You can read more comments on our Get to Know Us! page.

Kelly

One of our adopters created this cool video to tell you about his experiences with SGRR.   We are excited and proud to share it with all of you.  Click the button below and enjoy!

Support SGRR While You Shop through iGive

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Click to shop at iGive
Shop at 1,000+ Top-Notch Online Stores.  The iGive mall includes: Pottery Barn, REI, Staples, Petco, Expedia, Best Buy, QVC and many more. Best of all, up to 26% of your purchase at each store is donated to SGRR when you sign up with the provided link.

Donate to SGRR or Pay the Adoption Fee

There are a number of ways to donate to SGRR.  SGRR is designated as a 501c(3) organization which means your donations are tax-deductible.  You can make a donation to our general fund or designate your donation for a specific purpose such as a memorial or a tribute.  Please use the Paypal option below or mail a check to:  SGRR, PO Box 403,  Fairhope, AL  36533.

Paypal

Single Payment
Use for a single donation or to pay an adoption fee.
Recurring Donation

Venmo

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You may use Venmo to make a donation or to pay the adoption fee when you are matched with a dog.  


Payments through Venmo should be sent to --  SGRR@Sunshine-Goldens

Sponsor a Dog

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If you would like to provide for the care of a particular dog's needs, you may sponsor that dog.  Please use  Paypal or  mail a check to:  SGRR, PO Box 403,  Fairhope, AL  36533.  We will then note you as a sponsor on the dog's dedicated bio page. 

We thank you in advance for your generous support! 

J.Lilienne Custom Candles

Introducing a clever and unique way to celebrate your furry friend’s birthday, Gotcha day, graduation- any special event or occasion!  J.Lilienne Custom Candles will create a customized candle complete with your pet’s picture, biography or rescue story and picture.  

A custom candle can also serve as a wonderful, affordable memorial to your beloved pet when he/she makes the inevitable journey across the the Rainbow Bridge.  The soft light and subtle fragrance will be a sweet reminder of the love you have shared.

Please check out their website to learn more about J.Lilienne Custom Candles Pet Collection.  

SPECIAL OFFER FOR SGRR FRIENDS!!  ENTER COUPON CODE: SGRR AT CHECKOUT FOR 25% OFF!

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