Urgent and Important Info for your Greyhounds Health! With the hot temperatures today, you need to be aware of the DANGERS to your hound on hot days! A MUST READ!! ******************** Well-meaning adopters want to give their greyhounds freedom to run and exercise, but it must be understood that unlike humans, dogs do not possess the ability to gauge their fitness and adjust their level of effort accordingly. Retired racers, depending on how long they’ve been off the track and how compromised their physical health might be, are at serious risk for experiencing critical problems when allowed to over-exert themselves in heat conditions. Close supervision of retired racing greyhounds’ exercise routines, particularly those new to their homes, is important for all adopters. Greyhounds who appear to tire quickly, pant excessively, and/or appear to be reluctant to move after exercise, should be limited to mild or moderate exercise and then, only under supervision. Close attention to heat and humidity in the environment is paramount in protecting a vulnerable greyhound from heatstroke. A conditioning program similar to that of a human athlete (gradual increase in intensity of workouts) should be implemented before allowing retired racers to engage in physical activities which substantially increase heart rate and respiration, particularly in heat and/or humidity. The Symptoms Under conditions of exertion that produce very rapid breathing accompanied by obvious pain, discomfort and/or weakness, the dog needs immediate professional attention. Muscle pain along the back or in the legs (particularly the hind legs) is an indication of serious injury from heat exhaustion. Occasionally, the dog will exhibit distress by acting confused and appear to have difficulty lying down - changing positions from standing to lying down can be very painful. There may be a tendency for the dog to drag the hind legs while walking, scraping the nails along the ground. Your swift response to these symptoms can mean the difference between life and death. Take ACTION!!!! As quickly as possible, the dog should be transported to a veterinarian. Steps should be taken to cool the dog with whatever means are available while awaiting transportation. Move the dog to an air conditioned home or car; cold, wet blankets or towels draped over the body and changed frequently; ice or cold water on the feet; shade - any or all of the above will improve your dog’s chances for survival. Cold therapy should be discontinued when the body temperature returns to normal (102.5 degrees). At that time, the dog should be kept in an environment that is at about 72 degrees. Once you arrive at the veterinarian’s office, it is imperative to let them know this is an emergency heat stroke case. Most veterinarian’s offices are familiar with the need to treat these cases without delay. Most cases of heat exhaustion require IV fluids to stabilize the dog. This will mean leaving your dog at the vet’s office for at least 24 hours if not several days, depending on the severity of the case. Remember! Their life is in your hands - be sensible AND observant!
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 22:20:55 +0000
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