The Retriever dog breed is not made to sustain extreme temperatures. Too hot and too cold season causes harm to their health. Both Golden and Labrador retriever dog families can show signs of sickness in the summer season.
The topic of this article is to inform you about how to handle the health of the retriever dog during summer. During summer, the dogs, in general, are bound to have heat stroke issues. Your retriever cannot on his own avoid the summer. It’s your responsibility to use the knowledge you gain in the article for the better maintenance of the retriever dog.
First, we shall look at the symptoms that occur with heatstroke and summer season in general and then I will give you the required information that will go long way in helping your retriever to stay comfortable in the summer season everywhere. Just take your notes and revisit them every year and you are good to go.
Dangers of Taking Your Retrievers for the Game on Hot Days
There are several dangers of taking the retrievers for the game during a hot day. For instance, the Retriever can develop heatstroke; it is a severe condition that can be fatal if it is not taken proper care.
The Lab will show signs of discomfort, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, your Labrador can collapse. Retrievers love summer just like humans, but they do not have enough sweat glands to regular their body temperature.
There are only a few of the sweat glands located on their paws. You need to ensure you help the Labrador in regulating the temperature by avoiding too much exposure to the sun.
Panting
When a Retriever is exposed to too high temperatures, it will regulate the temperature through panting. It is a common sign of a Retriever being affected by heat during the hot summer. Retrievers pant as a way of releasing too much heat from their bodies.
If you notice your Lab is panting too much, then it is an indication the body temperature is rising. Try to take the Golden to a shaded area to help it regulate its temperature.
Other issues with the heat
There are several issues related to heat in Retrievers. For instance, you will notice your Retriever will show signs of discomfort if you expose it to too much heat. The Labrador will be unwilling to move due to the high temperatures, which make it uncomfortable.
In some cases, the Lab can start vomiting and diarrhea. Fever and uncoordinated movements can set in if you keep on exposing the Golden to too much heat.
Symptoms of Heatstroke in Golden and Labrador Retrievers
There are several symptoms you need to note in golden and Labrador retrievers. Some of the symptoms include the following:
1. Excessive panting
Your Lab will start panting too much if it is exposed to too much heat. If you had taken the Golden out to play and it ends up panting too much, then you need to be careful because the Retriever may have been exposed to too much heat. Look for ways of making the Labrador cool down.
2. Reddened gums
Too much heat can lead the Retriever to develop red gums. Remember too much heat leads to a lot of water loss from the Retrievers, which can make them develop the red gums as a sign of dehydration.
3. Glazed eyes
The Retriever will not be comfortable if it is left on the sun for long. It will develop glazed eyes, indicating something is wrong. If you had left the Labrador on direct sunlight, then you need to ensure you move it to a place where it will lower its body temperature.
4. Vomiting
Too much heat can lead to vomiting in Labs. It is a common sign which you need to check out and take necessary actions to avoid cases where the Retriever will be exposed to high levels of heat, which can affect its life.
Remember, heat strokes can lead to death in Retrievers if not checked out early.
5. Mental dullness
If your Retriever is not responding to commands the way it used to, then there are high chances it is suffering from mental dullness. You need to take necessary actions and look for ways you can cool the Retriever down or risk developing adverse complications.
6. Lack of coordination
When the Retriever has been exposed to too much heat, it can end up with a lack of coordination. If you notice such signs, then you need to act fast and help the Lab out before it is too late.
Ways to handle heat stroke in retrievers
There are several ways you can handle heatstroke in your Retriever. First, you need to look for ways you can cool down the Labrador. There are several ways you can go about it.
First, you need to look for ways you can make the Golden cooldown. Here are some of the tips to beat heatstroke in retrievers:
#1 Use a shade for your Retriever’s resting place
Never let your Retriever rest in a place where it is directly under the sun. Look for a place where the Labrador can have shade. You can use your umbrella or take it near a tree where it will have shade.
In most cases, the Golden will start looking for shade when the temperature rises. If you have a leash, you need to let the Retriever move close to the shade to avoid incidences where it will be exposed to too much heat, which can affect its life.
#2 Train him for swimming and take him to the swimming pool
The best activity you can involve your Retriever during hot summer is swimming. Train her to swim and make efforts to move her close to the swimming pool. The Retriever will jump into the water and swim, which will cool her down.
If you are after a way you can keep the Labrador temperature under control and at the same time enjoy your free time with the Golden, then you need to take advantage of the swimming pool.
#3 Use frozen food
Each time you feed your Retriever, you need to use frozen food. The cold food will contribute toward lowering the temperature of your Retriever, which is very necessary for managing the body temperature of the Labrador.
There are several brands of frozen Retriever foods in the market, choose the best which can work well for your Retriever.
#4 Avoid stomach problems by limiting food intake before exercise and game
To make your Labrador comfortable as you exercise, you need to ensure the Retriever eats just enough food to avoid stomach problems. Remember the Retriever will not be comfortable if it has stomach problems and you will like it to play at the same time.
#5 Watch out for signs of dehydration
Your Retriever will develop mental dullness and glazed eyes when exposed to too much heat. If you notice the lab is becoming dull, then you should be cautious because it can be a sign of dehydration. You need to act fast and provide water before the situation gets out of hand.
#6 During hot days, don’t use a crate
To allow the Retriever to move freely and cool down, you should avoid using the box during the hot day. In a crate, there is no free circulation of air which can even contribute to severe cases of heatstroke in Retrievers.
#7 Use air conditioning in the car and never leave him alone in a car
Many people love taking their Retrievers with them. If you are among those who love traveling with your Golden, then you should be careful during hot days.
In your car, the temperature can go too high. Each time you are in the car with the Retriever, you need to use air conditioning so that you can keep the Retriever calm.
#8 Keep your vets contact ready for any emergency
There are cases where the heatstroke can be severe to an extent where you would like to call the vet for help. In such a case, you need to have your vet contact number ready.
To be secure, you can as well have contact numbers of several vets so that you can increase the chances of getting one who is prepared to attend to your Retriever as fast as possible.
#9 Use the sprinkles
To cool the Retriever down, you need to take advantage of the sprinklers. They will provide the necessary cooling effect your Retriever needs to enjoy the hot summer. As a way of administering first aid to the Golden, you can utilize the sprinklers before you can call a vet.
#10 Asphalt Trails Problems
Your Retriever can develop injury to the paws, paw pads and the legs if you let it run on asphalt. Asphalt is a hard surface that exposes the Retrievers to high impact. You need to look for ways you can make the Retriever comfortable.
If you would like to go out jogging or running with your Golden, then you may have to choose a natural surface such as on grass to run with the Retriever. The hard surfaces are likely to expose the Retriever to injury.
Heat Stroke vs Heat Exhaustion in Dogs
Heatstroke is a severe medical emergency caused by too much heat. It can lead to organ failure and even death if not checked in time. It is different from heat exhaustion, which is high-temperature levels, which lead to too much panting in Retrievers.
When you expose the Golden to too much heat, it will develop heat exhaustion; if the Retriever is not moved to the shade, it will heat further, which then lead to heatstroke. Health conditions for retrievers during heat stroke
When a Retriever is exposed to heat stroke, it starts developing conditions such as diarrhea, vomiting, mental dullness, and redness of gums. In some cases, the Retriever can faint, which can then lead to organ failure.
It is necessary to take action before it is too late and check on the health of the Retriever if you suspect it has been exposed to heatstroke.
Conclusion on Heat Stroke Recovery in Retriever Dogs
As I said before, take a pen and paper to make notes out of this article. You can also bookmark this page. Summer is going to create trouble for your retriever dog every year. It’s your best bet to provide the best possible care to him in summer.
For retrievers, heatstroke is very difficult to recover from. Thus it’s in your best interest that you avoid it in the first place. The above symptoms and the cure will go a long way in helping the dog to stay healthy. Without your action, he cannot achieve good health.
Your last best chance is your vet. If all efforts fail then don’t waste time and take your retriever dog to the vet for necessary care.
References
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2006.tb02821.x
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23328940.2017.1367457
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