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Pets

Overheated Dog Don’t Panic Be Proactive

Overheated dog: Dogs are man’s (and woman’s) best friend for sure which often means that we think they can do everything that we do. Unfortunately, this is not the case when it comes to tolerating the heat. In the summer months especially, it is important to be aware of the heat that your pup is exposed to and the risk it can pose to their health.

Overheated Dog and Heat Strokes 

How do you know if your dog is having a heat stroke?
If your dog is having a heat stroke, they will be panting and displaying other signs of discomfort. It is important to note that the dog won’t just be panting as they normally would, they will be doing so dramatically and showing other distress signs as well.

 Cooling Down An Overheated Dog?

So, your dog is overheated and you are panicked and trying to help them. The best thing to do is to get them out of the hot environment immediately, no matter the cost. This could mean cutting your trip to the beach a little short, but it is essential to your dog’s health. If your dog is unconscious, it is incredibly important to make sure that no water gets in the dog’s nose while you are going through these steps.

It may be tempting to give your dog a traditional medication like aspirin but professionals advise against doing this as it can lead to other problems down the road.

What Is The Fastest Way To Cool Down An Overheated dog?

If you can, you should get your dog to a bathtub and run a cool (NOT freezing cold) shower over them, focusing on the head and neck areas. This is the fastest way to lower the body temperature.

If you can’t get your pup inside, a garden hose and some kind of bowl/pool to catch the water in will work the same.

You can also try methods such as applying cold presses to the dog’s neck after the bath. A few other little things to try include rubbing the pup’s legs to increase circulation and letting them indulge in as much cold water as they want. Professionals suggest adding a pinch of salt to their water as this will help replace minerals lost during the time when the dog was overheated.

Preventive Measures

Luckily for dog owners, there are preventative measures that we can take to ensure that our pup does not get overheated. These include being aware of your pup’s physical state at all times as well as carrying plenty of water for your dog at all times and wearing a cooling cape.  Don’t take your dog along for your adventure if you know that the temperatures will make the dog uncomfortable and/or there is not a lot of shade. overheated dog

Is Your Pet Safe On A Hot Summer Day

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Pets

Dogs Sun Tanning Can They Get A Tan

Dogs Sun Tanning:Soaking up the sun on a gorgeous day is delightful for many of us, including our beautiful canine friends.

Can A Dog Get a Sun Tan

The Sunshine “D” Factor

Absorbing some healthy vitamin D into our pores is always a good thing for strong bones and muscles, but applying sunscreen is also the best way to prevent sunburn and the damage that can develop from the powerful UVA/UVB rays.

Who doesn’t enjoy the radiant, golden glow you get after a little time in the sun, but did you ever consider how the rays might affect your dog?

Hot Diggity Tan Lines

Just because your pet naturally wears a furry coat, he or she can still develop a suntan. That’s right; dogs sun bathing is not out of the question.

You and I may have a hard time noticing our pooches’ tan lines, but like us, dogs are also born with certain skin cells (melanocytes) that produce the natural pigment of melanin.

When exposed to direct sunlight, these melanocytes will produce enhanced levels of pigment.

A dog’s fur is a protective barrier of sorts, but exposed areas like the nose tip, ear tips and belly (underside area) have thinner fur or hairlessness. So those parts of your pooch can show a burn or tan, depending on how long the animal is out in the sun.

Sunscreen Made Fido-Style

Veterinarians recommend owners of dogs sun bathing to be mindful of their pets’ sensitivity to the strong rays and apply sunscreen. This routine is especially key for dogs with light-colored or white fur and those that might be hairless or with a thinner coat.

Yes, there is actually dog sunscreen to provide excellent protection for dogs sun tanning. Do not use your human sunscreen to apply on your pet because these formulas often contain an ingredient called zinc oxide. That inorganic compound is toxic to animals.

Dogs Sun Tanning Right Way

Dogs are very much like their human friends and can develop skin cancer when exposed to excessive sun. Dogs sun tanning is healthy for these amazing four-legged creatures when it’s properly done and precautions are taken. Allowing your pet to have access to shade is also important. Don’t forget to consider your pet’s safety.

Let’s face it; you and I enjoy soaking up the rays, and having our dogs sun tanning right beside us makes it that more special.

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For information on burned paws click here.

 

Four Legged Friend Fido

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People

Heat Intolerance Tips For People With Sarcoidosis

Heat Intolerance and Sarcoidosis suffers. No one likes being sick and  sensitive to heat, let alone being diagnosed with something  that may last for years on end with no real cure. Sarcoidosis is a disease just like that.

What Is Sarcoidosis

Officially, it is a collection of inflammatory cells in different parts of your body. These collections are called granulomas and are typically found in your lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and in patches on your skin. The clusters can also spread to other organs within your body. While treatment is possible, sarcoidosis is a chronic and often lifelong disease.

Side Effects  of Sarcoidosis

Some common symptoms of sarcoidosis include a persistent dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Another important side effect that develops is heat intolerance, or the inability to handle higher temperatures. People experiencing this combination often have “attacks” when they become overheated, and their fatigue can magnify. This increased sensitivity can cause many issues for patients, including major lifestyle changes in order to accommodate the symptoms of their disease.

 Managing Heat Intolerance

As frustrating as it can be, the sarcoidosis and heat intolerance combination doesn’t have to be the key turning the lock to a prison. There are ways of preventing attacks and managing the side effects, which puts you back in control of your life.

The first step in this is finding out what your triggers are. Is there a certain temperature that you just can’t tolerate, or is there a gradual increase in your symptoms after a point on the thermostat? Once you know where that line is, you can start working around it.

When it comes to planning activities, you can try to schedule them earlier in the morning or later at night. Missing events completely all the time will have you feeling lonely and left out, but if you are at least able to make a portion of them, it’s a step in the right direction.

During times when you are outside, you can try things like dressing in lighter colors. Dark colors will absorb more heat and end up making you miserable. Instead, try investing in lightweight shirts that are pale in color. You can always accessorize with brighter jewelry, hair, and shoes to keep your wardrobe looking fresh.

Another tip is to attempt to stay in the shade as much as possible when you’re outdoors. This allows you to enjoy nice weather without the sun beating down on you. You should also make sure you stay hydrated, and take frequent breaks to reassess your situation. Head for safety before things get out of control.

A final tip is to use cooling wraps or cooling garments like the one shown here.

Sarcoidosis Information

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People, Therapeutic Garments-Wraps

Sarcoidosis Information

Sarcoidosis Information:  Sarcoidosis is a disease of the lungs that commonly affects both men and women who are between the ages of 20 to 40 years old.  It is not known why  women seem to develop the disease more often than men though. Since there is no cure for the disease, it is important that those who have the highest risk of developing sarcoidosis understand what the cause, symptoms, and methods of treatment are.

https://youtu.be/59r1W-Qe-0w?t=39

Sarcoidosis Information

Cause

Doctors think that it may develop from the inhalation of foreign particles into the lungs. The body  covers the particles with a coating to protect the person from being injured by them. Over time, the coated particles grow in size and multiply, so a person ends up having blocked air passages.

Symptoms

The blocked air flow and distortion of the lungs from this disease causes a person to have a persistent cough and difficulty breathing. They may also develop a red rash on their skin, red eyes, and blurred vision. And if the sarcoidosis goes untreated, it can spread to the rest of the body, which can lead to an enlarged liver, kidney stones, and impairment of the nervous system response.

Treatment Options

The first step in treatment are medical tests to determine if a person has the disease. The test generally consist of   x-rays, a lung biopsy, or testing with a bronchoscopy.

There is very little sarcoidosis information on treatment options. Treating this disease is difficult because it seems to develop with little warning, and it disappears just as quickly. So there is no way to prevent its onset.

If a person gets to the doctor in time before it has a chance to spread throughout the body, they can receive steroids and anti-inflammatory medications that reduce the inflammation and swelling in the body though.

The medication  will help improve their breathing and reduce any of the other symptoms that they have.

Sarcoidosis What Is It?

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People

Sarcoidosis What Is It?

Sarcoidosis is a disease involving abnormal collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps known as granulomas.

Bodily Systems Effected By Sarcoidosis

The disease usually begins in the lungs, skin, or lymph nodes. Less commonly affected are the eyes, liver, heart, and brain.   Any organ, however, can be affected.

Bone, Joints, And Muscles

Sarcoidosis can be involved with the joints, bones and muscles. The pain occurs most frequently in the ankles, followed by the knees, wrists, elbows, and the joints of the toes and fingers.

Joint Pain Relief: Ice/Heat

Signs And Symptoms 

The signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis  depend on the organ involved.   Often there are no, or only mild, symptoms.  When it affects the lungs there may be wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

The Cause 

The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown.  Some believe it may be due to an immune reaction to a trigger such as an infection or chemicals in those who are genetically predisposed. Those with affected family members are at greater risk.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is partly based on signs and symptoms, which may be supported by biopsy. The diagnosis should only be made after excluding other possible causes of similar symptoms such as tuberculosis.

 Statistics

The risk of death is between one and seven percent.  There is a less than five percent chance of the disease returning in someone who has had it previously.

sarcoidosis
Bernie Died of Sarcoidosis  Click

In 2015 pulmonary sarcoidosis and interstitial lung disease affected 1.9 million people globally and they resulted in 122,000 deaths.

It is most common in Scandinavians but occurs in all parts of the world.

In the United States risk is greater among black as opposed to white people.

It usually begins between the ages of 20 and 50. It occurs more often in women than men.

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Pets

Is Your Pet Safe On A Hot Summer Day

Pet Safety In Very Hot Temperatures

Pet safety is very important during the summer months. Hot temperatures can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It’s difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results.

Pet Safety Tips From The Humane Society:

Pet Safety Tip #1  Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot car:  

Never leave your pets in a parked car, not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.

Pet Safety 2 Watch the humidity:

“It’s important to remember that it’s not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet,” says Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”

Taking a dog’s temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem. Dogs’ temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees. If your dog’s temperature does, follow the instructions for treating heat stroke.

Pet Safety #3 Limit exercise on hot days: 

Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

Pet Safety Tip #4 Don’t rely on a fan:

 Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don’t cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Pet Safety Tip #5 Provide ample shade and water:

 Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.

Pet Safety Tip #6 Cool your pet inside and out: 

Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.

Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they’ll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn’t find baths stressful, see if she enjoys a cooling soak.

Pet Safety Tip #7 Watch for signs of heatstroke: 

Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.

Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke: Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.

Pet Safety Tip #8 Prepare for power outages: 

Before a summer storm takes out the power in your home, create a disaster plan to keep your pets safe from heat stroke and other temperature-related trouble.

Dogs sun bathing the right way.

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Freezing Dogs: Deadly Winter Weather