Summertime in the south
- Thread starter dianachacho
- Start date
BaileyMarie
Forums Novice
When in doubt ask a vet
My baby Lucy was almost taken from me this week by heat stroke and she was only outside for maybe an hour,probably less. she is used to be being indoors and only going outside to go potty and walks(usually at night opr early morning to avoid getting overheated). she was rushed to the hospital and when she was finally in the clear the vet told me her coat needed to be cut down. there were other factors playing into this such as her collapsing treachea that was intensified by the heat(Southern Va is also very humid.) you can ask your groomer to use the "furminator" brush) or buy one yourself probably about $200.00. but if you still think your dog is struggling with the heat you can always ask your vet. Calling up there is free! Lucy's vet hears from me regularly about everything. there is not such thigs as being too concerned about your pets wellbeing. They even call me to ask how she is if they dont hear from me for a week or two now =]
My baby Lucy was almost taken from me this week by heat stroke and she was only outside for maybe an hour,probably less. she is used to be being indoors and only going outside to go potty and walks(usually at night opr early morning to avoid getting overheated). she was rushed to the hospital and when she was finally in the clear the vet told me her coat needed to be cut down. there were other factors playing into this such as her collapsing treachea that was intensified by the heat(Southern Va is also very humid.) you can ask your groomer to use the "furminator" brush) or buy one yourself probably about $200.00. but if you still think your dog is struggling with the heat you can always ask your vet. Calling up there is free! Lucy's vet hears from me regularly about everything. there is not such thigs as being too concerned about your pets wellbeing. They even call me to ask how she is if they dont hear from me for a week or two now =]
glad lucy is ok, however as long as the undercoat is raked out there is no need to "Summer" cut your sheltie, they live and survive in further south locations. Instead of a furminator which is around $50 invest in a $9 coat rake, it is much better for the coat which just pulls out the dead undercoat where as the furminator cuts the coat. The rake also pulls on them less so they dont mind it as much...
When I lived in FL and with my shelties, I just made sure I played with them early in the AM and than again after dusk. They spent from about 11am-4pm in the AC with potty breaks. You learn to play indoor games like we do up north when there is 5" of ice outside!!
When I lived in FL and with my shelties, I just made sure I played with them early in the AM and than again after dusk. They spent from about 11am-4pm in the AC with potty breaks. You learn to play indoor games like we do up north when there is 5" of ice outside!!
SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
I use an ancient version of this:
http://www.hartz.com/Hartz_Products...ools/3270098118_hartz_groomers_best_rake.aspx
on Sca. I think I gave under $10 and it works great (he is in for another round tonight) He is acclimated to the heat though he does love the fan when I have it on (inside or out)
As I stated in another thread they need water and shade at a minimum and of course any huge temperature change is bad (I bet Sca would suffer going from here to Canada in November also)
http://www.hartz.com/Hartz_Products...ools/3270098118_hartz_groomers_best_rake.aspx
on Sca. I think I gave under $10 and it works great (he is in for another round tonight) He is acclimated to the heat though he does love the fan when I have it on (inside or out)
As I stated in another thread they need water and shade at a minimum and of course any huge temperature change is bad (I bet Sca would suffer going from here to Canada in November also)
Noneeds4me
Forums Enthusiast
My gosh..I'm so glad she's ok!!!
Question for you regarding her trachea? We've been told Rookie has a "small trachea." He was a little guy when this was diagnosed. Was Lucy once diagnosed with a small trachea and now it's a "collapsing" trachea? I've always been a little extra watchful over Rookie's neck...if he gags, etc. Don't really know if as an "adult," his trachea was still be considered "small," but wanted to know how this came about for Lucy.
By the way, you can buy a Furminator pretty cheap online. Just look around ;-).
Interesting...My vet mentioned to me last visit that all shelties generally have a small trachea..I only brought it up to him because one of mine would choke after submerging her head in water I thought there was a problem with it...he responed well yeah her head is under water!
love my vet! MisfitBrian
Forums Enthusiast
Max here...as a born & raised Texan dog, I laugh at the heat. While my double coat protects me, my silly brother Fred can only take short runs when it gets above 100f like this week. I will lay on the patio in the sun to relax while Fred is panting away. If dad shaved me, he would be in big trouble! I know where his clippers are. 
While my double coat protects me, my silly brother Fred can only take short runs when it gets above 100f like this week. I will lay on the patio in the sun to relax while Fred is panting away. If dad shaved me, he would be in big trouble! I know where his clippers are.
SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
Max here...as a born & raised Texan dog, I laugh at the heat.
Yep after a day in the yard my sheep BETTER throw my frisbee and/or ball when he gets back from earning my food money.
Yankee dogs
Noneeds4me
Forums Enthusiast
Interesting...My vet mentioned to me last visit that all shelties generally have a small trachea..I only brought it up to him because one of mine would choke after submerging her head in water I thought there was a problem with it...he responed well yeah her head is under water!
LOL... simplicity, and the stating the obvious...I love it. Our doc isn't very well versed specifically on the shelties, so maybe he doesn't realize they all tend to have smaller tracheas. I've been a bit worried about it all this time, as I hadn't heard that before either. His thought was eventually Roo would likely have a problem with coughing, and need cough meds to help him out. I think it was during Roo's neutering that this came about. Roo was about 8 months old, if memory serves me right.