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My wife and I are compulsive about walking our dogs for at least
an hour each afternoon from about 4:30 to 5:30 or 6:00. I feel
that this acclimatizes my Chow. However temperature changes do
concern me. I live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.
We do have temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees occasionally. Usually
when this happens we will go out a couple hours later maybe even in
the dark. Temperatures do drop in the evening but not too quickly.
I did read one sad story a couple years ago. A fellow in Hawaii
took his Chow out for a two-mile jog. As I recall, it was about
the midpoint when the dog showed signs of discomfort. The man went
home for his car and drove the dog home but didn't go immediately to
the veterinarian. The dog died. I don't know what the ambient temperature was.
Not everyone knows that a dog's tongue changes as the dog's temperature
rises. When we begin our walk, Bruno's tongue starts out black and
leathery. Then it thickens a bit. Next it lightens to a dark purple
color. The books say that I should take him to the Vet when the tongue
changes color but as I said, he seems to be acclimatized. One of these
times I'll take his temperature and compare it to tongue color. Normal
temperature for a dog is 100 to 102.5 degrees F (rectal). Average is 101.3
degrees F. This temperature information is from the Dog Owner's Home
Veterinary Handbook by Carlson and Giffin.
I always
take water along with me and when the weather is warm, I stop every 20
minutes or so to give Bruno a drink. Often Bruno will walk over to a
shady spot and lay down. I don't force him but I'm not sure that my wife
is as considerate. When we return home, I wait 30 to 60 minutes for him
to cool down before I give him his evening meal.
Chows can be kept successfully in warm climates. There are Chow owners and
breeders in the southern states who just use common sense in caring for their dogs.
Shaving is something to consider. Serious breeders will not shave the coat
of a show champion for obvious reasons. And of course too close a shave can
leave the dog unprotected from the sun since a dog's skin does not tan. But
the idea that the coat keeps the dog cool . . . Would a heavy sweater and a wool
overcoat keep you cool?
Do I shave Bruno? No.
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