I have crossposted this from a greyhound site as I know until last year I was not aware of the added dangers greyhounds face compared to other breeds in the hot weather, so I hope you will find this as helpful as I did. Okay folks its that time of year again and the weather is pushing up in the degrees. As we have so many new owners etc joining us since last years hot weather I think we all need to read and remember and take note again! THIS IS A BIG RISK AND A BIG KILLER IN DOGS especially fast moving running dogs. Hyperacute Exertional Rhabdomyolysis "For any sighthound owner who isnt aware of this condition as the weather is how it is now you need to read the link below. This is the second most potentially lethal inflicted illness hounds can suffer aside of bloat. To add be aware that even though the sun isn't shining humidity can also have the same adverse effect on your hound. If you want to walk your dog when its hot then the ideal time is first thing in the early morning. The ground has not been heated up by being in the sun all day, if you walk in the cooler evening bear in mind the heat coming up from the ground even though the air will feel cooler to you, your hound's body is much closer to the ground with more surface area exposed to ground heat than your own. What also needs pointing out is that HER is NOT just heat and humidity affected!!! HER can strike dogs at ANY time simply by over excercising. Greyhounds are very prone to the condition and there by default are lurchers. Allowing unfit dogs to chase bunnies, hares, run to hard off leash with other dogs etc can put them all at risk at anytime. If you have any concerns that after off leash excercise your dog seems unduly tired check it out with a vet, the condition can escalate as age progresses etc. Greyhounds are athletes short distance dogs and being allowed to continuously run or play off leash on all walks can be a huge contribuiting factor." http://www.gcnm.org/heatstroke.html Heatstroke in Greyhounds: What You Need to Know By Judy Kody Paulsen, Founder (Excerpt from Spring/Summer 2007 issue of GCNM News) I am grateful for the help of Suzanne Stack, DVM, in preparing this article. Dr. Stack is a 1985 Ohio State graduate currently practicing near her home in Yuma, Arizona. Previously, she served as a State Racing Board Veterinarian in Wisconsin and as a track vet in Texas at Valley Greyhound Park. Dr. Stack worked closely with Arizona Adopt a Greyhound (AAGI) for a number of years and still volunteers with that group. The relative lack of information on canine heat-related and exertional ailments is alarming, considering how common the occurrence is among dogs of all breeds, particularly greyhounds. Not surprisingly, there is contradictory information on how to handle these sometimes fatal catastrophes. Racing greyhounds are finely-tuned athletes and are usually conditioned by professional trainers. A racer’s performance while training and racing is (or should be) closely monitored. The onset of heatstroke or another debilitating and potentially life-threatening muscle disorder called hyperacute exertional rhabdomyolysis (HER) are two things no trainer wants to see. Varying degrees of heat/exertional illness require specific treatment approaches to avoid permanent damage to muscle fibers, kidneys, and other organs. An experienced greyhound trainer has the expertise to recognize when a greyhound has been afflicted with one of these medical crises and knows the urgency in administering appropriate treatment. Once the greyhound has left the racing environment and is lucky enough to be adopted, there are still numerous perils to which the dog may be exposed. One of the most common, yet least considered dangers, is that of over-exertion. 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. Both hyperacute exertional rhabdomyolysis and heatstroke can kill a greyhound, particularly an unfit one. Physical effects can vary, but these two urgent conditions can show similar signs, including heavy panting; generalized muscle pain as evidenced by showing sensitivity to touch; muscle tremors; cardiac arrhythmia; a tendency to drag the hind legs or collapse; and extreme difficulty in changing position from standing to lying or vice versa. Treatment for both these maladies is basically the same, but the key is to administer it quickly. Immediate, appropriate therapy is vital to the dog’s recovery. The body temperature must be brought down as quickly as possible. Rapid cooling can be accomplished with hosing down the dog, applying cool wet towels over the body, and exposure to a fan or air conditioning in house or car. Try to avoid producing a shivering response as this can create more heat in the body. Transport the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible and be sure to inform the vet’s office you are on the way with a dog in severe distress from apparent heatstroke. They can then prepare the necessary items for treatment. The possibility of resulting bleeding disorders will require appropriate medications and, if available, frozen plasma. Not all vet’s offices will have plasma, although an emergency vet clinic is more likely to have this on hand. IV fluids should be administered as soon as possible to prevent the onset of shock and to aid in flushing the kidneys of harmful byproducts leaking from damaged muscles. In researching this article, it is evident there is some disagreement over what solution is best for the IV. Some veterinarians feel .9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is adequate, while others feel it is prudent to use an electrolyte combination solution. The effects of heatstroke or HER are not corrected in one day at the vet’s office. In-patient care is necessary for proper treatment and recovery. Several weeks of rest at home may be required for convalescence. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication should help reduce muscle inflammation and subdue the pain. Antibiotics may be recommended by your veterinarian to prevent secondary infection. Given the greyhound’s purpose as a performance dog and the conditions under which they are trained, raced, confined, and transported, it is safe to assume many racers have experienced one or more episodes of heat/exertional ailments. These dogs may then have a predisposition for future episodes of similar illnesses and likely will have compromised kidneys and other organs. Consequently, great care should be taken to protect them from over-exertion and heat-related illness. The following are some of the risk factors for heatstroke published in The 5-minute Veterinary Consult by Larry Tilley, DVM and Francis W.K. Smith, Jr., DVM: Previous history of heat-related disease; age extremes; heat intolerance due to poor acclimatization; obesity; poor cardiopulmonary conditioning; hyperthyroidism; underlying cardiopulmonary disease; dehydration. Anecdotal reports from adopters whose greyhounds have experienced heat- or exertion-related episodes suggest that adopters need to be better informed of the dangers of allowing their retired racers free reign to run, particularly in hot, humid conditions. Obese greyhounds will be especially susceptible to the effects of over-exertion. Even on cold days, given the right conditions, a greyhound can collapse from over-exertion. Extreme excitability in greyhounds, even while on a leash or in a fenced yard, can produce a combination of life-threatening factors which require immediate intervention by at least cooling the dog down and eliminating the stimulus (think high-prey-drive greyhound on a leash as a rabbit runs by!). People who report coming home to a dead or dying dog should take into consideration the environment when evaluating the cause. Broken air conditioners on hot days, lack of shade outdoors, excessive excitement or exertion (possibly running the fence line with another dog), absence of water to drink – these factors can kill a dog or take them to the brink of death. Hot, humid conditions are by far the most deadly. The frequency with which adopters report greyhounds “dropped dead from a heart attack,” when no previous indications of heart problems existed, suggests that death by heatstroke or HER may not be so uncommon. Only necropsy can identify the likely cause of death. Close supervision of retired racing greyhounds’ exercise routines, particularly those new to their homes, should be recommended to 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 or HER. 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. Greyhounds lucky enough to have been placed in a loving adoptive home deserve to have more than food, shelter, and attention. Responsible guardianship of retired racers includes being armed with the knowledge to protect them from the hidden dangers that await these athletes once they leave the tracks and training farms. A few precautions and observations can save your greyhound’s life « Last Edit: Mar 22, 2010, 2:20pm by SJ »
A timely reminder there Bev. I know that when we adopted Mo we were warned of this. Her previous owner once had to rush her the vet for oxygen etc because of running in the heat. This was not helped by her bad heart. I would never walk any dog in the full heat of a summers day. I get very cross when I see dogs being dragged around, panting, in the heat. We still go out early mornings with Pepsi, very rarely afternoons or evenings.
The thing is its not just in very hot weather it can happen, although that obviously makes it happen even quicker, it can happen in cooler weather if they run around a lot on a walk I believe.
Blimey! Scary stuff! I'm careful in the heat anyway with Axel because being black he absorbs it quickly, but I'll be more careful in winter too. He normally just plods along with the occasional burst of running. Thankfully he doesn't just run and run.
I find that with Bella too , her black coat heats up so much more quickly than Tom, not sure how good these reflective jackets are , maybe need to look into it if we get a hot summer but tend to avoid the midday sun if possible
I think you can also get coats that you soak in water and keep them cool...I'm looking into to getting one of those for Axel. Already he's finding it harder in the heat bless him. Sometimes his coat it hot to the touch. We walk on the shady side of the street mostly and I don't like direct sun either.
Heat reflective jackets help enormously.Another tip for summer,for all dogs not just greys. Get a 'space blanket'.I found them at Crufts many years ago. When you are having a day out in the park or at the beach or an outdoor show with your dog take along a crate or (as I do) an inexpensive 2man tent.Drape the space blankets over it with the silver side out (leaving space for air flow of course) and you won't believe how cool it stays inside.Even sitting in the shade is uncomfortably hot for them on a scorcher of a day and my lot adore their portable 'cool room'! I have been known to join them in it for a post picnic siesta... It's worth splashing out for the expensive ones (I think I paid around £15 for mine) rather than the tissue thin ones as the latter get blown away by the faintest breeze.
We don't walk our two much in this weather, they get a short 10 min walk in the morning and then only go out later when the sun has gone down. They have sulphur blocks in every bowl of water in the house, and I put the ceiling fans on upstairs all day so air is moving round keeping upstairs cool. Rob tends to dissappear upstairs under one of the fans and Lady lies on the cool ceramic tiles in the kitchen.
Interesting thread. I think we are quite lucky with our greyhounds as they seem to know what to do in the heat! I leave beds outside during the day for them in shaded areas of the garden but they choose mostly to be inside!and just potter in and out as they wish. Also we have white sun coats if needed and NEVER walk them in heat especially now they are getting older. They also chose where to lie with a choice of cold floor surfaces, Indi has also dug herself a lovely big hole in the lawn and lies in it, when it gets too hot she turns over the soil a few times to cool it down!! She's so clever bless her. xxxxxxx
I've found a great place to walk mine, we just kinda sit in a disused cow field that still has a trough, the dogs are able to run a bit, drink or stand in the water through and still meet other dogs, as I live in a flat I have to get them out, but being somewhere with a lot of water helps put my mind at rest if they are showing any signs of over heating, thankfully though I've never had this problem with mine, I do know that their not exracers, but I've always been particulary wary of heat stroke with them.
Good point Chaz.When choosing somewhere to spend a hot day out with your dogs it's a good idea to choose somewhere where there's water.In the event of heatstroke the big thing is to cool the dog as rapidly as possible and immersion in water is the fastest way to do this.
Thankfully I also live near a river, so on walks we are never far away from any water, unfornatly in this weather you get all sorts of people at the river, so its easier in the cow field now lol, after the holidays I'm thinking that I could go back to the river again, but for now this is my compromise.
Very intresting read! Thanks for posting it. I am very lucky here as we have a main river running through where I am, and then smaller rivers branching from the main one. Streams or rivers are never far away thankfully.
