[Michele Moore]

I also got this little cooler drop in deal called Kooleraire that is a fan you plug into the car outlet. I put it behind the crates and point it so it blows in, it also works better then a dog crate fan and I keep my drinks underneath it in the cooler. It is more expensive on this site http://www.kooleraire.com/

but I think I got it for about $20 from a boating magazine. I know it looks lame but it works.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

I also got this little cooler drop in deal called Kooleraire that is a fan you plug into the car outlet. I put it behind the crates and point it so it blows in, it also works better then a dog crate fan and I keep my drinks underneath it in the cooler. It is more expensive on this site http://www.kooleraire.com/

but I think I got it for about $20 from a boating magazine. I know it looks lame but it works.

I just forwarded this post to several people in my family who travel with dogs and would love a five-minute deal for running into a store, etc.

Of course they always have a cooler, so this looks like a nice little aid.

Thanks!

 

[Michele Moore]

I just forwarded this post to several people in my family who travel with dogs and would love a five-minute deal for running into a store, etc.

Of course they always have a cooler, so this looks like a nice little aid.

Thanks!

That is basically what it is good for. I use it when I travel and when I am at training and my truck is open with the crates inside. I have an extension cord for the 12 volt plug and have used it when camping also. It works pretty well for me. It uses the mid size (25 qt) cooler and luckily I already had one.

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

That unit looks pretty sweet. I was looking at coming up with something with copper tubing and a water pump and an ice chesst to fit between the fan and the crate, but this looks a heck of a lot simpler - and you can put a PVC pipe on it to direct the air.

Going to have to see if I can make room for one . It is the all day weekend trainings that require the most vigilance.

For Stacia - watch this site, www.airnow.gov, (Actually anyone in NC or CA), NC from Charlotte West and down towards Atlanta has some horrible air quality so watch for Ozone. this site links to a Charlotte (and other site) where you can get air quality readings in real time.

 

[Stacia Porter]

[quote="Nancy Jocoy"
For Stacia - watch this site, www.airnow.gov, (Actually anyone in NC or CA), NC from Charlotte West and down towards Atlanta has some horrible air quality so watch for Ozone. this site links to a Charlotte (and other site) where you can get air quality readings in real time.[/quote]

Thanks, Nancy! We're not that bad here in Hickory (been in the orange on Ozone), but we still stay indoors between the hours of 3 and 6 if at all possible. I've never had experience with this -- all new to me...

 

[David Stucenski]

I would buy a cheap plastic kid's swimming pool and have the dog take breaks in it. Make sure the dog's belly and chest get wet, it's also good to try to get betweeen the rear legs wet if you can. Otherwise, just take some good breaks in a cool car or inside, offer nice cool water (I'll stick ice cubes in it on really hot days) and deal as best as you can.
All of this, of course, is after the dog has been cleared of any fatigue-causing illnesses.

What are some of the fatigue causing illnesses??? I have a 4 year old police K-9 male Mal that I have always thought got tired before all other k-9s in our unit. I took him to the vet upon getting him and the first weeks of patrol school. He came from over seas with kennel cough. We thought this was the problem. To this day i think he still gets too tired too quickly. Any ideas????? We train at least once a week plus deployment during work. He does work on conditioning. I am not all that impressed with the State Vet(low bid). I am thinking of taking him to my vet where I go with my home dogs even if it comes out of my pocket.

 

[David Frost]

David, just a comment. If it is like some of my handlers, you could hang meat in their cruiser. The dog just never gets acclimated. Unless it is a physiological problem of some sort, the dog just may need some exercise to build up his stamina in the heat. We, carefully, run (work) these dogs to the point of near exhaustion. One can see the stamina develop as training progresses.

DFrost

 

[Terry Fisk]

My GSD easily gets tired when we train during the past few days now that it's really warm. Maybe 5-10 minutes he's pooped. I keep waiting for cloudy days but they never come when I want them. :evil: Any suggestions to condition a dog or to help him through the summer months?

We are in the High Desert of So Cal so I feel your pain. You can try the GoDog Sports drink. It is meant to prevent overheating by reducing core temperature, increasing oxygen delivery and improving hydration. We have used it very successfully during training and competition for shows, agility, obedience, tracking and protection. More information http://www.showandsport.com/godog_sports_drink.htm

Also, cooling the underside and feet of the dog with water or rubbing alcohol (pads of feet only) before training helps (play in a pool, use a squirt bottle, hose, etc). Don't wet the back and head as the water magnifies the sun and is counter productive.

 

[Howard Knauf]

David S., My boy is what you would call the "Sweater" of the K9 world. You know how some people sweat at the slightest rise in temp? Well, he's the same way. He always seems to be panting, even in cool buildings. He was checked out and no physical problems were noted. Before I got him one agency declined purchase because he appeared fatigued after slight testing. As long as your dogs' performance doesn't drop off when working/training I wouldn't worry about it.

Howard

 

[Mo Earle]

we are in South Fla. and summer is back... it has been humid and hot, so our summer style training has started, in addition to our usual bite work-we have our dogs swim across the pond to get a bite, helps build endurance, keeps the dogs cool, and they still get to bite. Our kennels are air-conditioned- and we now either work early a.m. or in the evening...and always try to have training done by noon...in addition to swimming with bite work, just swimming in the pool is great, and the treadmill inside the kennel is also a good way to run the dogs, if it is too humid/hot during the day... But everyone needs to take the Heat seriously when it comes to training- a couple of years back a local Florida "sport" club, lost 3 fabulous dogs in one summer down here..2 Mals and one GSD, due to heat ...

 

[Bob Scott]

What are some of the fatigue causing illnesses??? I have a 4 year old police K-9 male Mal that I have always thought got tired before all other k-9s in our unit. I took him to the vet upon getting him and the first weeks of patrol school. He came from over seas with kennel cough. We thought this was the problem. To this day i think he still gets too tired too quickly. Any ideas????? We train at least once a week plus deployment during work. He does work on conditioning. I am not all that impressed with the State Vet(low bid). I am thinking of taking him to my vet where I go with my home dogs even if it comes out of my pocket.

Do you know the history of this dog? Once a dog has suffered heat exhaustion it will tend to get it quicker later on.

 

[David Stucenski]

David F. I might be one of those handlers. I am always the one with the hood up and A/C on full. Guess I will have to start keeping the windows down except on extreme days. We are just heading into a six week intensive Tactical Dog School. Right in the middle of our summer. Will have to start the exposure slowly.....
I don't know the history of the dog at except his time with me since July 06. Going to take him to the vet anyways for another complete bloodwork. Any ideas what to ask for???
As a general rule if the cruiser is in the shade, what are the temps and humidity marks to use as a danger point?

 

[Tammy McDowell]

Just a big reminder to keep a watch on your dogs when they are out in the heat. I've never had a problem with a dog in 8+ years and 2 weeks ago we had a dog have a heat stroke. Luckily we were home and able to get him to the vet in time so is still with us.

That being said, a very good friend of many on the board lost her American Bulldog on Sunday to heat stroke. Dozer was not only her companion of many years but also her service dog.

SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE
Signs of heat stroke are intense, rapid panting, wide eyes, salivating, staggering and weakness. Advanced heat stroke victims will collapse and become unconscious. The gums will appear pale and dry. If heat stroke is suspected and you can take the animal's temperature rectally, any temperature above 106 degrees is dangerous. The longer the temperature remains at or above 106 degrees the more serious the situation. If you return to your car or the area in which the animal was confined and find your pet seems to be highly agitated, wide-eyed and panting uncontrollably... start for the nearest animal hospital right away with the air conditioning at full blast. Otherwise get the dog to a cool area and begin the treatment for heat stroke.

TREATMENT FOR HEAT STROKE
Take the pet's temperature rectally if possible. A body temperature of about 105 degrees or higher is probable evidence for heat stroke. Place your pet in a tub of cool running water or spray with a hose being sure the cool water contacts the skin and doesn't simply run off the coat. Thoroughly wet the belly and inside the legs. Run the cool water over the tongue and mouth. Take a rectal temperature if possible to know when to stop cooling. A safe temperature is about 103 degrees. A small dog will cool down much faster than a large dog. Once the temperature gets to 103 or 104 degrees do not cool the pet any further because the cooling effects will continue to bring the temperature down even further. Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible​

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

Old thread but I just bought a thermometer and can do Grims temperature by myself [I think we prefer K-Y to Astroglide for this application]

Anyway - at training the other day he got up to 104.2-it was a hot day. At rest he was 101.2. At 104.2 he was showing no signs of stress

I have read stuff all over the place about rectal temperatures of working dogs.

This article says it very much depends on the breed and the individual dog with some temperatures of normal healthy dogs during work. So how DO you use a thermometer to guage level of heat stress other than relating it to the other visible signs?

http://www.sportsvet.com/11Nwsltr.PDF


Greyhounds (Rose & Bloomberg, 1989)
104° - 106° F
Labradors (Matwichuk, Taylor, ET al, 1999)
102° - 107° F
Pointers (Gillette, clinical field work, 1999)
103° - 106° F
Foxhounds (Gillette, clinical field work, 2001)
100° – 103° F