Hunting Dogs Require Special Care During Hot Weather

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A well-trained retriever is a great asset to the dove hunter, but a few simple precautions must be taken to keep the dog healthy during in hot weather.

It is important to watch your dog carefully for signs of fatigue, especially when it is hot and humid. Don’t push the dog too hard, or allow it to become so excited that it pushes itself until it gets into trouble.

A retriever has built-in fatigue indicators the handler should constantly monitor. The dog’s tail and tongue are good indicators of how it’s feeling. If the tail is held high and the dog shows a good deal of enthusiasm, it is probably doing well. Rapid breathing while exercising is normal, but gasping air and frantic panting are signs of overexertion. If the dog slows down and its tail starts to droop, it is getting tired and you should insist that the dog rests and cools down.

If your dog appears to be working too hard, give it small amounts of water to drink, but withhold large quantities until it has had a chance to cool down and rest.

Dogs can’t tolerate high temperatures as well as people and they can’t sweat to help their bodies cool. Instead, dogs pant rapidly, exhaling warm air and inhaling cool air. When it is hot, air the dog breathes in may not be much cooler than its body temperature and consequently, the dog may cool very slowly.

Noisy, very rapid breathing is one of the symptoms of the onset of heat stroke. When a dog suffers from heat stroke, it’s gums and tongue become bright red and its saliva becomes thick. The veins in its face may swell, it may appear very agitated and may vomit. The dog’s temperature may rise to 104 degrees F or higher. At 104 degrees F, or if it is unsteady on its feet, it should be submerged in cold water to quickly lower its temperature. A cold water enema may be indicated if the dog’s temperature is 106 degrees F or higher or if it acts as if it may collapse.

Heat stroke is a serious emergency that must be dealt with quickly by rapidly lowering its body temperature. In the field, hold it in your arms and immerse it in a stream or pond. There are many blood vessels near the skin in the dog’s abdomen and that’s where the cool water you apply will do the most good. If you have ice available, wrap some in a piece of cloth and place it at the base of the dog’s skull. The object is to keep blood flowing naturally, without increasing pressure which can damage the brain. Put the dog in the shade or, if possible, in the car or a building and turn on the air conditioner. If at home, put it in a tub of cold water or hose it down with the garden hose.

As soon as the dog cools down it should be transported to a veterinarian for treatment.

Many retrievers dislike retrieving doves because the bird’s feathers slough off so easily in the dog’s mouth, stick to it’s tongue, and are difficult to remove. A mouthful of feathers may also hamper the dog’s breathing. Quickly remove feathers from the dog’s mouth following a retrieve and give the dog a drink of water.

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