In May, 2011, we included a survey regarding summertime heat knowledge. Thank you to those that participated!! If we used majority responses, there was an average of 100% correct answers out of the 10 questions. Great job, it looks like everybody knows how to protect their dogs against summertime dangers! There were only 4 out of 10 responses that all respondents answered the same, however. Let’s take a moment to address all of the answers, both for those that responded, and for those that may be curious about the answers. . .

Question 1: Which of the following are transmittable to humans?

Answer: Hookworms, Tapeworms, and Roundworms are all transmittable to humans. Whipworms are not.

Question 2: What is the cause of heartworms?

Answer: Mosquitoes carry heartworm larvae. Fleas and ticks are not carriers of this parasite.

Question 3: What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Answer: Heat exhaustion comes before heat stroke. Keep reading to learn the signs of each!!

Question 4: How do dogs cool off?

Answer: By panting, and finding a cool, shady area. Even sun-loving dogs will search for a cool spot when they’ve had enough!

Question 5: Securely hooking a bucket in a shaded area, leaving a hose running to it with a trickle is a good way to ensure an outdoor dog has a fresh supply of cool water.

Answer: TRUE! On hot days, water buckets can become hot, especially metal buckets. Ensuring that an outdoor dog has a bucket that is secured from tipping and securely attaching a trickling hose can make sure the water supply is fresh and cold.

Question 6: Turning a fan on is the best way to keep a dog cool.

Answer: FALSE. Dogs cannot sweat, and therefore do not cool as we do when a fan is turned on. Continue reading to learn the best ways to keep a dog cool!

Question 7: The following is a symptom of heat stroke:

Answer: Wide eyes, rapid heavy panting, increased body temperature, bright red mucous membranes and tongue, thickened saliva, and vomiting. (All of the above.)

Question 8: A dog’s normal body temperature is:

Answer: Between 101 and 103 degrees F. Anything above this could be a sign of heat stroke.

Question 9: Veterinary care is critical when the following is noticed:

Answer: Whenever signs of heat exhaustion are present. Re-read question 7 to review these signs.

Question 10: When heat stroke is suspected, it is important to do the following WHILE transporting the dog to a vet:

Answer: Cool belly, inner thighs, paw pads, and tongue, cool the entire body, and stop cooling once the dog’s temperature lowers to 104 degrees F. (All of the above.)

To read a summertime article, by: Dawn Rexroad, please click here. Questions and answers for this survey were taken from this article, which was reviewed by Dr. Charles Lerner for accuracy. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about what you read! Heat can be dangerous, and we’ve had a lot of “code red” days so far this year. Be careful out there. If you’re hot, you’re dog is hot as well!