Is your pooch ready for summer’s dog days?

By Ashley Bassick

Lying on the cool, hardwood floor, your German Shepherd contin¬ues to aggressively pant. Now the shepherd begins to dry heave, which sounds a lot like a cat trying to hack up a fur ball. When the shepherd gets up to pace, your gut tells you some¬thing is wrong. The shepherd collapses into a prayer posture, like in yoga, and you know it’s time to race to the nearest animal hospital.

Gobbling down food or water imme¬diately after playing in the beautiful May weather could cause bloat in canines due to the buildup of gas, food or fluids in the stomach from swallowed air not being released. Panting pooches should take a breather.

With summer around the corner, all canine owners need to be aware of frequent bodily issues that their canines could face. Common issues include bloat, hot spots, paw burns and over¬heating.

“Overheating and heat stroke, that is one that we see a lot, and it’s one that we’re seeing more often,” said Dr. Russell Barnable, associate veterinari¬an at Companions Animal Hospital in Merrick.

Signs of overheating could range from excessive drooling, heavy panting, mental baldness, pale gums, diarrhea or bloody stool to collapsing ears.

Barnable suggests owners do evaporative therapy to help cool their dogs down, but he doesn’t recommend treating heat stroke at home. Evaporative therapy involves misting a dog with cool water, not ice cold, while placing it in front of a fan to let the water evaporate.

Breeds more susceptible to heat ailments are brachycephalic, or flat-face, dogs like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs and French bulldogs. Dogs with thicker coats and older dogs should be heavily monitored during the summer, as well. “Let’s try to keep them indoors,” said Barnable of the heat-sensitive dogs. “I’d rather you feel bad about it and have them alive.”

He also recommended moni¬toring dogs when they are outdoors. Do not leave them unattended in an area with pool or barbecue access. Remove trash cans that they might get into. And if fireworks are planned in your neighborhood, be prepared to keep them indoors, away from the noise, which can frighten them and hurt their ears.

Keeping your dog well-hydrated, well-monitored, not letting them drink or eat 30 minutes after playing or being outside, and having a medical kit for your dog are some additional tips that Barnable suggests for a safe and happy canine.