Boomer Here!  This is a picture of "Me, Boomer", with my best old friend, Susie!  I don't really know for sure why she is not still here, but Dad, and Mommy Carol, would never have made Susie leave me if it wasn't for a good reason!  They said something about her having a good long life, and they were sad, then Susie was gone, then "Me, Boomer" got sad, too!  She was my best friend!  Now, Daddy is!

My dad said that if I wanted to write something, that maybe I should write something about, people that leave their pets trapped in the car, while they go shopping!  Some times people have a strange clock in their head, that tells them that they only left the pooch in the car for 5 minutes, when then really have left a dog that's brain has been boiling for 20 minutes.  As I dog, I think that although its nice to have us pets with you in the car; in the warmer months, we really aren't so good, going with you!  Especially if you are the kind of person that might run into a store, only to return, to a dog whos, "brains are boiling", cause that clock of yours is not working again!   Dad just said, "enough with the boiling brains, already"!  I was just making a point!  It's not like I stop him from writing whats' on his mind!  Even though I agree with most of it!  

Anyways, Never leave a dog in a locked car!  It makes our brains boi.........li...... 

"Ok, I won't say it again"!  Did you know that in a car parked in 70 degree heat (outside the car), within one hour in a sealed car, the temperature goes up to around 110 degrees?   Stanford University, Medical Center did a study, that showed that to be true!  You can imagine what it's like for a dog or cat, to be locked in a car that is parked in 110 degrees, already!  It is truly a disgusting thought, for us dogs, and certainly must be for you pet owners, too!  You guys wouldn't really do that, would you?  Not now, I hope!  


Dad said that I could reprint this list of the steps to take if you think that your pet might be suffering from Heat Stroke!  I didn't think these things up!  I believe these are from the same study that Stanford University did, that I should you about, earlier!  If you observe signs of heat stroke; do the following immediately:
1) Remove the pet from the environment immediately and move to a shaded cool environment.
2) Of possible take the rectal temperature and record.  It is important to know how high the temperature is, to assess treatment options as organs may be damaged as the temperature approaches 107 degrees or over (kidney, liver, brain)
3) Cool the body with wet towels placing them on the neck, armpit, and frown area.  If possible use a fan to increase evaporation and speed cooling.
4) As soon as possible transport the pet to an emergency veterinary facility.

It is important to NOT use ice or very cold water.  This actually can reduce the blood flow on the body surface creating an insulated area trapping heat inside.

It is also very important to not over cool your pet (body temperature less than 101 degrees).

As always, it is much easier to prevent over heating than it is to treat.  Knowing symptoms of heat stress and telling your dog when enough is enough will make the hot weather months as safe as it is enjoyable.