Don't run your dog into the ground.

People love to exercise. They love to go running, ride bikes, or just take long walks. And a few even love to include their pets in this daily activity.

But in 100F weather like we are having here in Texas, is that a good thing? Yesterday I was at my vet with Sadie, the wonder-dog, and ask that question. My vet said that a little exercise in this temperature is okay, but it doesn’t take long for any animal to get superheated and lose a tremendous amount of water and energy. Here are the signs she said to look for if your pet is ready to rest:

1.     Starts slowing down. Doesn’t have the same bounce to their step.

2.     Gets distracted easily. (Mine is always distracted, so not sure how this works.)

3.     Pants excessively. (She said it will appear as if they can’t catch their breath. They are actually trying desperately to cool down.)

4.     Has trouble walking.

5.     Legs get shaky.

6.     Dog pulls back on leach. “I want to stop, Marvin!”

7.     Becomes easily agitated at other dogs and people.

She said these are some of the telltale signs that your pet is getting overheated and needs water right away. Don’t wait until you get home. Get them water out on the jogging trail or wherever you can find it. Borrow a sprinkler and hose from a neighbor and cool your pet down if you have to. If the neighbor complains tell them TGFT, it was an emergency.

There’ s a sign on a jogging trail in Dallas that reads: “You wouldn’t run in a fur coat in this weather, think about your dog.”

The truth behind that is dogs may not be able to shed heat away from themselves as efficiently as humans can (cats, too, have a difficult time in cooling down during exercise in the heat of the day).

So take it easy on your dog. Either slow down, or shorten your route for their sake. My vet also said that she doesn’t think it does a dog a world of good running long distances. It is not in their DNA to be distant runners.  Sprinting a few hundreds yards several times and then taking a long, leisurely walk – that’s good. But just because you can jog 3.5 miles a day doesn’t mean your pet should. Or really wants to. Sure they wag their tail when you get the leach out. That’s because they want to be with you and please you. That is in their DNA. But the distant running is something they may not have signed up for, especially in superhot weather.

This summer in the heat, take it easy on yourself. But more importantly, take it easy on your dog.

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