Weekly Fun fact
Dogs are capable of understanding up to 250 words and gestures, can count up to five and can perform simple mathematical calculations. The average dog is as intelligent as a two-year-old child.
Now I am not sure about your dog, but Coco and Joey ignore most of my instructions! Unless it involves asking them if they want a treat
Let us know if your dog can understand 250 words!
In The Pawtime Press
Dog dies at Bloom in the Park
This week we read a sad story about a dog that was left in a car at Bloom in the Park in Dublin. We are going to chat more about this shortly, but it was so sad to see this happening when I always thought there was so much press around the dangers that people would know that it wasn’t safe.
Clearly not though as the dog was left in the car, in the sun for reportedly 3 hours. When the owner returned he was taken to a vet but sadly it was too late for him.
Orlando Shooting
With the terrible shooting this week in Orlando it was nice to see this Illinois charity taking a dozen comfort dogs out to Orlando to offer any help they can to all those affected by the shooting.
The dogs come from Lutheran Church Charities, who aim to bring “comfort and compassion for those who are grieving loss and for those who are injured and hospitalized”.
Pawsome Pet Shoutout
Remember if you want your pets to be internet famous then post a picture of your pet on Twitter, FB or Instagram using the hashtag #loveyourpetspodcast
Each week we will pick the coolest pets from around the world to feature.
This week I am featuring Chomsky from Ireland – a gorgeous looking cat who looks a bit grumpy at being forced to listen to another podcast.
In The Spotlight: Should You Leave Your Dog In At Hot Car?
In the Spotlight this week, I want to talk more about leaving your dog the car while you go to the shops, the bank or an event – wherever you are going.
It should be common sense that leaving your dog in the car is not a good idea, but unfortunately we read stories about dogs dying in cars from all over the world.
I know in Ireland we don’t get a lot of really hot weather, but it doesn’t need to be that hot for the inside of a car to be too hot for a dog.
So before we get started let’s bust a couple of myths
Myth #1 – leaving the window down does not make it ok to leave your dog in the car,
Myth #2 – parking in a shaded area does not make it ok to leave your dog in the car
Myth #3 – my dog will be ok for a few minutes while I run into this shop
A car can become a death trap for a dog within minutes really.
If it is 22 degrees outside then within an hour the temperature can reach a whopping 47 degrees.
Dog only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their pads, so it makes it harder for them to cool down. So within 15 minutes of excess heat, your dog can sustain brain damage and die from heatstroke.
What Are the Signs Of Heatstroke in a Dog
- Restless
- Excessive Thurst
- Heavy Panting
- Thick Saliva
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Lethargic
- Lack Appetite
- Bloody Diarrhea
- A dark tongue
- Increase in heartbeat
- Loss of co-ordination
What can you do if you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke
- Give them water
- Try and immerse them in cool, but not ice water
- Get an electric fan
- Place cool towel on their groin, stomach, chest, and paws to bring their temperature down
Dogs that are very prone to suffering from heatstroke.
- Very old or very young dogs
- Dogs with thick and heavy coats
- Dogs with short flat faces, like pugs or bull dogs
What to do if you see a dog in a car
- Call the authorities
- Get someone to wait with the dog and monitor their condition
- Got to nearby shops and building to try and locate the owner
- Take the reg, make and model of the car and see if there is a tannoy system to call the owner
- Don’t just leave the dog and assume someone will be back shortly for them.
What can event organisers can do to stop dogs being left in cars
- At the car park check with visitors what they are planning to do with their dog while they are at the event
- Make it clear whether the event is dog-friendly or not
- If it is a dog friendly event then make sure there are water stations and shaded areas provided for dogs.
