my dog is always hot, I need some advice

I have a 3 and a half year old golden retriever. Everytime I take her for a walk she get s so hot so quickly. She's over weight (103lb) and is currently on a strict diet and 2 walks daily, but the vet thinks she may have a thyroid problem because there's no reason that she got overweight. Anyway, she just drives me crazy with her constant panting. I heard that if you shave under dog's ears and their belly, it will help them stay cool because that's where they lose most heat, is this true? I dont want to get her completely shaved because she'll look like a lab, and she's fat so you'd be able to see her rolls! Sometimes I'll be sitting outside and she'll just be sitting beside me, and she starts panting. Even if it's not hot out for me, she's panting. Does anyone know what I can do to keep my dog cool? Or at least cooler than she is? Thanks.

 

I used to do this with one of my dogs. Try getting a spray bottle filled with water and spray her down on the walks, you can also give her water with it also. Just spray into the corner of her mouth. When she is outside with you try getting a kiddy pool she can play\lay in.

 

I agree with Stormy....I think wetting her down a bit before the walks will help keep her cool.

 

Panting can also be a sign of stress - not just a sign of overheating.


Jamiya

 

no, it's not stress. Maggie is one of the most chilled out dogs out there. I'll get a little wading pool and see if that helps any, thanks guys.

 

But it could be stress from walking? BUt yeah try to the spray bottle, I use that when I take Jasper on walks.

 

has the vet taking a blood test for her thyroid? id get that checked out. sounds suss.

 

Jake my lab is the same way, he literally cant not tolerate weather over 70, he becomes so sluggish, he also has a weight problem, been tested for everything, but never loses weight. Diet foods are filled tons of high carbs which I think was keeping him fat, so 4 months ago I switched him to all raw, weighed him Saturday and he lost 5# YAHOO, so you might want to try a higher protein kibble but feed less, that also may give her more anergy and help her lose weight.

As for being hot, get a kiddie pool, try to walk when it is coool and get her wet before you walk, that has made a big difference wiht Jake. DO NOT take her fur off because that is insulation, keeps them cool in thesummer and warm in teh winter. you can trim, but dont shave,

honeybear

 

I agree. just wet her down, and get her a pool. Older dogs sometimes have a heat problem. I know my parents lab was fine when he was younger, but when he got older, he just couldn't take the heat. I'm not talking about when he was 10, but only 5.

 

Maggie doesnt have any other symptoms of a thyroid problem, just overweight. I dont know why she's overweight, she's always gotten at least one walk a day and she hardly ever gets treats. The searched for the best food for her for about 5 minutes and put her on Eukanuba diet food. She's on 1.5 cups twice a day and lots of exercise. The vet said that if she hasnt lost at least 10lbs in 2 months, we'll get her thyroid tested. Honeybears, I'll keep Maggie on this diet food for the 2 months, and if nothign has changed then I'll put her on the all raw stuff. Exactly what food is it you feed your dog? What brand? Thanks for the help everyone.

 

Also, if you take your dog for a walk in the summer, the bottoms of their feet can burn if walking on hot pavement.

Here in Phoenix, the pavement is so hot you can fry an egg on it. In our PetsMarts they sell dog booties just for walking. I'ts really cute to see dogs with booties on. A lot of the Companion/Service dogs wear them since they're out so much on pavement and in parking lots.

I see a lot of people jogging with their dogs and the poor dogs can't even tell their owners that their feet are frying. I've seen dogs with blisters on their pads, even cracked and bleeding from burning.

 

That sounds nasty. If it's really hot out, I dont take her for a walk. If she hasnt been out for a few days and it's still too hot for her, I'll just let her run around on the field behind our house for a while. So the pavement isn't an issue. The problem is, she's hot even if it's not hot out. I took her for a walk the other day and it was about 12 degrees celsius, and I had to go back home because it was about to rain and Maggie was panting like crazy. I take her to dog parks a lot now because she can run around off leash and there's a lake that she can swim in if she wants. Actually, I cant keep her out of the lake! What concerns me is that she even if it's not warm out for me, she seems really hot. When we get home she lays on the floor panting for a few hours afterwards.

 

Has the vet checked her heart? Sometimes, they can get this sluggish and unwilling to move because of that. If she's O.K., and just hot, then can you take her for a shorter walk very early in the morning and later in the evening? I don't know where you live, but here in the deep south, even though it's still going to be HOT and HUMID, at least it's a little more bearable...

 

I'm sure the vet would have mentioned it if there was something wrong with her heart. I live in Alberta Canada, so the mornings and evenings are sometimes quite cool. I'll try walking her then. Thanks again.

 

That was my thought - if she is panting even when it is NOT hot out, what about having her heart checked? The vet can listen and see if he detects a murmur. There is also a test called an echocardiogram which is basically an ultrasound of the heart. It is non-invasive - they just shave a small patch of fur on the chest and put an ultrasound instrument thingy on it and look on a computer screen. My cat has heart problems and had one done.


Jamiya

 

It's funny you mention a heart murmur because when she was just a baby and was still with her mom, the breeder told us that she had a mild heart murmur. So she took her to the vet regularly and by the time we were able to bring her home, the murmur had corrected itself. I'll mention it to our vet next time I go and ask her to check it out, but dont you think she would have mentioned something? Everytime we go to the vet she listens to Maggie's heart and lungs and does all the rountine procedures. I'll bring it up though, thanks for mentioning that.

 

I would double check the heart, as you say the vet checks, butthis time I would make sure its done and bring up your concers.

my brothers gold was diagnosed recently with an enlarged heart, she is 8, they thought she was just lethargic/dpressed because had just put down their other golden. the listened to her heart and found it

honeybear

 

The pool is a good ideal they also make a neck tie thing that goes in the freezer and ties around your dogs neck to keep them cool alot of people use them on pugs cause they get very warm in summer.

 

Not all vets will pick up on a small heart murmur. I was told by the specialist I took my cat to that our vet is getting very good at hearing them. But then again, my cat's was a grade 4 out of 6. After medication, he is only a grade 1-2. I don't like giving him medication all the time, but since I messed up with his diet from day one, I don't see a big choice.

Perhaps if the vet is specifically listening for a heart murmur, he will be more likely to hear it if there is one. Then again, hopefully there isn't one to hear!!


Jamiya