In case you haven’t noticed, summer is seriously here. Not everywhere is as hot as we are here, but it’s hot almost everywhere. You and I, like most humans, have a normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Our dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 – 102 degrees (essentially 3 degrees hotter)
Retrievers are blessed with wonderful coats that work extremely well at retaining body heat in the winter. Unfortunately they are equally adept at maintaining body heat in the summer as well. What really makes that dangerous is that dogs don’t sweat. Did you ever consider how important it is for a mammal to be able to sweat? There are some anthropologists who consider a human’s ability to sweat is right up there with the opposable thumb in terms of what helped early man develop.
Just take my word for it: dogs cannot sweat. Because they can’t sweat, their likelihood of suffering a heatstroke is much a greater than a horse or a person. It is vitally important that we monitor closely our dog’s activity in the summer months. We should always keep our dogs hydrated by offering fresh water both before and after vigorous exercise or training. We should try to limit exercise and training to early in the morning when it is cooler. You can also help keep your dog in great condition if you have either some deeper or moving water to swim him in. A shallow, still pond is like a hot bath on a sunny summer day. You won’t be helping by making your buddy swim in 110 degree surface water.
If you’ve paid attention to what was said above (and I sure hope you have), you won’t need the information in this paragraph. Here’s where we talk about how you recognize an overheated dog and how you might save it. The first sign is usually exaggerated panting. Panting is one of a dog’s primary cooling systems and when it’s overworked, it will let you know by the raspy, urgent rattle of respiratory distress. If you notice that heavy panting, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars but go directly to the nearest vet to get him on fluids. Meantime you are trying to get your dog to drink water, rubbing his bare abdomen and the underside of his ears with alcohol to get the cooling of evaporation and praying.
About Woody Thurman: Woody and Judi Thurman of Twin Lakes Kennel have been breeding and training world class Labrador Retrievers for more than 35 years. Twin Lakes Kennel is the number #1 resource for Labrador Retriever puppies. We select from the most dominant American field bloodlines and breed for natural hunting instinct and tractability. Our Labs, both puppies and adults, are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country. The end results are the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retrievers possible, making them a most desirable family pet.
More than eight thousand (8,000) Labrador Retrievers have been bred and trained during those thirty-five years. During this time, Woody has titled more than 200 AKC Master Hunter Labrador Retrievers. Woody has also qualified 47 retrievers at AKC Master Nationals. He has won the Ducks Unlimited Open Championships twice. In addition, two of his Labs, Drake and Rondy, bred and trained at Twin Lakes Kennel, are in the Master National Hall of Fame.
Our Labrador Retriever puppies are the culmination of a 30 year search for the most talented, well rounded Labrador Retriever possible. We select from the most dominant American field bloodlines and breed for natural hunting instinct and tractability. Our puppies begin a structured socialization program in the litter box and are introduced to birds at six weeks.
All our Labrador Retriever Puppies carry a guarantee against hereditary defects and to have basic retrieving instincts. Parents of all our Labrador Retriever puppies are physically sound with certified hips and eyes. They are out of the top working Labrador Retriever bloodlines in the country.
We guarantee all our Labrador Retriever puppies to be free from hereditary defects.
Become a happy owner: Call Woody and Judi at (910) 462-3246 for more information.
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