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Keeping Pets Cool Save Email Print
Fishersville, Va.
Posted: 4:42 PM Jun 6, 2008
Last Updated: 1:15 PM Jun 10, 2008
Reporter: Meg Gatto
Email Address: mgatto@whsv.com

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When the temperatures hit 90 and above, it takes a toll on everybody, including our pets if people aren't careful.

Barbara Waldkirch is a renowned dog trainer. While at the Skyline Kennel Club Dog Show Friday in Fishersville, Waldkirch took extra care to make sure her dog was cool.

She says, "The shammy is what we try and use to put on their feet because they breathe through their feet, so that would be the best way to cool them down quickly."

Veterinarian Dr. Stuart Porter says many owners think their dogs hair should be cut short in the summer months, but there are plus sides to keeping the long hair.

He explains, "The long hair actually a lot of it reflects the light, and actually insulates the dog and keeps it from getting too hot. It reflects the heat and then back so in fact, if you do clip your dog, you have to be careful it doesn't sunburn."

Whether your dog has long or short hair, there are some easy ways to cool your dog down should it get too hot.

Porter says, "Our black dog gets very hot and we take a towel, we wet it, we lay it on the floor and that’s where the dog lies down."

Waldkirch, describing another trick, says, "Sometimes we also give them Gatorade, which takes care of all the nutrients that they need and quickly retains their high level of sugar."

She also explains why it's extremely important to make sure your dog or cat is comfortable in the warm weather saying.

"They can get a heat stroke, which is very dangerous and they can go into either cardiac arrest or they can come down with seizures, if they get over-heated," says Waldkirch.

The kennel club is even making some changes this year to accommodate the dogs in this heat. They're allowing the dogs to sleep inside Expoland, in the air conditioning at night to keep them cool.

The Skyline Kennel Club Dog Show will also run Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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