Ouch, That Hurts!

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER may be getting shorter, but they’re also getting warmer, so it’s a good time to talk about protecting Fido’s feet from the heat. A dog’s pads may look and feel tough, but they’re actually quite susceptible to injury if he steps on something sharp like a piece of glass or walks on a hot surface. Pavement or tar-coated asphalt, for instance, gets extremely hot during the summer and can cause painful burns and blisters. According to Jenna Stregowski, a Registered Veterinary Technician and Dog Guide for About.com, there are several signs of burned pads:

·                    Limping or refusing to walk

·                    Licking or chewing at the feet

·                    Darker colored pads

·                    Missing part of a pad

·                    Blisters or redness

Stregowski stresses the importance of keeping your dog’s feet cool and clean, especially on hot days. As soon as you notice a problem (such as limping), flush his feet with cool water or administer a cool compress to the pads (a wet rag or washcloth works well in a pinch). If your dog appears in considerable pain, carry him to the car and immediately take him to a veterinary clinic. The veterinarian will examine your dog for signs of deeper burns and blisters and will administer treatment to reduce the possibility of infection. For serious burns, the veterinarian will bandage the area, but it’s up to you to keep the bandages on and to keep your dog from licking the wounds (I realize this is easier said than done). Stregowski points out that some dogs will tolerate a sock on their leg, while others will try and chew and ingest the sock. In these cases, try a “lick deterrent” (a bitter spray, available at most pet stores) to discourage your dog from licking or chewing on the sock or bandage.

To help prevent problems with your dog’s tender tootsies, only walk him on dirt or grass during the hottest months of the year and never force him to stand on pavement or metal (such as the bed of a pickup truck). And I know I’ve said this about a bazillion times before, but never leave your dog in a hot car, even with the windows cracked an inch or two. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise to dangerously high levels in a matter of minutes and prove fatal to your dog.

Case in point: in June, a Belgian Malinois police dog named Forest died after his handler, San Diego Police Officer Paul Hubka, left his canine partner in a squad car in Alpine on a day when outside temperatures reached 108 degrees. A necropsy determined that the five-year-old canine officer died of heatstroke. The August 5 edition of the “Los Angeles Times” reported that San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre refused to approve a $50,000 payment to Hubka, a 22-year veteran of the Police Department, which was to be Hubka’s share of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by three officers alleging that they deserved extra pay for their duties as canine officers.

Call me crazy, but I think that having a dog is a privilege and canine officers should not expect extra payment, other than for costs associated with pet food and routine medical care, and they certainly shouldn’t receive monetary compensation after their negligence causes the death of their canine partner. If anything, criminal charges should be filed against Hubka and he should be made to reimburse the San Diego Police Department for the death of Forest. Your thoughts on this heated topic?

CANINE CANCER. According to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), a Denver-based organization that has funded more than 1,500 humane animal health studies, cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two and one in four dogs die of the dreaded disease. (The rate is even higher for Golden Retrievers, where 60 percent will die of cancer.) In response to these sobering statistics, MAF and Dogster.com, the world’s most comprehensive Web site devoted to the health and happiness of dogs, have teamed together in a global effort to find a cure for canine cancer. A press release issued by MAF earlier this month stated that Dogster.com will donate $2 for every new subscription (or subscription extension) through September 30, 2008. To subscribe, go to www.dogster.com and click on the “news and updates” link at the bottom of the home page. Subscribe today and you’ll not only have access to tons of insightful and inspiring dog-centric content, but you’ll be helping to save a dog’s life.

IN RELATED NEWS, the Morris Animal Foundation recently honored Rocky, a police dog who succumbed to cancer on the anniversary of his heroic act to apprehend a criminal. The date was August 4, 2002 and Rocky, a canine member of the Lakewood Police Department in Colorado , was shot at point blank range by an armed suspect. As reported in the “ Rocky Mountain News” and the “Denver Post,” Rocky continued chasing the suspect for another 70 yards, eventually taking him down. Rocky was subsequently honored by the mayor of Lakewood with a medallion for his “bravery and fidelity.” Sadly, on the sixth anniversary of his heroism—August 4, 2008—Rocky passed away in the arms of his handler, Police Agent Darren Maurer.

“Rocky was more than a dog,” Maurer told the MAF. “He and I shared a bond that’s impossible to describe. There’s a huge hole in my heart ... he was lifting his head and breathing and it was one barrier in his life he couldn’t fight through.”

MAF invites dog lovers to make a contribution to its canine cancer campaign in the name of Rocky, a brave and beloved companion, who will live forever in the hearts of so many people. Visit www.caninecancercure.org for more information.

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Karen is trying her best to keep her cool this summer, but she’s concerned about canine cancer and dogs left in hot cars. Send your thoughts to her at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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