continued...

Outdoor sprinklers also make nice 'special' cooling systems for the family pet – and often the kids as well. Oddly, many dogs require a bit of coaxing to get them under the sprinklers the first time, but once they discover the cooling effects of the artificial rain, they will never again need any encouragement. Don't do this on your best landscaping area as the dogs, when cooled by the water, can become quite hyper, and may well [inadvertently] tear apart your delightful desert-scape.

If you are going to water your pet using a dish, be sure that a) it is a very large dish and b) that it cannot possibly be overturned. Even taking these two precautions you'll have to confront a problem. In the heat of the summer almost all dogs in Tucson will stick their front paws in the water bowl and "dig" at it. They may be looking for cooler water at the bottom of the bowl, or they may be trying to splash the cooling liquid onto other parts of their body. No matter, they can easily empty a water bowl in short order, thereby leaving them at risk of dehydration, and all of its undesirable side effects. This is where those automated watering systems come in very handy!

Last item in this area is weight. Try keeping your dog lean and fit when it's hot outside. An overweight dog gets hotter, and has to work harder to move around.

We’ve covered a lot about keeping your dog cooler and hydrated, now let's look at some other issues you should familiarize yourself with.

One of the things you and the family should include in your schedule is to check the dog out daily, twice daily is better. Also, be sure to stay attuned to the dog's communications with you. There are many things living in the desert that are dangerous for dogs such as scorpions, some spiders, and some snakes. If your dog is stung by a scorpion, it's hard for it to 'tell' you that it happened, or where on its body it was stung. If it wasn't stung on the face or ears, you will likely not notice it at all. If you suspect your dog has suffered a bite or sting from a venomous animal, take it immediately to the veterinarian – time is of the essence.

Cacti are another desert threat to your dog. Fortunately, this is one of those things your dog will get real smart about – real fast! Some wounds inflicted by cacti are not too bad, or too hard to deal with. If Rover brushes against a Saguaro, there will be punctures that should be treated as such. If the dog falls onto a prickly pear, and some of the tines lodge in its body, they should be removed post haste. This is usually done easily (if the dog cooperates) using a sterile tweezers, a very small needle nosed pliers, or my favorite, a hemostat. Do this carefully, and if the wounds justify it, or you can't get some of the tines out, see your veterinarian. Chances are you'll only do this once – perhaps twice. After that, Fido cares not to dance with a cactus…

There are other types of cacti tines that are not quite so easy to deal with. Some tines are very small, almost like hairs, but they are sharp and brittle. They pierce the skin and then naturally break off at skin level, or they break off when they are touched in an attempt to remove them. They will work themselves out, eventually, but until then they can be quite irritating. If your dog gets these stuck in its skin, well, it's going to be uncomfortable for a while. Be sure to watch for secondary problems like obsessive scratching that opens the skin and creates nasty wounds. Frankly, the types of cacti that have tines such as these do not belong in the yard where the family pet can access them. But take heart, as they will, as with the other types of cacti, quickly learn to keep their distance – even when their favorite ball rolls under one.

If you've just relocated to Tucson, especially from one of the northern states, it probably seems like a lot of work to keep a dog in the desert. Actually, it's not that bad – just different. Up north, you have to stop the water from freezing, here you have to stop it from evaporating. Up north you want dog houses with good ventilation, but with smaller openings and lower profiles. It's really all about the same amount of effort and consideration. And really, isn't your dog worth it?

Now in closing, just to be sure, let's review those two critically important rules:
• Never leave your dog in a car with the windows closed.
• Never leave your dog in a car for more than five minutes without a water source.

You and your dog and your family – enjoy Tucson!

<< Previous Page :: :: ::