Hoopengarner on Outdoors
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Hunters should take care with hot dogs
It may be the dog days of summer, but few of our four-footed hunting partners are wagging their tails in excitement. The recent spate of hot weather has presented a sticky situation for those trying to get their dogs in shape for upcoming hunting seasons, the earliest of which begin Sept. 1 with dove and forest grouse.
With the exception of sunrise and sunset, dog owners have had to exercise extreme caution while working or training their animals.
Heatstroke, said Tanya Muller, a veterinarian at Richland Animal Hospital, is a problem "we commonly treat during the summer months."
It's not that dogs can't be worked or hunted during hot weather - just ask any chukar hunter - it's that dog owners must know when to rest their animals.
"If you're going to train or hunt with your dog in hot weather, it's important to find shade and give them plenty of water and rest," she said. "As a general guideline, I'd say you'd want to rest them 15 to 20 minutes every hour and provide plenty of water."
Hunters should carry at least two gallons of water in their vehicles and several bottles in the field. Many wingshooters carry portable water bowls, although Coal, my black Lab, prefers catching the water - a la drinking fountain - from a spare sports water bottle I carry.
When temperatures soar above 90 degrees, dogs and humans are in danger of heatstroke, a failure of the body's heat-regulating mechanisms. Muller said dogs - who vent excess heat through the pads of their feet and by panting - are so gung-ho to please their owners that they often do not display the early warning signs of impending heatstroke.
"What you need to be watching out for is excessive, heavy panting and sudden inactivity. Sometimes a dog will just lie down and won't get up. When this happens, you need to get the dog cooled down immediately. If they don't get up in about 10 minutes after shade, water and rest, you'd better get them to a vet," she said.
Hunters should carry cell phones and have their vet's number programmed.
Ross Round, president of the Sand and Sage Hunting Retriever Club, said working your dog in the water is a good way to beat the heat and provide a thorough workout.
"The biggest problem I see is that many owners have unrealistic expectations of what their dogs can do. Unfortunately, they (the dogs) will hunt or train until they drop, so it's up to us to keep an eye on them," Round said.
Many dogs have been lying around the yard like lawn furniture and may be seriously out of shape. Muller recommends hunting dogs get a preseason checkup, which includes inspecting legs, feet and hips, as well as listening to their hearts.
A checkup also will allow the vet to assess the dog's weight. Keeping your dog at its proper weight is an important factor in reducing knee injuries and improving the dog's overall well-being and performance.
"If your dog hasn't had a lot of exercise this summer, you might want to start out taking short walks or slowly jogging with your dog several weeks before you plan to start any serious hunting," she said.
Walking or running on city streets also helps condition the dog's pads for work in the field.
Another summertime issue sportsmen should be aware of training or hunting their dogs is cheatgrass awns. If not removed from the feet and ears, these bristlelike fibers can work their way deep into the ear canal or under the skin.
While in the field, hunters also should carry a first-aid kit, including waterproof tape, gauze, assorted bandages, antiseptic and aspirin. I also carry eyedrop bottles to wash out dirt or seeds that may become lodged in my dog's eyes.
Another handy item is a hemostat, the sort fly fishermen carry to remove flies from fish.
Many years ago, I faced the unpleasant chore of removing several porcupine quills from the muzzle of my too inquisitive springer spaniel, Jake. I remember having to nearly sit on him to pull them out with a pair of pliers from my tool box. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a firm grip on the smooth quills with the cheap pliers. The clamplike instrument used in surgery would have made it a much less painful experience for both of us.
But if I had a cell phone back then, I'd have been calling the vet to make an appointment.
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