Sunny Saints St. Bernard Rescue

​When the weather gets into the triple digits, whether you’re in a dry or humid climate, no matter how you look at it… it’s just HOT! And if it’s hot for us, can you imagine what it must feel like to our pets, especially our St. Bernards… you know that breed of ours that thrives in cold weather, preferring snow to deserts. I’m not saying that they cannot tolerate hot weather, with care, they can, but like us, they won’t be excited about it.

So how hot is too hot for St. Bernards? Temperatures above 80°F (26°C) can cause discomfort and anything above 90°F (32°C) becomes hazardous for them.

St. Bernards are mountain rescue dogs that were bred to withstand crazy harsh alpine conditions. What is it about them that makes them so adaptable to such extreme weather?? There are several factors:

• High tolerance to Altitude: this means that they can handle lower oxygen levels that are found in higher elevations. Higher elevations/altitudes and thinner air means colder temperatures.
• Large body mass: St. Bernards are impressive size-wise. They have a larger body mass that enables them to retain heat in cold weather (which can also moderate their body temperature in warmer weather)
• Thick double coat: this consists of a soft and dense undercoat and a rougher, longer outer coat. This coat protects against both hot and cold and acts as natural insulation.
• Built for snow: they can navigate snowy terrain with ease due to their powerful limbs and webbed feet… again, making them suitable for colder environments

So now we know some reasons why they don’t have a high heat tolerance, what can we do to make sure our furry little buddies stay comfortable?

If, for some reason, you cannot keep or have your St. Bernard inside with the air conditioner during the summer, there are some things to consider.

​Outdoors
When the temps rise, a Saint’s energy is zapped, and you can find them stretched out under a nearby shady tree. They can tolerate temperatures that are 90-plus but not without protection from the sun. A doghouse isn’t the best protection from the sun because it doesn’t get adequate ventilation. So, we will want to ensure that our Saints have access to shaded areas, especially during peak sunlight hours.

Don’t forget to avoid hot surfaces! Walking on hot pavement can burn their paws. 

A St. Bernard expends energy in quick bursts, they love to romp and run, but they’re also BIG on napping! Limit physical activity during the hottest part of the day to avoid overexertion. Schedule playtime and walks for early mornings before it gets too hot. 

Use cooling mats or damp towels for your dog to lay on to help lower body temperature. 

Hydration

Fresh water is essential for keeping a St. Bernard cool and hydrated during hot weather. Left in the sun, a water bowl quickly heats up and by mid-afternoon, the water temperature can reach over 100 degrees. Put the water bowl in the shade and change the water at least twice daily. Consider installing an on-demand water spigot on your hose hydrant that emits fresh water every time your dog drinks. Always keep an additional bowl of water handy, however, in case the on-demand spigot malfunctions. 

Traveling when it’s warm

In the car, get some of those sun blinds to go in the windows to keep the sun from shining through the windows onto their fur. Be sure to take fresh water (and a bowl) on any trips lasting longer than an hour.

If you’re flying, not all commercial airlines have temperature-controlled holds. This means that it is possible that your Saint could become dangerously overheated on flights without access to water. So, make sure to chat with the airline before buying your pooch a ticket.

Hot Cars

Now, this should not have to be said, but I will say it anyhow. Under NO circumstances should St. Bernards (ANY dog, cat, child, etc.) be left unattended in hot cars. Temperatures inside a car can escalate rapidly, leading to life-threatening conditions, even with the windows down. Ok so even if you have done everything possible to keep your furry family member safe and cool during the soaring high temperatures, we still need to pay attention to make sure we know what to watch for and when to see immediate veterinary attention.

Signs of Heatstroke

• Excessive panting or difficulty breathing: If your Saint is panting constantly or faster than normal (hyperventilation), they could be overheated.
• Gums and Tongue: Bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums and bright red tongue. If your dog’s gums are a different color than normal
• Dehydration: Signs include dry nose, visible tiredness, excessive panting, and sunken eyes. 
• Lethargy or weakness: If your St. Bernard appears weak, fatigued, or having trouble standing up and walking.
• Dizziness: If Saint seems to have trouble walking in a straight line or keeps bumping into furniture. 
• Vomiting or diarrhea: An abnormally soft stool, or a stool with blood in it, could be a big warning sign for heat exhaustion.
• Muscle tremors: If your dog is shivering or shaking regardless of outside temperature, it may be caused by heat exhaustion.

How To Treat Heat Exhaustion

• Take your Saint to a cooler area (preferably indoors) immediately.
• Lower their body temperature by wetting them thoroughly with cool water. Do not use cold water! It seems counterintuitive, but cooling too quickly can be just as dangerous as heat exhaustion. For very small dogs or puppies, use lukewarm water instead of cool.
• Apply more cool water around their ears and paws. This helps reduce fever.
• Put them in front of a fan to dry off. If you have a pet thermometer handy, check their temperature every few minutes (note: don’t use a glass thermometer that your dog might bite and break). Once their temperature drops to 103 degrees (F), remove the fan and stop applying water.
• As they continue to cool down, provide them with small amounts of lukewarm or cool water to drink. Again, not cold water, and no ice! 
• Call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Even if your Saint seems to be recovering, they may need to be monitored for shock, dehydration, kidney failure, and other possible complications of heat exhaustion. Your vet will be able to advise you about the next steps.

If your dog loses consciousness or seems severely ill (vomiting, seizing, etc.) get to a veterinary hospital immediately.

This spring, tiny eight-week-old Sasha Fierce was rescued by Sunny Saints from a bad situation.  Covered from head to toe with fleas and ticks, she succumbed to Erlichiosis, a disease caused by a bacteria transmitted by ticks. Weighing only four pounds, her immune system was not strong enough to fight it.


This week, another new Sunny Saint, Sophie was rescued from a sad situation also.  Covered in ticks and fleas, and unable to get up and walk, she was rushed to the vet’s, where she’s now clinging to life.  Her illness could be a paralysis or Lyme Disease, caused by the tiny tick.

These cases have been real eye openers for Sunny Saints.  While we tend to think of ticks as an “east coast” problem, the truth is, infected ticks are found in nearly every county in California.   Dr. Laura Weatherford of Tustin Santa Ana Vet Hospital said that dogs are most likely to encounter ticks in the canyon areas, but in parks and scrubby areas as well.  Your best bet is to protect your dog with flea and tick preventatives, and be sure to check with your vet for the best product for your dog.  Comprehensive resource information can be found at http://www.capcvet.org/capc-recommendations/ticks, which also includes good prevention and control information.

Invest some time in finding the best flea and tick products for your dog, but also treat your house and lawn, keeping bushes and trees trimmed back; check your dog even after short walks, and keep him indoors during the height of tick season.

Ticks may be common, but they can really make your dog sick if left unchecked, so you may want to read up! More resources to keep your saint safe include:

http://www.examiner.com/article/common-ticks-southern-california

http://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_dg_10_ways_to_stop_ticks_from_biting_your_dog?page=2 

While preventing tick bites and infestation is the best way to prevent disease, if caught early, it can be treated with antibiotics.  We try not to pass judgment, and focus on saving saints,  but could this information save some lives? It didn’t have to be this way.  If you agree, please share this information by passing it along.

It’s funny how one’s mind can make the leap from one seemingly unrelated topic to the next.   

Daylight Saving Time (DST) arrives this weekend, Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m.  When most of the nation “springs ahead,” there will be grumbling on both sides – either “I’m losing an hour of sleep,” or “I’m loving the extra hours of sunshine.”  If you want to learn more about why we turn our clocks back or forth twice a year, and where this idea came from, check out Daylight Saving Time 2014: When Does It Begin? And Why? 

It seems Benjamin Franklin was the first person to suggest the concept of daylight saving time. According to computer scientist David Prerau, author of the book Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time , while serving as U.S. ambassador to France in Paris, Franklin wrote of being awakened at 6 a.m. and realizing, to his surprise, that the sun rose far earlier than he usually did. Imagine the resources that might be saved if he and others rose before noon and burned less midnight oil, Franklin, tongue half in cheek, wrote to a newspaper.  "Franklin seriously realized it would be beneficial to make better use of daylight, but he didn't really know how to implement it," Prerau said.

And how does this relate to Sunny Saints, now?  DST means more hours of daylight to spend outdoors with your Saint!  This newsletter: DogTrekker - Have Dog Will Travel is too good not to share in its entirety.  Click on the link, and start planning away! According to them, they’ve checked out the best dog-friendly places in Northern and Central California for you and your saint to stay, eat, hike, swim and play!
Not only do they list by destination, but by itineraries also.  For example, there is a Grow Wild - Paso Robles Wine Country  tour, listing dog-friendly wineries, maps, directions and other helpful stuff.  All you have to do is get in the car and go! Let us know if you’ve been to some of these places, or if something great is missing.  For our Southern California adventurers, check back to the July 13, 2012 post for local day trips.

So remember to set your clocks forward, and make some plans to enjoy the extra sunshine.

While many New Year's resolutions can be well-intentioned but short-lived, here's one that will make a difference! Commit to saving a life.  Sunny Saints St. Bernard Rescue can always use more foster homes. Foster homes are the single most important part of our rescue and are literally the difference between life and death for many of our dogs.

If you have always wanted a St. Bernard, or other extra-large dog but were not sure of what you were getting into, or wondered if you could commit to a dog for the long term, fostering is a great way to find out. We have dogs in need of foster homes from puppies to seniors, small (under 100 pounds) to big (close to or over 200 pounds), and everything in between. We pay all approved medical expenses for our foster dogs and when it’s available will also supply food, treats and toys.

We ask that our foster homes care for the dog and help us make the dog a well-adjusted family pet.   We often have adoption events throughout California, and if one is near your home, we strongly encourage you to attend with your foster.  We may also ask you to talk with a potential adopter for your foster dog and let them know about the dog that is in your care.

And, what if you fall in love with your foster saint?  Well, you wouldn’t be the first “Foster Failure” we’ve had!  In fact, we celebrate “foster failures” on a regular basis.  We do ask that you take in a dog that we feel is a good fit for your home and family and not just foster to pick out the dog that you think you may want to adopt. Our foster homes are the backbone of this rescue, and we ask that you stay in touch regularly to make sure that the dog and your family are doing well together.  You are our eyes and ears for that dog and we need to know everything that you discover about it so that we can make an educated decision on what the perfect forever home for that dog will be.

If you have any questions or concerns about fostering, give us a call and talk to us.  It could be one of your most rewarding experiences, ever.  If you would like to be a foster home for one of our Sunny Saints, please complete the Foster Agreement & Adoption Application (be sure to write in “FOSTER ONLY” at the bottom of the Adoption Application) and email both forms to Pam at [email protected] or FAX them to 562.435.6361. 

Start the New Year right.  Make a difference.

Hot spots aren’t just annoying, but if allowed to fester, can be downright painful to your pet.   What to do?  Take him in? Treat it yourself?

According to one of Sunny Saints’ trusted vets, Dr. Greg Martinez, your dog needs an accurate diagnosis and treatment if the dog is sick, or in pain, and he recommends taking them to the vet or emergency if they are suffering. A severe abscess or skin infection can be life threatening if it gets out of hand.

If the hot spot and symptoms are mild, Dr. Greg suggests, in Dog Dish Diet  “Itchy Skin and Hot Spots in Dogs,” some basic steps to help with the itching and pain until you can decide whether or not your dog needs expert treatment. These basic steps include giving your dog aspirin or other pain reliever, over-the-counter cortisone ointment on the wound, checking for fleas, and a nice warm bath with a mild shampoo.  He suggests following this with cortisone ointment and Neosporin to help with pain, infection and inflammation.  He also lists several antihistamines that may be useful, and recommended dosages. But please, remember it’s always wise to check with your own vet to see what’s best for your saint.

If you want to try the natural route before heading to the vet, quite a few Sunny Saints' supporters recommend apple cider vinegar to alleviate hot spot discomfort.  These are a few other sources that have also recommended applying it to hot spots, or as a shampoo or rinse:

Earth Clinic Folk Medicine/ Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs

Vetinfo.com/ Treating Hot Spots on Dogs with Apple Cider Vinegar

Animal Planet Pets 101/ Uses for Vinegar: Pet and Animal Care

Surprisingly, apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy used for more than just hot spots.  Animal Planet mentions it for minimizing shampoo residue, ear cleaning, skunk deodorizing and even bee stings. You can also spray your dog with apple cider vinegar before going out for a walk, in order to repel fleas and ticks naturally.

Others have mentioned adding fish oil or Omega-3 supplements to their food to improve their coat and prevent itchiness.  Switching to a quality dog food, possibly grain free, can also improve their overall health and allergies.

So, let’s raise a cup of cider vinegar to a hot-spot free summer!  And please, share your experiences and successes with all of us.  If you leave your comments here in the blog, it will be here for future reference for others!