Dog Days of Summer

We've all heard the term, "Dog Days", most of us know that it refers to the hottest days of summer; where did the term come from, you ask? The term has been used for centuries to describe the hottest days of the year. The ancient greeks considered the star Sirius to be the brightest star in the heavens, besides the sun, of course; Sirius was also referred to as the dog star due to it also being the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). During ancient times, Sirius would rise just before the sun during the hottest days of the year; due to changes of the equinoxes, this is no longer the case. The Romans would sacrifice a dog at the beginning of the dog days to appease Sirius, beleiving that by doing so they could appease the star's rage.

Even though the "Dog Days" are here, that doesn't mean the dogs are happy about it. The temperatures outside are dangerous for both man and beast alike. What can you do to ensure your pets are safe during the "Dog Days"?

Pets that are housed in air-conditioned areas, obviously, do fine; not every pet has that luxury, however. For those pets that are outside in the heat, plenty of fresh, clean and shaded water is important; providing ample shade for your pet and, ideally, an occasional breeze will also provide much needed relief.

In case of an emergency, where your pet may be overheated or suffering from a heat stroke, bring them inside immediately and begin efforts to cool them off with cool (not cold) water applied to the abdomen. After a few minutes, the pet's temperature should begin to decrease and breathing effort should begin to return to normal. Don't force them to drink water; instead just get them to your veterinarian for observation and continued treatment. Heat stroke can have deadly and delayed consequences and patients should be monitored to prevent them.

To read more about heat stroke in your pet, click here.