Dogs from colder regions find it difficult to adjust to sub-continental summer. Shibaji Roychoudhry speaks to vets on how to make this summer a cooler one for them
Summers are here and it not only troubles you but also your dogs, especially those from colder climes like Siberia, Germany and the Alps. These breeds find it hard to adjust with the hot scorching Indian summer. Be it the St Bernard, Akita, Pug, Tibetan Mastiff, Airedale Terrier, Black Russian Terrier, Poodle, British Bulldog or the most popular German Sheppard, all face problems during summers. From heart diseases to hair loss, they go through a lot.
“Because of the heat, their nostrils get partially blocked and it becomes difficult for them to breathe which leads to heart problems. They also tend to develop allergies and fungus due to the humidity. At times, their organs collapse too. Most of the furry dogs end up losing hair,” Dr Sanjeev Kapoor from Pet Bytes and Scoopy Scrub, explains.
“We have two St Bernards, Simba and Jumbo. Since their species are accustomed to cold weather conditions, we keep them in a room with three air conditioners at a temperature now more than 18 degrees,” Gurcharan Singh Sodhi, a south Delhi resident, says.
Most dog owners are oblivious to these summer hiccups and have to make several trips to the veterinarian. To stop your pedigree dog from falling ill, certain steps need to be taken. “First, these dogs need plenty of space to run around and play in order to keep themselves fit. Ideally, the house should have a cool temperature inside (below 20 degrees),” Dr Kapoor says. “Also, it is advisable to feed them only dog food. Dogs require 10-20 times more energy than humans, so our regular food, even meat, doesn’t comply with the nutrients that they need,” he says, adding that milk is a big ‘no’.
“Most households feed their dogs milk and roti regularly. The truth is that milk is very harmful for them. It causes skin diseases, hair loss and digestive problems. Milk products like paneer and curd can be given ocassionally. They also should be taken for walks, either early in the morning or late in the evening. Taking them out in the sun can be very harmful,” he tells you.
Dr Rahul Verma of lifeline Pet Clinic, Dwarka, opines that just like humans want to wear lighter clothes and want to keep hair short to keep cool, dogs from colder regions, too, need the same treatment. “Ideally, their hair should be trimmed from time to time in summers to keep them cool,” Dr Verma advises.
He also tells you that regular check-ups are a must for these dogs. “Some times it is difficult for the owners to identify health issues, so a monthly check-up ensures the pet is healthy,” he says.
like humans, dogs also need to drink plenty of water during summers. “Families need to ensure that a bowl of cold and clean water is always available for the dog. Books on pets advise that dogs should be given a bath once a month. But here in India, they need to be bathed every seven to 10 days. An important point that dog owners should keep in mind while taking these breeds out for a walk is that they don’t drink water from random puddles. Most of them contain anti-freeze and other chemicals which have a sweet taste but are extremely toxic,” Dr Anil Sood says.