Its not even 8am and its 28C/83F here in Antipolo City, Rizal Philippines. It will hit 35C/95F today with humidity at 57%. For the rest of the summer months, this heat and humidity will prevail, interspersed with rain showers. My dogs - Hobbes, my pug, age 12, and Chico, my young dachshund, age 10 months, have been suffering from dehydration, heat rashes and other skin ailments. It's been scratch, scratch scratch, all day long. It is only Indira, my native mutt - the aspin, as we call them, “asong Pinoy” (Filipino street dog), age 2 years, that is adjusted to the heat.
At the onset of summer, I wasn't around, so I couldn’t get a jump on getting them ready for the summer heat. Nene, my trusty housekeeper and carer of the dogs, wasn’t on top of things, so my dogs suffered. Hobbes, my pug was full of cuts from scratching himself and red bumps all over his poor body. Chico, the doxie, wasn’t as bad, but his golden brown exterior was spotty white with scabs that had already fallen off. Heat rashes everywhere. I immediately moved to “let’s fix this!” mode. Hobbes' skin was so irritated from scratching, I had to succumbed to hydrocortisone cream, to reduced his itching, and natural antibiotic creams to heal the cuts. After Hobbes got his summer sporty buzz cut and had his nails trimmed and filed, he was feeling much better. After a visit to the vet, I had what was needed to keep the dogs more comfortable to endure the heat the humidity.
Dehydration was definitely an issue. To hydrated the dogs, Nene and I syringed some dextrose powder mixed with water into their mouths. Virgin coconut oil, applied topically and ingested with food, did wonders for their skin. There was an immediate noticeable change. My vet recommended Brewer's yeast.
Tips on how your dogs with sensitive skin can better endure the summer heat and humidity:
1. Keep your dog’s hair trimmed short for the summer months
2. Keep them hydrated by syringing their mouths with dextrose water and adding water to their food
3. Put Virgin Coconut Oil in their food and on their skin if irritated
4. Use natural antibiotic creams for scratches and wash with sensitive skin soaps
5. Brewer's yeast for healthier skin and shinier coat. When taken daily, it may help to repel biting insects like ticks and fleas.
6. If you have to use hydrocortisone cream to stop the itching, please use sparingly and for not more that 5 days
7. Brush their hair regularly. It stimulates their skin.
8. Keep your dogs inside and cool. Walk them early morning and/or late in the afternoon.
If you have any other tips or advise on caring for your dog's skin, please let me know.
At the onset of summer, I wasn't around, so I couldn’t get a jump on getting them ready for the summer heat. Nene, my trusty housekeeper and carer of the dogs, wasn’t on top of things, so my dogs suffered. Hobbes, my pug was full of cuts from scratching himself and red bumps all over his poor body. Chico, the doxie, wasn’t as bad, but his golden brown exterior was spotty white with scabs that had already fallen off. Heat rashes everywhere. I immediately moved to “let’s fix this!” mode. Hobbes' skin was so irritated from scratching, I had to succumbed to hydrocortisone cream, to reduced his itching, and natural antibiotic creams to heal the cuts. After Hobbes got his summer sporty buzz cut and had his nails trimmed and filed, he was feeling much better. After a visit to the vet, I had what was needed to keep the dogs more comfortable to endure the heat the humidity.
Dehydration was definitely an issue. To hydrated the dogs, Nene and I syringed some dextrose powder mixed with water into their mouths. Virgin coconut oil, applied topically and ingested with food, did wonders for their skin. There was an immediate noticeable change. My vet recommended Brewer's yeast.
Tips on how your dogs with sensitive skin can better endure the summer heat and humidity:
1. Keep your dog’s hair trimmed short for the summer months
2. Keep them hydrated by syringing their mouths with dextrose water and adding water to their food
3. Put Virgin Coconut Oil in their food and on their skin if irritated
4. Use natural antibiotic creams for scratches and wash with sensitive skin soaps
5. Brewer's yeast for healthier skin and shinier coat. When taken daily, it may help to repel biting insects like ticks and fleas.
6. If you have to use hydrocortisone cream to stop the itching, please use sparingly and for not more that 5 days
7. Brush their hair regularly. It stimulates their skin.
8. Keep your dogs inside and cool. Walk them early morning and/or late in the afternoon.
If you have any other tips or advise on caring for your dog's skin, please let me know.