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Heading to a Fall Festival? Think Twice About Taking Your Dog.

Nice weather, good food, and the chance to hear some music or discover a wonderful artist are all good reasons to head for the annual fall festivals. Why not bring the pooch along to enjoy the sights and smells? It will be a fun outing for everyone, right? Well, maybe not. Before you pack Fido into the car with his tie dyed bandana and visor, think about what this experience will really be for each of you.

Festivals can get very crowded. There is no traffic control. There is the general assumption that the right side of a path will move in one direction and the left will move in the other. But in reality, people make their way through the throngs pretty independently, sometimes stopping right in the middle of the crowd to chat, sometimes to attend to what's happening in the stroller, often for no apparent reason at all. Do you wonder what this is like for our canine companions?

Yesterday I attended a fall festival where there were many wonderful dogs. I saw breeds I had never seen before, and had the chance to take a few good pictures before things got very crowded. But it soon became apparent that many of the dogs in attendence were very uncomfortable, and some were displaying extreme anxiety. What made things worse is that some owners were completely unaware that their dogs were freaking out.

I saw two tiny little dogs frantically dodging feet and strollers, anxiously looking up their owners for help that never came. These little teacup creatures were only a couple of pounds each, but were being expected to maneuver through a forest of human limbs. Little kids, who only wanted to pet the tiny pups, added to the terror for this twosome. Before I could ask the owner to pick up the dogs, the inevitable happened: someone stepped on the little chichuahua.

Even for a bigger, more experienced dog, crowds can be distressing. Dog owners must be prepared to provide water, shade, and a way to get out of the horde quickly. Taking your dog along might limit your freedom at the festival. And, there is the possibility that taking your dog could make the experience less enjoyable for others. We know your dog loves to go everywhere you go, but sometimes leaving him at home is the kindest, safest, and best option.

Heat Stroke: Protect Your Pet from Summer Heat

Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased salivation early then dry gums as the heat prostration progresses, weakness, confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea and sometimes bleeding. As the condition progresses towards heat prostration or heat stroke there may be obvious paleness or graying to the gums, shallowing of the breathing efforts and eventually slowed or absent breathing efforts, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody and finally seizures or coma. Temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit are dangerous. Most people don't carry around thermometers with them and the physical signs are usually enough to go by. The best approach to heat exhaustion is to prevent it by allowing acclimation to exercise on hot days slowly, to make sure there is access to water and to retreat to air conditioned areas when signs of overheating first occur. Most dogs and people are smart enough not to overexert on those days. If your pet should show signs of serious distress from the heat it is best to cool him or her immediately with cool or tepid water rather than really cold water. If ice packs are available they can be applied to areas where circulation is very good, such as the "armpits", groin region, or neck. Blowing air over them with a fan as you cool them off with water can be helpful. As soon as they seem to be gaining some comfort proceed to your vet's. Even if he or she seems to regain a stable temperature, it is very important to see your veterinarian. Dogs who suffer from heat stroke can develop delayed complications that are really serious, including death, if they are not properly monitored and cared for.