Guest Bodie Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 We are enjoying an unusual warm spell here in South Central PA. Tomorrow is the start of Greyhounds in Gettysburg and the predicted high is 79 degrees. Much of GIG is on asphalt or pavement. Normally, when I take Bodie out, he wears Therapaws on all three feet (you may remember he had amputation and chemo for osteo). He is susceptible to corns, now that his walking pattern has changed, and we are constantly fighting his unknown skin problems which occur mainly in the areas between the pads of his feet. The Therapaws help protect those areas from picking up a possible infection. However, Bodie is a particularly "hot" dog. He is warm all of the time, especially since his chemo. (I understand Winslow has the same problem since he had chemo). He is panting at home, now, due to the heat and he isn't doing anything but his usual coach potato routine. My concern is that I understand that dogs not only pant, but lose some of their body heat through their feet. If I have them wrapped up in Therapaws tomorrow, how will it affect his ability to get rid of his excess heat? Naturally, Bodie is black - the worst color to be a "hot" dog - so he will be absorbing a lot of sunshine. Not much shade at GIG. Bottom line - should I leave the Therapaws off due to the heat, or have him wear them to protect his feet? Will he become overheated if he is wearing Therapaws on all feet on a warm day? By the way, I should note - he hates the Therapaws. Wears them, but hates them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I'd keep the therapaws on, just give him plenty of rest stops on the grass so you can take them off and perhaps bring a spray bottle to spritz him down if he seems too hot. I remember a few years ago, Karen bought Marx a bunch of therapaws because the pavement was TOO hot and it was burning his feet - so they can help protect Bodie's feet in that case, too Turbo will be sporting a single therapaw on the back left - he's stylish like that (and, OK, his corns are bothering him) Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Yes, dogs cool off through panting and only sweat through their paws and noses. The Therapaws can get very sweaty. To be honest, my first reaction is to wonder whether Bodie will enjoy himself in the conditions you describe. Black *hot* dog, sore feet, asphalt, not much shade, and hot day. I don't want to sound mean, but if you do take him be very, very careful. Heat stroke can be very dangerous. Gillian, Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy. Quote GillianCaesar (Black Caesarfire) and Olly (Oregon) the Galgo Still missing: Nell (spaniel mix) 1982-1997, Boudicca (JRT) 1986- 2004, and the greys P's Catwalk 2001-2008, Murphy Peabody (we failed fostering) 1998-2010 and Pilgrim (Blazing Leia) 2003-2016, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hamiesmom Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Hi, I have a 10yr old red fawn boy who wears his therapaws, year round. Cold weather, hot weather, it doesn't matter. We just take it easier. I also find that wearing the therapaws prevents him from getting cuts on his pads. We have a lot of litter and some of it is broken glass. I also carry a spritz bottle to cool him down. My boy has corns on all four paws. Have fun at GIG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bodie Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 To be honest, my first reaction is to wonder whether Bodie will enjoy himself in the conditions you describe. Black *hot* dog, sore feet, asphalt, not much shade, and hot day. I don't want to sound mean, but if you do take him be very, very careful. Heat stroke can be very dangerous. Gillian, Catwalk, Pilgrim and Murphy. Bodie will only be attending Friday afternoon and evening and the main reason I'm taking him is that he LOVES other greyhounds. Nothing makes him happier. Naturally, if I saw any signs of fatigue or overheating, we will be resting and cooling down. Unfortunately, he just isn't up to going on Saturday - I think a full day would be too much for him - but I do want to give him a chance to socialize on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytmonty Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I think the spritz bottle of water is a great idea. Also why not carry a large umbrella and use that as a "sun shade" for him? I hope you enjoy GIG and I hope Bodie is well, thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 My boy Wayne has to wear the therapaws and he's black.When the heat comes here, I use the boots that the Guide Dogs use because they allow the paws to breath.Whatever you decide to do, I hope Bodie will be comfortable. Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KateWantsaGrey Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 this is kind of a side note, but I'm wondering if the therapaws are part of the reason he has something funky going on between his toes. We have a cat that got a fungal infection in one of her nail beds, and I know if we wrapped the paw and didn't let it get a lot of air, it would have gotten worse. And as you were saying, dogs sweat through their paws, so it's even more moist inside the shoe. Dark, warm, and moist- it's perfect conditions for bacteria to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bodie Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 this is kind of a side note, but I'm wondering if the therapaws are part of the reason he has something funky going on between his toes. We have a cat that got a fungal infection in one of her nail beds, and I know if we wrapped the paw and didn't let it get a lot of air, it would have gotten worse. And as you were saying, dogs sweat through their paws, so it's even more moist inside the shoe. Dark, warm, and moist- it's perfect conditions for bacteria to grow. A good idea - but not applicable here. Bodie only wears the Therapaws when we go somewhere where he might pick up germs. He doesn't wear them at home or for local walks in the neighborhood. The last time he wore them was in February when we went to OSU for his check-up. I don't let him have naked feet at the doggy rest areas on the interstate! I was thinking he should wear them at GIG because much of it is in the outlets' parking lot and with normal parking lot dirt and all the dogs, it seems kind of "germy" to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 [ Bodie will only be attending Friday afternoon and evening and the main reason I'm taking him is that he LOVES other greyhounds. Nothing makes him happier. Naturally, if I saw any signs of fatigue or overheating, we will be resting and cooling down. Unfortunately, he just isn't up to going on Saturday - I think a full day would be too much for him - but I do want to give him a chance to socialize on Friday. Good! I know he'll be well taken care of and you know him best Spritz bottles are good for cooling down, but there are also cooling coats -- or even a wet towel in a cooler! Have fun! Gillian Quote GillianCaesar (Black Caesarfire) and Olly (Oregon) the Galgo Still missing: Nell (spaniel mix) 1982-1997, Boudicca (JRT) 1986- 2004, and the greys P's Catwalk 2001-2008, Murphy Peabody (we failed fostering) 1998-2010 and Pilgrim (Blazing Leia) 2003-2016, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackandBrindle Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Add some ice cubes to the water in the spray bottle. It works well for Sadie in the Arizona sun. I hope you have a fabulous time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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