UKC Forums - Hot Weather Tips from the Doc

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Posted by ahallada on 07-18-2016 03:58 AM:

Hot Weather Tips from the Doc

I figured it was a good time to get some info out there on how to keep those dogs cool in this extreme heat. I've been getting many questions on how to deal with this issue and it comes up every summer so I thought I'd share some current information on this subject. As things change I will update this post. Please feel free to add your own suggestions below. I like hearing your success stories on how you had a problem with a dog treeing in hot weather and is now kicking butt in the hunts with no issues. Together we can keep these dogs healthy and protect them from over heating and death. We can also improve performance and win more hunts.

As far as feeding dogs in the heat, we've covered this before in great detail and we are finding new things all the time. The key is feeding dogs at the right time and the highest quality, highest digestible foods at these correct times. Feeding dogs right after hunting at night is going to be the best time to feed performance dogs. Their digestive system is the most efficient during these times, within 30-60 minutes of hunting.

Ideally you want the food out of the upper digestive tract by the time you hunt them the next night, so I recommend only feeding once after hunting unless you have a dog that needs to gain weight. Hard keepers should be fed again in the morning and can be fed free choice up until about 4-6 hours prior to hunt time. You also want little stool in the colon that can lead to hind gut fermentation and heat build up. High carb / high fiber diets usually lead to more stool output and more water leaving the body and moving into the colon and eventually out of the dog. You don't want this. You want a small firm stool that doesn't remove moisture from the body. In fact you want foods that will add water/hydration to the body.

Grain free diets can be more digestible than grain fed diets as a rule, but not always. People who switch to grain free diets, many times see a difference in their dogs ability to tolerate hunting in hot weather better and treeing better. I believe this has more to do with the digestibility of the diet than the actual grains in the diet. Feeding whole foods like liver, hamburger, chicken, beef scraps, turkey, are good examples of no grain foods and add energy and high quality proteins to the diet during times of stress. These can all be added to the diets of dogs that are being pushed hard. Sled dogs are fed a combination of commercial diets and soupy beef stock meats. This also leads to the next subject.

That is the third key, add water to foods to increase hydration across the small intestines. When water is added with foods, it increases water absorption across the small intestine significantly. Canned foods that are meat based can really help when on the road and pushing dogs in competition. Canned foods are more palatable, and contain about 75% water which helps restore hydration in dogs that don't handle travel and stress very well. Look for canned foods that are meat based in the first 2 or 3 ingredients and are low carb. You can feed these canned foods by themselves or mix them to dry diets to improve the taste and increase water intake and food intake.

Adding probiotics can definitely improve intestinal health and may improve digestion in dogs during stress. There are only two products in the veterinary field that have been proven to contain beneficial bacteria, and they are Purina Forti Flora and Proviable DC. I have seen some amazing benefits from using Forti Flora in patients with stress related illness. I've also heard of good things from people who have seen performance benefits during hot weather. One packet on the the dogs diet daily is sufficient to provide high quality probiotics to dogs on a daily basis.

Sports enhancing formulas for dogs are controversial and expensive, but may add some benefits during times of stress and hot weather. Most of these formulas contain a combination of high quality proteins or amino acids, high quality fats/ MCTs, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, colostrum, joint protectants and things that really have no research to back their claims in veterinary medicine. Some of the names are Super Fuel, MVP, Bully Max. These supplements may help a dog that is being fed an inferior diet that lacks amino acid or fat support for example. It's cheaper to just get a better quality diet or add in some cheap hamburger that will add both good quality protein and fat. You can also add in your own MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) by adding a tablespoon of coconut oil, palm oil , or olive oil or a combination to the diet. Start with adding small amounts of these oils and increasing as needed over a few weeks. I think the biggest benefit seen with these formulas are the MCTs , Omega 3s, and probiotics. There are cheaper ways of adding these to a diet.

Adding glycerol based additives to diets or drinking water when pushed hard in hot weather may improve hydration in dogs. I"m still a little skeptical of this practice, until more research can confirm the safety of these products. I don't think that adding these products like Bounce Back once or twice a week while at hunts is going to affect a dogs kidney health as long as their water intake is sufficient and they are offered water along with these products on the side. I do know that some people swear by these products and have seen dramatic improvements in dogs that get hot treeing.

Lastly is making sure the dog is in good health and is in good condition. Taking a dog that is 10-20% overweight hunting on a night when temps are above 80F is a recipe for disaster and inhumane. Dogs that have lower body fat and who's muscles /heart, lungs are conditioned for extreme physical demand and output are going to handle the heat better. This should be a no brainer, but many don't get it. That is why you keep 5-7 year old dogs tuned for the hunts. They may be mentally prepared, but if they aren't hunted, they aren't physically prepared.

I've seen my share of dogs that suffered from heat stroke. It doesn't take long for the body temps to reach dangerous levels and start to cause tissue death in the brain and major organs leading to shock and death quickly. It's a good idea to keep a digital thermometer in your pocket and take the dogs temp after they are pulled from the tree if you suspect them to be overheated. If they are getting near 105F, they are in desperate need of water and cooling.

When I hunted in hot humid weather in WI this time of year, I pre sprayed the dog's bodies down with water before hunting. I thought it made a big difference in preventing them from getting hot during the hunt. If you have a dog that is prone to overheating or is having problems with the heat, take their body temp prior to hunting and then during the hunt to see if they are experiencing overheating issues. It only takes 10-15 seconds to get a temperature on a dog. Find hunting spots that have clean water during these times of the year. You will tree more coon and keep dogs in an area where they can get fresh water if they need it.

Always keep cool fresh water for them in the truck and offer it to them between drops. The use of electrolyte drinks containing sugar products is controversial in dogs. Just make sure they have good quality water available to them.

Don't leave dogs in dog boxes during extreme hot days in the sun. I don't care how good of quality the manufacturer says the box is, most of these boxes are death traps to our dogs. Pop out those side vents and front vents on the boxes. Limit each side to only one dog when hauling long distances. Spray the dogs down with water before putting them in the box if they are being hauled long distances during hot days and let them out every few hours to drink and urinate. Try to schedule your travel at night when it's dark. These may seem like common sense things, but I've seen my share of hunters that lack that gene. I've seen guys shoving multiple dogs in one side of a dog box when it's 80F plus out and their tongues are sticking out before they even leave the house. I've seen very few dogs boxes that I would consider to be dog safe in regards to ventilation. Guys don't let your dogs be victims to over heating because of poor dog box design. Take a **** sawzall to that box if you have to and open those things up in the summer months. Throw a small bag of ice in each side of the box or freeze gallon jugs of water that are cut off half way up and tie these to the doors. Pack a cooler with plenty of ice and fresh water. Keep dogs in the shade at all times when parked.

Be Smart! Stay cool!

__________________
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Current:

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1991 American Redbone Days Champion
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Gr.Ch.Nt.Ch. Ambraw River Rock
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Nt.Ch. Tree Bustin Annabelle
1986 American Redbone Days All Red Hunt Winner

Nt.Ch. Timber Mace
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Mother of Gr.Nt.Ch. Babb's Hazel

Nt. Ch. Timber Shock
(Gr.Nt.Ch.Timber Jack x Gr.Nt.Ch. Outlaw Jessie)

Gr. Ch. Nt. Ch. Squaw Mountain Goldie
(Direct Daughter of Gr.Nt.Ch.Smokey Mountain Brandy)
1990 Autumn Oaks Best of Show Winner
1988 Indiana State Champion

Posted by MR.RATMAN on 07-18-2016 04:36 AM:

Very nice post thanks for sharing it

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Posted by Jrkb2012 on 07-18-2016 07:30 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by MR.RATMAN
Very nice post thanks for sharing it

X2
Thanks Doc

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Posted by joey on 07-18-2016 07:36 AM:

So is one of the things you would suggest is to soak the dry food? To aid in hydration?

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Posted by Larry Atherton on 07-18-2016 06:50 PM:

First and foremost keep fresh water available at all times when not exercising. One of the recent papers I read stated free water consumption after exercise rapidly corrects dehydration. It also stated that supplements with electrolytes, fluids, or sport drinks has never been associated with any scientifically proven benefit.

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Posted by thomasg on 07-19-2016 12:22 AM:

FEEL LIKE TEMP. 104 NOW.FELL LIKE TEMP.84 AT MIDNIGHT.SURE MY DOGS WOULD JUMP IN THE BOX AND HUNT IF I ASKED THEM .I GOT THE BRAINS ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM A FEW NIGHTS OFF IN THIS KIND OF WEATHER.WHY ANYONE WOULD SUBJECT THIER DOGS TO SUCH BRUTAL CONDITIONS IS BEYOND ME.

Posted by outlawgirl on 07-19-2016 01:24 AM:

Thank you for sharing. This is so important for people to learn and to practice .

Posted by Redneck Mafia on 07-19-2016 03:45 AM:

Several good tips here thanks Doc.
When traveling off to hunt during daytime travel my dogs rides in the back seat of the truck. At hunts I bait pedialyte with chicken or beef broth prior to the hunt for extra hydration and electrolytes.
More than one really good dog has been lost by being left in a dog box when staying at hotels, find one that allows dogs or make sure you set an alarm.
Had a show dog lady give me a tip over the weekend she uses the frog tog towels to keep her dog cool in the crate during shows I'm gonna try one to lay in the dog box, I've used them myself they stay cool for a long time.
No spill water bowls in the dog box when hunting and travelling.

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Posted by Rex Ridge on 07-19-2016 04:41 AM:

A prison drug dog just died at SCI Rockview after his trainer left him in the car. The outside temp was 86, but the temp in the car was estimated at 130.
We took a metal stake and hammer and tied Dandy in the shade with lots of water on the wkend.

Posted by Toad Hill on 07-19-2016 05:40 PM:

Esp For long trips in the heat I freeze gal Milk jugs ( screw top caps wont come off and leak ) an put about 4 into a pop cooler and one in dogbox when i leave out . This gives me spares for later when others melt. If they all melt down along the trip or hunt i can still stop along the way and buy bags of ice . When the jugs melt they can used to water the dogs with as long as water dont get too hot on ya . If you HAVE to leave one in box he must be in the shade, a frozen milk jug OR TWO and a fan hung to the door or on the side vent, with tailgate down but even at that its just still too hot really. Those fans are really a good thing to have though. A little is air is better than no air and with air hitting those frozen jugs it really works great ! I drew out with a guy at Oaks who had one heck of a set up for fans hooked to his dogbox . It wasnt like the ones i purchased.. his was REALLY alot better .....something he made at home & ran off his truck battery with a switch.

Just use common sense.
its just HOOTTT everywhere right now !

Great Post Doc Thanks for all that !

Posted by diesel smoke on 07-20-2016 09:49 AM:

I use those pusher fans from Oreilly or autozone. Easy mount to the doors, move a ton of air, and while hunting one dog, the other in the box can't hear him treed. So no box barking

Posted by rcagla10583 on 07-21-2016 05:18 AM:

Good post never thought about feeding can feed much might give some a try now

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Posted by fdcooner on 07-22-2016 08:26 PM:

Do you feed as much in the heat? I myself eat less when its this hot out and my hound tends to not eat as much so do you cut there feed by a little bit anyways? Or am i backwards?

Posted by Kler Kry on 07-27-2016 01:44 AM:

Re: Hot Weather Tips from the Doc

quote:
Originally posted by ahallada
I figured it was a good time to get some info out there on how to keep those dogs cool in this extreme heat. I've been getting many questions on how to deal with this issue and it comes up every summer so I thought I'd share some current information on this subject. As things change I will update this post. Please feel free to add your own suggestions below. I like hearing your success stories on how you had a problem with a dog treeing in hot weather and is now kicking butt in the hunts with no issues. Together we can keep these dogs healthy and protect them from over heating and death. We can also improve performance and win more hunts.

As far as feeding dogs in the heat, we've covered this before in great detail and we are finding new things all the time. The key is feeding dogs at the right time and the highest quality, highest digestible foods at these correct times. Feeding dogs right after hunting at night is going to be the best time to feed performance dogs. Their digestive system is the most efficient during these times, within 30-60 minutes of hunting.

Ideally you want the food out of the upper digestive tract by the time you hunt them the next night, so I recommend only feeding once after hunting unless you have a dog that needs to gain weight. Hard keepers should be fed again in the morning and can be fed free choice up until about 4-6 hours prior to hunt time. You also want little stool in the colon that can lead to hind gut fermentation and heat build up. High carb / high fiber diets usually lead to more stool output and more water leaving the body and moving into the colon and eventually out of the dog. You don't want this. You want a small firm stool that doesn't remove moisture from the body. In fact you want foods that will add water/hydration to the body.

Grain free diets can be more digestible than grain fed diets as a rule, but not always. People who switch to grain free diets, many times see a difference in their dogs ability to tolerate hunting in hot weather better and treeing better. I believe this has more to do with the digestibility of the diet than the actual grains in the diet. Feeding whole foods like liver, hamburger, chicken, beef scraps, turkey, are good examples of no grain foods and add energy and high quality proteins to the diet during times of stress. These can all be added to the diets of dogs that are being pushed hard. Sled dogs are fed a combination of commercial diets and soupy beef stock meats. This also leads to the next subject.

That is the third key, add water to foods to increase hydration across the small intestines. When water is added with foods, it increases water absorption across the small intestine significantly. Canned foods that are meat based can really help when on the road and pushing dogs in competition. Canned foods are more palatable, and contain about 75% water which helps restore hydration in dogs that don't handle travel and stress very well. Look for canned foods that are meat based in the first 2 or 3 ingredients and are low carb. You can feed these canned foods by themselves or mix them to dry diets to improve the taste and increase water intake and food intake.

Adding probiotics can definitely improve intestinal health and may improve digestion in dogs during stress. There are only two products in the veterinary field that have been proven to contain beneficial bacteria, and they are Purina Forti Flora and Proviable DC. I have seen some amazing benefits from using Forti Flora in patients with stress related illness. I've also heard of good things from people who have seen performance benefits during hot weather. One packet on the the dogs diet daily is sufficient to provide high quality probiotics to dogs on a daily basis.

Sports enhancing formulas for dogs are controversial and expensive, but may add some benefits during times of stress and hot weather. Most of these formulas contain a combination of high quality proteins or amino acids, high quality fats/ MCTs, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, colostrum, joint protectants and things that really have no research to back their claims in veterinary medicine. Some of the names are Super Fuel, MVP, Bully Max. These supplements may help a dog that is being fed an inferior diet that lacks amino acid or fat support for example. It's cheaper to just get a better quality diet or add in some cheap hamburger that will add both good quality protein and fat. You can also add in your own MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) by adding a tablespoon of coconut oil, palm oil , or olive oil or a combination to the diet. Start with adding small amounts of these oils and increasing as needed over a few weeks. I think the biggest benefit seen with these formulas are the MCTs , Omega 3s, and probiotics. There are cheaper ways of adding these to a diet.

Adding glycerol based additives to diets or drinking water when pushed hard in hot weather may improve hydration in dogs. I"m still a little skeptical of this practice, until more research can confirm the safety of these products. I don't think that adding these products like Bounce Back once or twice a week while at hunts is going to affect a dogs kidney health as long as their water intake is sufficient and they are offered water along with these products on the side. I do know that some people swear by these products and have seen dramatic improvements in dogs that get hot treeing.

Lastly is making sure the dog is in good health and is in good condition. Taking a dog that is 10-20% overweight hunting on a night when temps are above 80F is a recipe for disaster and inhumane. Dogs that have lower body fat and who's muscles /heart, lungs are conditioned for extreme physical demand and output are going to handle the heat better. This should be a no brainer, but many don't get it. That is why you keep 5-7 year old dogs tuned for the hunts. They may be mentally prepared, but if they aren't hunted, they aren't physically prepared.

I've seen my share of dogs that suffered from heat stroke. It doesn't take long for the body temps to reach dangerous levels and start to cause tissue death in the brain and major organs leading to shock and death quickly. It's a good idea to keep a digital thermometer in your pocket and take the dogs temp after they are pulled from the tree if you suspect them to be overheated. If they are getting near 105F, they are in desperate need of water and cooling.

When I hunted in hot humid weather in WI this time of year, I pre sprayed the dog's bodies down with water before hunting. I thought it made a big difference in preventing them from getting hot during the hunt. If you have a dog that is prone to overheating or is having problems with the heat, take their body temp prior to hunting and then during the hunt to see if they are experiencing overheating issues. It only takes 10-15 seconds to get a temperature on a dog. Find hunting spots that have clean water during these times of the year. You will tree more coon and keep dogs in an area where they can get fresh water if they need it.

Always keep cool fresh water for them in the truck and offer it to them between drops. The use of electrolyte drinks containing sugar products is controversial in dogs. Just make sure they have good quality water available to them.

Don't leave dogs in dog boxes during extreme hot days in the sun. I don't care how good of quality the manufacturer says the box is, most of these boxes are death traps to our dogs. Pop out those side vents and front vents on the boxes. Limit each side to only one dog when hauling long distances. Spray the dogs down with water before putting them in the box if they are being hauled long distances during hot days and let them out every few hours to drink and urinate. Try to schedule your travel at night when it's dark. These may seem like common sense things, but I've seen my share of hunters that lack that gene. I've seen guys shoving multiple dogs in one side of a dog box when it's 80F plus out and their tongues are sticking out before they even leave the house. I've seen very few dogs boxes that I would consider to be dog safe in regards to ventilation. Guys don't let your dogs be victims to over heating because of poor dog box design. Take a **** sawzall to that box if you have to and open those things up in the summer months. Throw a small bag of ice in each side of the box or freeze gallon jugs of water that are cut off half way up and tie these to the doors. Pack a cooler with plenty of ice and fresh water. Keep dogs in the shade at all times when parked.

Be Smart! Stay cool!

Posted by Kler Kry on 07-27-2016 02:03 AM:

Dog Feeds In Hot Weather

Doc really nailed the topic. Great job! Dogs get hot from physical activity and digesting food. All meat diets that are difficult to digest can create just as much body heat as raw grains diets. I spent 34 years in the feed industry and correctly processing the ingredients and quality ingredients are the key to making easily digested food that give off low levels of body heat. Sometimes it comes down to who was on what manufacturing shift when the feed was made on.

Posted by ahallada on 07-21-2017 06:12 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by fdcooner
Do you feed as much in the heat? I myself eat less when its this hot out and my hound tends to not eat as much so do you cut there feed by a little bit anyways? Or am i backwards?

Yes I do.

Summary:

It's a really good time to revisit this post. Man it's hot out there. Keep those dogs cool boys and girls.

Highly digestible diets with water added to the food given within 30 min to 1 hour after hunting at night.

Canned highly digestible diets such as Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy and Purina Pro Plan EN Naturals are two good ones. You can also just add water to your dry food and let it sit for 20-30 min before feeding to improve hydration in dogs.

Open dog boxes with lots of ventilation.

Cool filtered or distilled water available at all times. Keep it fresh!

Electrolytes such as Bounce Back on the food and given throughout the day and during the hunt. Pedialyte is a good one too.

Keep a bag of ice in the dog box or a cooling mat. I just found out about these mats. Great idea! Frozen plastic gallon jugs of water can be tied to the doors to the side so they don't impede air flow. If they are cut in half the dogs can lick the melted water as needed.

Don't leave dogs in dog boxes in the sun period!

Haul one dog per side in the dog box in hot weather.

Wet dogs down before getting in the dog box or prior to hunting.

Haul dogs at night if at all possible.

Use your brain!

Doc

Posted by Todd K / UKC on 07-21-2017 02:12 PM:

I have heard good things about Forti Flora and will have my Setter on it this year during hunting season. Has anybody else on here used it? My dog is not one that bolts her food down as soon as you set it in front of her. Will all dogs eat with this Forti Flora added or are some of them fussy about it? Will it help a dog hold it's weight when being hunted hard during the season?

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Posted by Preacher Tom on 07-21-2017 07:31 PM:

Sent you a PM. Thanks

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Posted by joey on 07-21-2017 07:58 PM:

I used to travel with the oil field and took my dogs with me some. I used a mop bucket and filled it with ice. With it 100 degrees outside the dog would be in the box and not panting. When they did they just held their head over the ice and cooled right down. I would stop every three hours or so and change the ice. It would be melted but still full of cold water. Helped a hole lot on how they felt when they got to where we were going.

Posted by Triple K Kennel on 08-06-2017 05:29 PM:

Question......

Doc.......I sent you a PM.
Thanks
Tim

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Posted by Bob Hennessey on 08-06-2017 06:24 PM:

Use your brain!

Doc

You do realize you are talking to a bunch of coon hunters. LOL!

Thanks for posting, sometimes we forget about how hot it can get for dogs in the box when we are riding in air conditioned cabs. I use the frozen milk jugs too. With the vents open and the Ice jugs makes a difference. Couple of dogs in the box can get hot.

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Posted by ahallada on 08-06-2017 06:39 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Todd K / UKC
I have heard good things about Forti Flora and will have my Setter on it this year during hunting season. Has anybody else on here used it? My dog is not one that bolts her food down as soon as you set it in front of her. Will all dogs eat with this Forti Flora added or are some of them fussy about it? Will it help a dog hold it's weight when being hunted hard during the season?

Hey Todd I just saw your post on here. I sell a lot of Forti Flora in the hospital for regulation and balance of the intestinal flora during times of stress or diarrhea. If you read some of the reviews at Chewy and Amazon, it has been used to enhance performance during times of stress and heat. I've never had any issues with dogs ingesting it and it's actually been used to enhance the palitabilty of dog foods. I'd give it a shot and see how your dog does on it.

Doc

Posted by George pouliott on 08-07-2017 05:02 PM:

Heat

Here in Florida it stays hot about 9 month's out the year . I have always fed at night . I also run my dog's year round . Fresh water every day and i spray the floor of the pens down something cool to lay on . If you spray a dog down with water here when it's already hot your liable to lose it or at least send it into shock be careful with this . i feed the same feed year round . Diamond High Energy . They look good and perform good even on 90 plus degree night's one 2 drops then i go home unless like right now we are under water they can cool off . I hunt out of an suv so they get ac for the ride . I've never lost a dog to the heat but know people that have . A lot of good info for in this thread .

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