Dogs Wearing Shoes

A little personal back story. Frank here. My oldest child is a type 1 diabetic, and Major and Raven, Major a rescue from a very abusive situation, and Raven, a dog that was about to be washed out of a service dog program due to behavioral issues, are trained to smell and alert to blood sugar issues (high or low blood sugar) of a diabetic. We recently went out with a group of diabetics and their dogs for a fun day. This is a post about some of the ways we protect our dogs in the warm California summer.

"Oh my gosh, those dogs are wearing SHOES!". If I had a dollar for how many times I overheard that as we walked through the Orange County Fair, I'd be rich. We live in Southern California, where the summer months (which seem to blast from March until November ;)  ) are often 90-100 degrees, and the asphalt gets hot enough to burn bare feet on humans, or paw pads on dogs. On a sunny day, even at 80 degrees, the asphalt can be upwards of 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature.

Our dogs are service dogs, diabetic alert dogs to be specific (DAD's), and as such often go with us on our daily activities, whether that is a trip to the grocery store, or a big outing to a county fair. We DO NOT take our pet dogs out with us on these excursions. The service dogs are utilized to protect our child, and have an important job to do that modern technology has yet to be able to duplicate. On our recent trip to the OC Fair, the weather was pleasant. The city where the fairgrounds located is closer to the ocean, so the temperature is 10-15 degrees cooler than in our area. On this day it was mid 80's and pleasant, but the black top the fair sits on was HOT. Often we do a touch test, if someone is in flip flops or sandals, we have them touch the ground with their foot, or use the back side of their hand, and if it is too hot or uncomfortable to touch, the boots go on.

While we are out and about wearing the shoes, we cause quite the commotion. Not many people think about their dogs paws on the hot ground. We get stopped often and asked why they have shoes, where the shoes are from, how hard are they to put on, how do we get our dogs to keep them on, and "can I take a picture?". We have had our service dogs for over 6 years, and they have been wearing shoes since they were puppies. It is part of their training, as they are expected to go with us everywhere, and not take summers off. There is of course a learning curve, and you need to pay close attention to make sure the dogs don't lose a shoe along the way, as they will slip off. And if you plan on getting your dog some shoes, please have the video camera ready for their first steps in them. Trust me on that :) (and search Youtube for "dogs in shoes")

Major wearing shoes in 2012

There is a threshold in temperature where we decide that regardless of the precautions we take, it just isn't safe or reasonable to bring a service dog with us. Generally when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, and we need to be outside for extended periods (like an amusement park) we leave the dogs home. If our plans are to go to the mall or a movie, or some indoor activity like that, we will bring a dog and use the boots to get across the parking lot. A rule of thumb that I recently heard was to use the number 135. You take the temperature and the humidity and add them together. If the total is over 135, you should leave the dog home to avoid heat exhaustion.

As an example:

Temperature: 80
Humidity: 35%
Total: 115 = safe within reason (assuming you aren't running or hiking for an extended period)

Second example:

Temperature: 85
Humidity: 60%
Total: 145 = potential heat exhaustion/heat stroke risk is increased. The temperature only increased 5 degrees, yet the humidity pushed the total over the threshold. I live in a fairly arid (desert like) community, but the east coast may see days like this in the summer.

Along with the shoes,  we are diligent about taking breaks, and cognizant of where we decide to rest. We always try to find a shady spot to rest and give the dogs a break. At a minimum, we always carry water, treats or a meal (depending on what our day looks like), and waste bags, and we will sit in a shady spot, even if that means we are resting in a corner on the black top of a crowded fair. While the boots protect against burning the paws, something to keep in mind is that dogs have sweat glands in their paws. While this may be a very minor way to express heat for the dog, and not as important as panting, with the boots on, they can get hot. Resting often, fresh water, and getting out of the sun for a while are all just good practice for dog handlers.

For those of you that are looking for shoes, we use shoes from Ruffwear that we love and have proved to last for years. The red pair you see here have been in service for at least 5 years. They have several different styles depending on usage, and several colors. Please note it is important to size them properly to ensure a good fit and keep them on, Ruffwear has a sizing chart on their site that you can use. There are other brands available from pet websites and big box pet stores, just make sure you get the correct size. Another product to look at is Mushers Secret, a wax type product that can be rubbed on the paw pads.

Some more helpful tips for keeping your dog cool and safe in the summer:

Tips for Keeping Your Pets Cool in the Summer Heat

1. Don't leave your pets unattended in a locked car
2. When walking your pet, try to do it in the cooler hours of the morning or evening
3. Always have plenty of fresh water available
4. If you go out with your pet, bring water with you
5. If your pet is an outdoor pet, provide shade or shelter
6. Be careful of hot asphalt or trails, do the barefoot test: Place your bare hand or foot on the surface for 5 seconds. If it is uncomfortable to you, it is too hot for your pet
7. Don't over exercise your pet. Many pets will continue to run or play fetch long after they have overheated, they don't know their limits. Again, wait till the cooler hours to toss a ball in the yard
8. If your pet can swim, let them take a dip in the pool, or if on a hike, choose a location that has a stream or lake to cool off your pet
9. The 135 rule of thumb: if the outside temperature and the humidity added together are greater than 135, leave the dog home. (see above for examples)

Signs of Heat Exhaustion to Look For:

1. Heavy panting
2. Excessive drooling
3. Lying down, frequent breaks, less responsive to commands
4. Labored breathing
5. Increased heart rate
6. Lethargy
7. Diarrhea and/or vomiting

Certain dogs are more prone to heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Puppies and seniors, brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds, over weight dogs, heavy coated dogs, and dogs with other risk factors like heart or lung disease all require more care in the heat.

Also be aware that it may be a good idea to use sunscreen on your dog. Noses, heads, and spines are all prone to burning in the sun.

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