Summer Heat and Yorkies

[mom2gizzy]

This is my 1st Yorkie and I was wondering if they have issues with heat- I live in Arizona and of course it gets a little hot here and I noticed that all weekend during the heat of the day he is sleeping alot !!! He is super hyper now but I guess he has had alot of rest !!!! lol

[courtney1121]

I assume he is young maybe at least 12 weeks old. Puppies this young usually sleep a lot. When Geno was that young, he was always napping so I wouldn't worry. I have learned that yorkies do get hot/cold easily so I always make sure to keep my air conditioner on for him or put on the heat when it's cold out.

Now if he's napping a lot and not eating, can't hold food down, not drinking water, not pooping/peeing then I would be worried.

[Lovetodream88]

Mine hates when it is very very hot and if anyone goes outside she will sit in the ac and watch them out the door. If me or anyone takes a toy outside and throws it for her she will go get the toy and bring it inside lol. Just make sure if they are in the heat they have water and aren't out there to long or like any dog they could overheat.

[mom2gizzy]

Gizmo is 5 mos old....and I watch him like a hawk when he is outside, he is so small and we have coyotes around here-just saw a fox last week 2 streets over- so I make sure that if I can't watch her than her big sister is out there.

[drkprincess13]

Originally Posted by mom2gizzy

This is my 1st Yorkie and I was wondering if they have issues with heat- I live in Arizona and of course it gets a little hot here and I noticed that all weekend during the heat of the day he is sleeping alot !!! He is super hyper now but I guess he has had alot of rest !!!! lol

i live in arizona as well mine dont seem to mind as long as they have plenty of water but they are usually inside unless i take them out to the river or something=)

[tinyterroriers]

I'm in AZ, too. We're in NE Phoenix. My girls, Scooter and Jilly, really don't enjoy the heat.
They moan and groan when I tell them to go out to peepee, and usually lie on the wood floors to stay cool.
Jilly doesn't like to be held, and her body heat goes up when I snuggle her for a minute. Scooter usually lays on tile or small rugs. She doesn't seem to get hot when I hold her.
Actually, these two dogs couldn't be any more different -- they are poles apart in every way. It's hard to believe they're the same breed.

[yorkieusa]

Mine hates the heat. She's fine when it is 80 or below and not humid, but she much prefers the cooler temps 60-75. She can get overheated very easily and that is one thing that you should watch for in a yorkie in high temps. It can happen very suddenly.

Hyperthermia is a term describing an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage - or even death - can occur.

Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans - they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog's temperature reaches 106°, damage to the body's cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Unfortunately, too many dogs succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog.

Signs of Heat Stroke
The following signs may indicate heat stroke in a dog: •Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
•Vigorous panting
•Dark red gums
•Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
•Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
•Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
•Thick saliva
•Dizziness or disorientation

What to do if You Suspect Heat Stroke
If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stoke, you must take immediate action. 1.First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.
2.Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body - especially the foot pads and around the head.
3.DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body's core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches 103°, stop cooling.
4.Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog's mouth.
5.Call or visit your vet right away - even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended).

Dogs and Heat Stroke - Understanding and Preventing Heat Stroke in Dogs

[Britster]

Jackson HATES the heat. The only thing he loves about it is the pool - he spends most of his summer in the water. When it's above 85, he gets hot very easily and won't run around as much - which stinks for me because then he doesn't get enough exercise and drives me crazy in the house in the evenings, lol. So we spend most of our summers swimming!

[LAL3961]

Avery loves to be in the heat... we live in Louisiana... but at times, it's entirely too hot. We bought a Cool-It Bandana... DON'T waste your money-- they don't work. I suggest just keep cold water available to your pup 24/7 when outside.
I couldn't say for sure if Yorkies in general don't like heat, but I think it's based on how the pup is/was raised and the family's lifestyle.

[chachi]

Ours dont like the heat. Jewels will go lay in the middle of our stream when it gets hot. They are used to us having the air conditioning on however we go outside alot and they go with us

[southernbelle04]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Mine hates the heat. She's fine when it is 80 or below and not humid, but she much prefers the cooler temps 60-75. She can get overheated very easily and that is one thing that you should watch for in a yorkie in high temps. It can happen very suddenly.

Hyperthermia is a term describing an elevation in body temperature. This increase typically occurs as a response to a trigger, such as inflammation in the body or a hot environment. When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Once the signs of heat stroke are detected, there is precious little time before serious damage - or even death - can occur.

Dogs do not sweat through their skin like humans - they release heat primarily by panting and they sweat through the foot pads and nose. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog's temperature reaches 106°, damage to the body's cellular system and organs may become irreversible. Unfortunately, too many dogs succumb to heat stroke when it could have been avoided. Learn how to recognize the signs of heat stroke and prevent it from happening to your dog.

Signs of Heat Stroke
The following signs may indicate heat stroke in a dog: •Increased rectal temperature (over 104° requires action, over 106° is a dire emergency)
•Vigorous panting
•Dark red gums
•Tacky or dry mucus membranes (specifically the gums)
•Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
•Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
•Thick saliva
•Dizziness or disorientation

What to do if You Suspect Heat Stroke
If you have even the slightest suspicion that your dog is suffering from heat stoke, you must take immediate action. 1.First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.
2.Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body - especially the foot pads and around the head.
3.DO NOT use ice or very cold water! Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict, preventing the body's core from cooling and actually causing the internal temperature to further rise. In addition, over-cooling can cause hypothermia, introducing a host of new problems. When the body temperature reaches 103°, stop cooling.
4.Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog's mouth.
5.Call or visit your vet right away - even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary (and further testing may be recommended).

Dogs and Heat Stroke - Understanding and Preventing Heat Stroke in Dogs

Wonderful info!

[LoALAnna]

I live in abject fear that we'll have a hurricane and be without AC for an extended period of time! The Boys are very heat sensitive, especially Neo, and I have to watch him closely when we're outside for any amount of time. What is so bad, is the humidity! Nothing like a coastal Alabama summer to turn anyone (yorkie or human) into a couch potato!

[Yorkiedaze]

If I lived in that kind of heat, I'd have a hat, shoes, sun glasses and those little vests that you put in the freezer, on them. I already feed them barley which cools the core temps in animals and people, but would really beef it up and feed lots of it if I lived in AZ.

[gemy]

yes I have the cooling vest and it does work. Razzle so far loves the heat, but then we don't live in Arizona -). Probably we get some really hot days 90+ with humidity, but mainly we are in the low mid 80s. Also we spend lots of summertime swimming which we all enjoy.

In summertime I always travel with a cooler full of water n ice, and snacks as well especially if it is a swim/hike day.

I try to use the A/C sparingly in summer so that it is not so much of a difference inside to out.

When hiking we always stop for a sip of water every 1/2 hr in hot weather - more often if it is blazingly hot.

[DBlain]

mine have always felt the heat and MI is nothing like AZ. We live on a lake so when we go for a walk we stop a few times so Lola can take a swim, if it is really hot I spray cool water on her before we leave the house. When we boat we are always putting water on her, or dipping her over the side of the boat. So in the summer she is either in the air conditioning or being wet down. Drinking water is important, but IMHO the easiest way to make sure they do not over heat is to get them wet, but like the article says not freezing water, so if you are in a park or anyplace outside that is not near a lake or pool, just keep a cool bottle of water on hand, and put some on your dog's head, chest, and back, and repeat as the dog dries. LOL I have never seen it fail, a cold wet dog immediately perks up.