Dogs also can suffer from weather injuries

All too often when day hiking, we think our dogs are impervious to the warm or cold weather. A body covered in hair and the general belief that animals are hardier than humans both lead to this faulty conclusion.

Warm weather
Indeed, as soon as temperatures hit the high 80s, dogs are vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke on the hiking trail. This is especially the case when humidity is high.

The problem is dogs don’t sweat like humans and instead must cool themselves by panting. Short-faced dogs such as pugs and bulldogs particularly can suffer from heat exhaustion and heatstroke as they don’t pant or breathe very efficiently, and so have trouble cooling themselves down. And contrary to what one might think, athletic dogs also are quite vulnerable, primarily because they don’t realize they’re overdoing it.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in dogs include dizziness and heavy panting that doesn’t subside. Of the two, heat stroke is more dangerous, as it can result in fainting, a hemorrhage, and even death.

To prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke, limit hikes with your dog to the cooler morning and evening hours. While on the trail, ensure your dog rests in the shade for a while and that she has cool water to drink. Should heat exhaustion set in, get them into shade where a breeze is flowing, provide them with water to drink, and wet their coat.

Cold weather
Dogs actually are better able than humans to handle cooler temperatures. The cut-off point is when temperatures hit zero or colder.

Frostbite can occur, especially on the extremities of the nose, feet, ears and tails. Floppy and upright ears particularly are vulnerable to frostbite. The good blood flow of athletic dogs, however, generally means they’re less likely to suffer from it.

Another cold weather issues for dogs is paw irritation due to salt and de-icing chemicals.

To prevent frostbite, don’t hike with your dog when temperatures are zero or below. For paw irritation, avoid walking on sidewalks and roads where salt and de-icing chemicals are used. For both ailments, dog boots also ae beneficial.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

‘Hikes’ author’s article on avoiding injuries appears in magazine

My article “Hiking with Kids – Avoiding Common Summer Injuries” appears in the latest edition of Seattle Backpackers Magazine. The article examines how to avoid and treat sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Seattle Backpackers Magazine is an online magazine focusing on backpacking, hiking, climbing and camping.

An excerpt from the article: “Ah, summer – brilliant blue skies, the warm golden sun – perfect for a day hike with the kids. And also perfect for a couple of significant injuries that sort sneak up on your children: sunburn and heat exhaustion and heat stroke. No worries, though. With a little preparation, these two common summer ailments easily can be avoided. Should the injury occur despite your best efforts, they also can be treated.”

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Avoiding, treating dehydration on a hike

Make sure children drink water when hiking, as they will dehydrate more
quickly than adults. Photo courtesy of Ken Kistler.

When one has overexerted himself in extremely hot or dry weather or after great exposure to the sun, the body can suddenly dehydrate.

Though dangerous in itself, dehydration can lead to additional problems, such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke and hypothermia.

Drink up
Take note: Children will dehydrate more quickly than adults. After all, a glass with a little water in it will evaporate more quickly than a glass with a lot of water. Likewise, children will use up water more quickly than a full-grown person.

Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water. Children need to drink about a quart every two hours of walking and more if the weather is hot, dry or cold and if at a high altitude.

Keep the soft drinks and caffeinated beverages at home. They may temporarily quench thirst, but they won’t adequately replace water the body has lost due to physical exertion. Also, let older kids carry their own canteens or use a hydration system. They’re then more likely to sip water as they need it.

First sign
Parent Rosie M., of Durango, Colo., offers this idea for getting children to drink their water:
“Sometimes kids won’t drink warm water. Fill the canteen half way up with water the night before the hike and place it in the freezer. The next morning, fill the canteen with cold water. Several hours will have to pass before the ice melts, ensuring you have cold water the entire hike.”

Thirst is the first sign of dehydration. The less clear (or more yellow) the urine is, the more dehydrated the body is. Other symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps and fatigue.

To treat dehydration, place the victim in the shade. Use sports drinks or packages of electrolyte additives for kids, children, not plain water. Don’t use salt tablets, as they’re difficult to digest.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

How to prevent, treat hypothermia in kids

Avoid hypothermia by not getting wet.
Photo courtesy of kangotraveler / Photoree.

The opposite of heat exhaustion, when a child has hypothermia, the body can’t maintain its normal temperature. Our normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees; when it falls just 1.6 degrees, we can start to feel negative effects. If the body drops just 3.6 degrees, it can cease to function.Hypothermia happens because heat loss from the body occurs faster than the body can keep up, usually when a person is in wet, cold air or clothes.

You can avoid hypothermia by ensuring your children wear adequate clothing and then layered clothing, including a hat, which can decrease heat loss from body. For infants, change diapers immediately, as the wetness can be a source of chill. Also, eat high energy foods on the hike and drink plenty of fluids. When taking rest stops on cooler days, have kids immediately put on their hats and an extra layer of clothing before they get cold, as it will be difficult for their chilled bodies to play catch up.

If a trip into a lake or stream is part of the hike, carry a bathing suit or swimming trunks. Going into water with jeans will mean wet pants, and hypothermia is possible even on a warm day.

Signs of hypothermia include a loss of normal level of consciousness, loss of normal coordination, uncontrollable shivering, and a slow, weak pulse. Victims usually deny they are cold and even become combative about it. That’s because their body is confused, so they think they are hot.

To treat for hypothermia, change the victim into dry clothing and snuggle to warm them up. You might cover them with a space blanket. Always seek immediate medical assistance. Handle a victim gently as movement increases the heart rate.

Finally, don’t make the error of believing that children can simply keep warm by continuing to walk. By walking, they’re actually expending energy needed to keep warm.

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.