Dog Dies in Boise Foothills

"What you need, your dog needs."

According to the Idaho Statesman, a bulldog died after suffering from canine heat stroke while on a hike with its owner over the weekend.

The dog was taken to the vet after showing signs of heat stroke, but didn't make it. It's a stark reminder of the dangers of taking your pups outdoors in the heat.

In an interview with The Idaho Statesman, David Gordon, manager of the Ridge to Rivers trail system says:

“What you need, your dog needs,” Gordon said. “Your dog needs shade. Your dog needs cooler temperatures. And if you’re out when it’s hotter, your dog needs water just like you do."

If you want to take your dog on a hike consider these trails that offer a bit more shade than others.

• Gold Finch
• Owls Roost and the Grove in Lower Hulls Gulch
• Cottonwood Creek in Military Reserve
• 5-Mile Gulch in Rocky Canyon

HEAT STROKE SYMPTOMS (via PetMD):

• Panting
• Dehydration
• Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
• Increased body temperature - above 103° F (39° C)
• Reddened gums and moist tissues of the body
• Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine
• Sudden (acute) kidney failure
• Rapid heart rate
• Irregular heart beats
• Shock
• Stoppage of the heart and breathing (cardiopulmonary arrest)
• Fluid build-up in the lungs; sudden breathing distress (tachypnea)
• Blood-clotting disorder(s)
• Vomiting blood (hematemesis)
• Passage of blood in the bowel movement or stool
• Black, tarry stools
• Small, pinpoint areas of bleeding
• Generalized (systemic) inflammatory response syndrome
• Disease characterized by the breakdown of red-muscle tissue
• Death of liver cells
• Changes in mental status
• Seizures
• Muscle tremors
• Wobbly, incoordinated or drunken gait or movement (ataxia)
• Unconsciousness in which the dog cannot be stimulated to be awakened