>
>> > Normal physics DO apply to dogs so that thick
>> coated
>> > dogs kept in hot
>>
>> It is just what I heard somewhere. I use to get my
>> Chesapeake cliped every summer nomatter what they
>> say.
> **************************************
>
> But horses sweat and dogs don't? Wouldn't that make a
> difference in clipping or not?
>
>
> Susan in NV
> Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/
All?/most mammals have some mechanism for dissipating heat - horses and
humans sweat, dogs pant (and sweat through their feet), etc When horses
sweat on endurance rides, the sweat must be washed off (if heat is a factor)
because the sweat stays on, warms and doesn't evaporate quickly enough -
worsening the heat stress. Weird, huh. However, in normal circumstance,
when the horse starts to overheat. it sweats, and the evaporative cooling
(sweat) keeps the core temperature within very strict limits. The skin will
also dissipate heat to some degree, even if it doesn't sweat, just because
it is next to the air and has a very large surface area.
I am actually unsure exactly what you are asking here. But I will take a
swing at an answer. Since both mammals (dogs and horses) need to dissipate
heat when the core temperature of the animal starts to rise, both have
mechanisms to dissipate that heat. Horses sweat, dogs pant. If you prevent
the beast from dissipating the heat (by putting a coat on, or breeding for a
heavy coat and then keeping it in a hot area, etc) you will have a higher
rate of heat related disorders in those animals. If you prevent the dog from
panting properly (breed short nosed dogs like bull dogs and pugs, then take
them for a walk on a hot day in Stockton, California), you may just wind up
with an overheated dog at my clinic where you will help support my horse
habit and where I will warn you right up front that your dog may not survive
despite all my best efforts. This also happens with depressing regularity
with heavy coated dogs (like Chows) whose heavy coats prevent heat loss from
the skin to the air. Another place to watch adaptation to heat in real life
is the Tevis Cup - a 100 mile endurance ride in the hottest part of the
summer not far from here. But I like the visual of the human running around
in two heavy coats in 100 F weather best. Just do it outside an ER as once
you start cooking, death is not far off.
So - if your pony has a very heavy coat but you live in a warm climate, it
will not be able to get rid of its excess heat (due to the heat being
trapping within the body by that heavy insulation of the coat). So -when
you ride, the pony will produce more heat (because exercise increases heat
production), that heat will be trapped in the pony and the pony will sweat -
but it may not sweat enough to dissipate the heat (because the coat will
also hold the water and warm it, as well as holding in the warm air), and
then it will pant. The hot air will remove some heat. If that doesn't work
the pony will die.
Drifa is shaved from the ears to her tail and down to her hooves.
I may not be explaining this very well because I am tired! But, if this
doesn't make sense, just come for a visit next summer and we'll head down to
the ER with some heavy winter coats (I am sure that Wanda can supply the
coats)....
Penny
