I just wanted to encourage my board buddies to take caution during the excessive heat especially in the South. It can take a toll on you and your animals. I lost my 4 year old red heeler this past Sunday to what I can only figure to be heat exaustion/stroke. By the time we realized something wasn't right we rushed her to the vet only for her to start seizing and pass away right before we got to the clinic. Also had a family member lose a yearling filly to possible heat related death in the same week. We are located in Louisiana.

Take extra care of yourselves and animals during the scortching temps.  

So sorry for your loss. 

Sorry for your loss. This heats been so rough on everything. My sister in law has lost several chickens to it, even tho she has fans set up and shade. My feedstore lady said she lost the last of her hens too. Somehow mine are still kicking ... dont know why or how because they are always running around.. only thing i do is keep their large water under the trees and filled up with cold water they drink a lot during the day and surprisingly they are still laying a lot!  Its miserable hot, I have to water my plants twice a day to keep them from wilting. I get my riding done before 10am and horses are kept up in the barn with fans on full blast to help. I go out every few hours to top off waters for them and my outside dogs... I hose them down too theyve got plenty of shade and a box fan on the porch as well. My electric bill is outrageous! Come on fall!!! 

Much appreciated. She was an incredibly sweet dog, it was a very tough loss to swallow. I wish I could have helped her before it was too late.

I agree, it been really hard on animals. My poor girl was in perfect health and I am super sad to have lost her, she was a good one.  I don't know if it's because this is later in the year and usually we are past it by now or what. The humidity doesn't help, and we are supposed to have many days in a row over 100 degrees. Sounds like you are taking really good care of your critters. I hope they continue to do well :).

The humidity is the killer... I did notice today it was slightly less but still HOT. I mowed the back yard and it about killed me. I'm so so sorry about your pup... that's just awful! I know how it feels unfortunately:-( my sister lost her favorite dog from the heat too a few years ago.. the dog got out of its yard and ran too much, couldn't get back in to get water and she passed on their front porch , they were all at work and found her when they got home.  My boys both play baseball and I'm in constant worry mode about them overheating out there at afternoon practices ... I'm annoying to them always making them drink lots of water and use cooling towels but I dont care.. this heat is no joke! 

I totally understand! We lost 2 chickens in the last month without any visible reason, so I'm assuming it was the heat also. 

I am watching our old girl like a hawk, and limit her time outside. If I didn't do that she would following me around the entire time I do chores and putter around...  One day early in the summerI didn't pay to much attention to that and when we finally went inside she had no appetite at all. And she is normally a vacuum when it comes to food... Took her over 2 hours before she wanted to eat her diner...

Our dogs hang out under the deck.  I wet the ground down several times a day and they get along pretty good.  Can't leave the old Cocker Spaniel out at night because of coyotes so I have to put him inside (garage is too hot).  He loves to sleep on the floor of the shower.  He's a stinky little guy so I will be glad when it cools off so I can put him in the garage at night. 

Sorry about your heeler.  If you're like me losing an animal always comes with a little guilt even if you shouldn't have any.

Also I picked up on this little tip for the water tanks for horses.  I have frozen (2) gallon jugs with water and in the mornings I throw them in the tanks and unbelieably it does keep the water cool for most of the day.  I also have several smaller water buckets in the barn and out of the sun that stays cool for most of the day also.  My horses drink a ton of water which is great.

A stinky little guy :) I bet he is rotten. 

Thank you. Yes, you always wonder what you could have done even if it is likely there wasn't :( . 

Good tip!! I'm going to have tol remember that. I bet they would appreciate it. 

So very sorry about your girl. . . . Our outside dog stays under the carport under fans or under the horse trailer in damp dirt.  She moves around very little during daylight hours.  (We were flooded earlier in the year and now we are HOT AND DRY with no relief in sight.)   Horses stay in the barn under fans during the hottest part of the day and move out early am or early evening and night.   They're drinking about 250 gallons a day, and I'm gonna try that frozen jug idea!

Trust me it works.  Depending on the color of your tanks, I have to quit using the black rubber like tank in the summer months, water just gets too stinking hot, feels like almost boiling.  So I went to a light colored green one and it doesn't hold neat as much water so the frozen jugs works really good.  Mine drink a ton of water also which is good.