Heatstroke! Is My Dog Getting Too Hot?

Since summer is here and the temperatures are soaring I thought this would be a good blog article.

Sometimes people assume that because a dog can pant that he can cool himself off. This is far from being true. Dogs are actually rather inefficient at cooling their bodies compared to humans. Where we can sweat in response to heat, dogs can become overheated easily. A dog suffering severe heatstroke can die. What’s more, it doesn’t take very long for a dog to experience severe heatstroke. If their body temperature rises over 106 degrees it can be deadly for them.

As a dog owner, you should be able to recognize the signs of heatstroke:

1. Rapid panting

2. Red or very pale gums

3. A bright red tongue

4. Thick, sticky saliva

5. Vomiting (there can be blood)

6. Diarrhea

7. Dizziness

8. Weakness

9. Depression

10.Shock

11.Coma

Your dog can develop heatstroke many different places. We commonly think of heatstroke in association with leaving a dog in a car in the summer time but dogs can be overcome with heatstroke even when you are with them. If you take your dog to the beach, go hiking together, go jogging, or your dog is just out in the sun too long, especially if they are overdoing the exercise, he or she can develop heatstroke. Owners with brachycephallic breeds (short-nosed) need to be especially vigilant about having their dogs out in high heat.

If you see your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms in relation to heat you should act immediately. Bring your dog in from the heat and sun. You should make plans to get him to the veterinarian immediately. Before you even head to the vet you can start lowering his body temperature by wetting him all over with cool water. Do NOT use ice cold water. Very cold water can cause a serious reaction when it is applied too quickly. Use cool water to begin bringing your dog’s body temperature back toward normal.

You can apply alcohol to his paw pads, ears and groin area. These areas are sensitive and will respond to the cooling sensation of the alcohol.

As soon as your dog’s body temperature approaches 103 degrees (you can check with a rectal thermometer), you should be on your way to the vet’s office.

You can allow your dog to have access to cool water or to Pedialyte. Don’t try to force water into him. He could choke.

Your vet will continue to bring your dog’s body temperature back down to normal. He will provide your dog with oxygen and IV fluids. He may wish to keep your dog to check for any lingering effects such as shock or organ failure.

If your dog has had moderate heatstroke he will likely recover without serious problems. A severe heatstroke could cause organ damage and your dog may require a special diet and other care. He will be at increased risk for another bout of heatstroke afterwards.

To prevent heatstroke be sure to do the following:

1. Keep your pet out of hot cars. Cars heat up quickly and may reach 140 degrees.

2. Make sure your dog has access to water at all times.

3. Make sure that your dog always has access to shade.

4. Restrict exercise on hot days.

5. Don’t muzzle your dog. It prevents panting which allows your dog to get increased air.

6. Avoid the beach and concrete areas on hot days since there is no shade.

7. Wet your dog down or let him swim on hot days.

Air conditioning is great if your dog is indoors, but it’s not always reliable. If your dog spends the day in the house you can help make sure that he stays cool by purchasing a cool pad. These are pads that can be wetted and frozen overnight. Your dog can lie on the pad if he chooses, to cool himself off.

If you take the appropriate precautions you should be able to keep your dog from ever experiencing heatstroke. If your dog does have an attack of heatstroke follow the suggestions here and get him to the vet as soon as possible. Take the heat seriously! Stay cool in the summer time.

Until next time….