Preventing heat stroke in your dog is one of the most important things to do this summer to keep your loving pet in good health. As the summers are getting warmer it doesn’t take much for your dog to suffer from heat and heat stroke. Heat stroke can be deadly in dog and need immediate attention. But first, it is important to learn to prevent heat stroke in dogs.
There are clear and easy steps to take to help prevent a heat stroke in your dog:
- Take walks in the early morning or late evening when the temperatures are cooler
- Choose walking paths which are shaded and cooler such as in wooded areas or around body of water
- Always bring enough water for your dog wherever you go and give it to them during the middle and end of the walk.
- Dogs can get their paws burnt, always put your hand on the ground for 5 minutes and if it is too hot for your hand it is too hot for their paws
- Bring shade umbrellas if spending time in sunny places
- Watch for any signs of overheating and heat stroke in your dog, and start the steps to cool them down immediately
Keeping your dog cool to prevent heatstroke is important as the condition can progress so rapidly in our furry friends. It is devastating for a pet owner to lose a dog to heat stroke, knowing that it could have been prevented. Providing a cool environment for your canine companion also provides a cool environment for yourself and your family, which makes everyone feel better and avoids heat stroke for yourself, and especially young children or seniors present in your home.
Leaving your dog in a hot car can result not only in heatstroke and death in your dog, but is illegal in many places, and can result in a prosecution. Always plan ahead when traveling in a vehicle with your dog to make sure there is an appropriate place for them to stay cool. Better yet, leave your dog at home in an air conditioned or ventilated environment where they are safest.
Important Signs and Symptoms that your Dog is suffering from Heat stroke
If your dog is exposed to heat, humidity, excessive physical exertion, or is locked or tied in a hot area like on concrete with no shade or in a car, they can quickly succumb to overheating followed by heatstroke. Heatstroke is a condition that occurs when your dog’s core body temperature becomes too high. A normal body temperature for dogs is between 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. A dog suffering heat stroke has an elevated temperature, around 106 F. The elevated body temperature results in cell death, followed by your dog’s organ systems becoming compromised, and nervous system damage and organ failure can result.
Symptoms of heatstroke in your dog include:
- An elevated temperature 104 to 108 degrees F
- Hot and moist paw pads
- Hot and dry nose
- Dehydration and thirst
- Increased heartbeat
- Heavy panting and salivation, which may be thick and sticky
- Bright red gums and tongue
- Weakness and dizziness and loss of coordination, and energy level (depression)
- Vomiting and diarrhea
In severe cases, heat stroke in dogs can lead to kidney failure, swelling of brain may occur resulting in seizures, coma, cardiac arrest and death.
Symptoms can progress quite rapidly with your dog experiencing overheating, heat stroke, and fatal consequences within a short period of time depending on their level of exposure to heat and the speed with which relief and treatment is provided. Heat stroke can be easily prevented by taking appropriate considerations to keep your dog from overheating.
5 steps to Cool your dogs when they Overheat
- Stop all activity and bring your dog in the shade. Immediately give them cool water (better than cold water).
- Spray warm water on the fur of the dog using a spray bottle or a hose. Or soak them in a stream or a pool.
- Use a fan to blow air on the dog to help move the air around the dog helping it to cool down.
- If you are at home, place frozen items (ice pack, frozen peas or so on) in the dog groin, in the arm pit or on the neck. Ice pack should be wrapped and not be touching the skin directly. The iced items should be moved every 10 to 15 minutes.
- Cover them with a wet towel on the body. It will help to cool the dog faster.
Use a combination of all these steps will help to keep your dog reduce symptoms of heat stroke. Remember to always call your vet and make sure your dog doesn’t need further medical attention to prevent organ failure and death.
