It’s summer, and that always means heat and heat exposure health issues. Lots and lots of heat. It seems that almost every year there is a heatwave going on somewhere. Record high temperatures are made every year. It’s hard enough on you and me, but don’t forget, our dogs get hotter, faster than we do.
What You Should Know
Although we think there is no excuse for this ever happening or that it will never happen to our dog, it can happen a lot easier and faster than you may think. There are no statistics on how many dogs die every year from heat exposure because the majority of cases go unreported. But estimates are several hundred pets suffer this slow, agonizing and unnecessary fate every summer.
A dog’s natural temperature is between 101°-102.5° compared to ours at a mere 98.6°. Dogs have a few sweat glands in the paw pads, but the protection this gives is minimal. The only way dogs can dissipate heat is through panting. When panting isn’t enough, the body temperature rises quickly and it quickly becomes fatal.
According to PetMD, any hot environment can cause heatstroke, but the most common cause of heat exposure is careless actions such as leaving a dog in a car on a hot day or forgetting to provide shade to an animal kept outdoors.
Signs:
- Heavy panting
- Excessive thirst
- Glazed eyes
- Vomiting and bloody diarrhea
- Bright or dark red tongue, gums
- Staggering
- Elevated body temperature (104ºF and up)
- Weakness, collapse
- Increased pulse and heartbeat
- Seizures
- Excessive drooling
- Unconsciousness
Dogs Most At Risk For Heat Exposure:
Breeds with thick fur, short noses, or suffering from any other medical condition, and/or are obese are at the greatest risk for heat exposure.
Prevention:
Taking steps to prevent heatstroke in the first place is what every dog owner should do. Preventing it from happening at all is always best.
NEVER at any time and for any reason leave a dog in the car, not even for “just a minute”, in the shade, or with the windows open a little. Chihuahuas and other small breed dogs along with those at greater risk should NEVER be left outside unattended at any time of the year, but especially in the summer.
When dogs are outdoors, make sure that the area is well-ventilated and that they have plenty of water and shade to prevent too much heat exposure.
Treatment:
If you suspect that your dog may have had too much heat exposure and has become over-heated, it can be an immediate life-threatening emergency. It is important to let your veterinarian know that you are on your way. If your dog is unresponsive, have someone else call while you do the following:
- Put your dog in the bathtub.
- Run a cool (not cold) shower over him, covering his whole body — especially the back of the head and neck.
- Allow the water to fill up the bathtub as you shower him. Keep his head elevated to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
- If getting him into the tub is impractical, use a garden hose to cool him down or place him in a pool of cool water.
- Apply a cold pack to his head to help lower his body temperature — a packet of frozen vegetables works fine.
- Massage the legs. A vigorous rubbing helps his circulation and reduces the risks of shock.
- Let him drink as much cool or cold water as he wants. Adding a pinch of salt to the water bowl will help replace the minerals he lost through panting, — not large amounts all at once.
What to do if you see a dog in a car? Don’t miss:
