Heat stroke what is it?
A dog’s normal core body temperature sits around 38.5°C. Heat stroke is defined as a severe increase in body temperature up to 40.5°C – 43°C caused by elevated ambient temperatures and/or strenuous activity.
Dogs can’t sweat to cool themselves like us, and as their body gets hotter, a dog’s normal adaptive cooling mechanisms like panting and increased blood flow to the skin stop working.
Blood pressure drops and along with it so does the blood supply to vital organs. This can result in widespread organ damage, severe illness and even death.
Which Dogs are most affected by the heat?
Any dog can overheat, but some are more susceptible than others.
Seniors and the very overweight have more difficulty regulating their body temperature than healthy adult dogs. Those that are unwell are easily affected, particularly if they have a problem such as vomiting, diarrhea or kidney disease that leads to dehydration. Dogs with very thick warm coats that were bred to live in colder climates may struggle, and a summer haircut may be in order. The most common group of dogs seen by vets for heat stroke are those known as brachycephalic breeds. These are the dogs with shorter snouts, such as Pugs and Bulldogs. These guys are very cute, but they have significant problems with their airways and overheat very quickly. It’s vitally important to keep these dogs cool on hot days.
What are the signs of heat stroke?
Signs may vary between animals, but they commonly include:
Incessant panting (increases as heat stroke progresses)
Drooling, salivating
Agitation, restlessness
Very red or pale gums
Bright red tongue
Increased heart rate
Breathing distress
Vomiting, diarrhoea (possibly with blood)
Signs of mental confusion, delirium
Dizziness, staggering
Lethargy, weakness
Muscle tremors
Seizures
Collapsing and lying down
Little to no urine production
Coma
How to help avoid heat stroke
Tip 1. Keep dogs indoors with air-conditioning on and fresh drinking water during very hot days.
Tip 2. For those outdoors, ensure adequate access to a shady, well-ventilated area all day and that there is plenty of cool, clean drinking water available. Provide multiple sources in case a bowl gets knocked over.
Tip 3. Avoid exercise during the day. Not only are dogs likely to overheat if exercised during the hottest part of the day, but surfaces will be hot enough to burn paws. Early morning or late evening walks when the weather is cool are best.
Tip 4. Many dogs will love a ‘clam shell’ pool filled with water. They can hop in for a splash and have an extra source of drinking water that is unlikely to spill or run out.
Tip 5. Keep coats well-groomed and short. Long matted fur is not only uncomfortable but will trap heat making it harder to cool down.
Tip 6. Frozen treats, prepared the night before, are great for dogs. Throwing a few ice cubes into drinking water will also help to keep it cool and refreshing.
Tip 7. Very importantly, NEVER, EVER leave your pet alone in a parked car. Even if it’s ‘not that hot’ outside, and even if the windows are down, it can still easily get hot enough to endanger life.
How to help a dog experiencing heat stroke
If you think your dog has heat stroke, you need to get to a vet as soon as possible. Even if they appear to recover, there may be internal damage that takes days to become obvious.
There are some immediate steps you can take at home to help.
1. First of all, remove the heat source if possible. If out in the sun, get them inside, in the shade and/or air conditioning.
2. The next thing we want to do is cool them down.
There are a number of ways to achieve this:
You can pour cool water over them
Spray them (gently) with a garden hose
Immerse them in cool water (but not if they are collapsed or struggling to breathe) or
Drape them with wet towels
Using a fan to help dissipate heat by convection can also be beneficial.
With any method of cooling, use tepid or cool water, but NOT ice or iced water. Extreme cold can cause the blood vessels in the skin to react by constricting, and this will cause core body temperature to rise even further.
Ideally check your dog’s temperature every 10 – 15 minutes.
3. If the temperature has dropped below 39.5°C, stop cooling them immediately. From there on, their temperature can drop rapidly and we don’t want it to go too low.
Offer a drink of water but please don’t force them to drink.
4. If your dog is too severely affected to attempt cooling at home, for example if he is collapsed or having seizures, throw a wet towel over him, get him into the car, crank up the air con and drive straight to your nearest vet.
Vet bills can be very expensive
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