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Heat Stroke and Pets: What you need to know
Hi Subscriber ,
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As
we move into summer and the weather heats up you will probably see news
stories about preventing heat stroke when you’re out in the sun for a
long period of time. When you watch these stories remember that our
furry four-legged friends are also at risk for heat stroke.
The first step in preventing heat stroke and exhaustion for your pet
is to always assume that your dog is hotter than you think. A pet’s
normal temperature is usually between 38.6-38.9. Elderly, very young or
ill animals have a harder time regulating their body temperatures.
It’s important to exercise your dog daily, jogging, jumping, playing
frisbee and chasing a ball is always fun. But you must be extra careful
when the temperature is really hot. Most dogs have both an outer coat
and an under coat of fur. Imagine if you were exercising wearing a fur
coat in the summer. Limiting fido’s exercise time during the hottest
hours of the day is a good idea.
As an added safety measure, a bandana can be soaked in cool water
and then place in the refrigerator before putting it around a dog’s
neck.
Being locked in a car is one of the most common causes of heat
stroke for pets. It’s easy to forget how quickly cars can heat up in the
hot sun even if you leave the windows open slightly. Some people
mistakenly believe that parking the car in the shade is ok, but it’s not
so. When the temperature outside reaches 30°C, the temperature inside a
car can reach 50°C in minutes.
You wear shoes when you go jogging or waking, but your pets don't.
Keep your pet on the grass to ensure its feet do not get burned. At the
beach, be mindful of how hot the sand is. Give your pet plenty of water
during walks.
If your pet lives outside make sure you have adequate shelter to
protect them from the sun and heat. Outside kennels need to be well
ventilated and situated in shaded areas. Plenty of clean, cool fresh
water should be easily available.
Symptoms of Pet Heat Stroke
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According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,
loud, rapid panting is one of the first signs of heat exhaustion
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A body temperature over 40 C
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Increased, pounding heart rate
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Diarrhea
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Vomiting
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Collapse
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deep red or purple tongue
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In the worst cases, seizures and coma
Treatment of Heat Stroke
At the first sign of trouble, call your veterinarian. Move you pet
into a shaded or air conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to
the head, neck and chest to gradually lower your pets temperature.
Immersion in a cool (NOT COLD) water bath may help, too.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer, the only hotdogs you want are the ones you’ll be having at your summer BBQ’s.
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