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Dog Heat Stroke or Hyperthermia
By Bill Coughlin
This is the beginning of summer in the USA so you should
be thinking about summer time health issues of your pets, such
as Dog Heatstroke.
Signs to look for: The signs depend upon the extent of heat stroke. In the early stages, your pet will pant rapidly, have thick, ropey saliva, and have bright red gums. His/her body temperature will be between 104-106°F. As the body temperature climbs above 106°F, your pet will go into shock with subsequent organ shutdown. The normal body temperature for a dog falls within the range of 100.5°F to 102.5°F (about 38°C to 39.2°C). Our pets maintain this temperature through panting, however sometimes they are unable to lose enough heat.
Causes: Never leave your pet in a parked car in sunlight. The car heats up to be like a sauna even on mild days. Minimize exercise in the heat of the day. Avoid exercising your dog in unusually hot or humid conditions especially at the start of summer. Most dog heatstroke cases are seen at the start of summer. Make sure your pet has plenty of shade to escape to during the day. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh cool water (the water should be placed in the shade) available at all times.
Solutions: Remove your pet from the hot environment. Get them out of the car and away from the sun. If you suspect severe heatstroke and your pet have collapsed, get your pet immediate veterinary care. Run cold water over the back of your pet's head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels between the back legs, on the belly and in the armpits. Wet towels can be used instead. You can use a garden hose to run the water over the back of his head. Rubbing alcohol will also speed up heat loss; it can be applied to the belly and groin, cooling as it evaporates. Liberally spread it on the skin; the most important thing is reducing the temperature in a controlled way. Let your pet drink as much cold water as he can. If you have an electrolyte replacement, such as Gatorade, then add this to his water. If your pet drinks lots of water at once it is very likely to vomit. Pets with severe heatstroke are at risk for shock. In this case you don't want to wrap him/her in a blanket, but you can at least provide sugar. Rub corn syrup or honey on their gums while you are in transit to your vet. When your pet stops panting, they are likely at a normal temperature. You can check this by taking their temperature again. If it's 103°F or 38 °C then stop the cooling. Special Cases: Certain breeds are at a high risk for heatstroke, namely the brachycephalics (dogs with pushed-in faces). These include Pugs and Bulldogs; they snore and snort and have difficulty breathing at the best of time. In spite of them being a veterinarian's best friend, you should avoid exercising them on hot days, and always be on the lookout for early signs of heatstroke. It's A Dog's Life — YOUR Dog's!
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Tips to beat the heat
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This info is so important for pet owners to know. Thank you for helping spread the word. I have a cat, not dogs, but the same thing applies.
Good information and advice. It is very important for a dog that lives outside to have somewhere shaded to lie in during all the sunlight hours - it shocks me when some owners simply ignore this factor.
Great intel Bill for these hot summer dog days, thanks! :)
Great information. I remember giving our dogs corn syrup to lick off of a spoon in the summer when we were kids. Now I have outdoor cats, and they have plenty of shade, but we try to keep them indoors on the worst days.
Hi Bill, Great Intel. It never ceases to amaze me that so many pet owners have no common sense when it comes to their pets. Many leave their pets in vehicles in both very hot and very cold weather and can't understand when they are turned in to the SPCA or police. gilbertg
Good info and something all dog owners should be aware of. I live in Spain and at this time of the year temperatures in my back yard can reach over 40ºC during the day. It amazes me how many owners here leave their dogs outside all day, unattended, in the baking sun! I have built my dog a heat insulated shelter under the shade of a tree and I have installed a fountain so that he has plenty of fresh cool water to drink.
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