Heat Exhaustion/Stroke in Dogs

Heat Exhaustion/Stroke in Dogs

During these hot summer months it is very easy for dogs to overheat.  Humidity plays an important role in this because dogs are not equipped well to handle high heat.  They rely on sweat glands in their nose and the pads on their feet along with panting to release excess heat.  This is not a very effective method and humidity makes it that much more difficult for the sweat to evaporate from them. 

Examples of dogs that are at risk:

-          Pets in cars or in the back of a truck

-          Pets left in poorly ventilated indoor areas

-          Short nosed breeds

-          Long hair breeds

-          Pets being exercised on hot humid days

Now that we know which pets are most likely to be at risk the question is how to prevent heat stroke/exhaustion for these animals.  If you have to travel leave your pet at home in the air conditioning.  Unnecessary excursions with your pets puts them at risk.  If you don’t have air conditioning in your home then open the windows and keep the air moving with fans.  Outdoor pets should have 24 hour shade and water available.  When going on walks or exercising your pet you should always have water and a washcloth with you.  Take the short trail on very hot days and save the long trail for another time.

In the unfortunate event that heat exhaustion/stroke does occur you need to know what it looks like and what to do.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion/Stroke:

-          Rapid breathing and/or heart rate

-          Difficulty or exaggerated breathing

-          Dizziness and lack of coordination

-          Excessive barking and/or whining

-          Drooling or frothing of the mouth

-          Glazed eyes and diolated pupils

-          Dark red gums

-          Vomiting

-          Listlessness or unconsciousness

-          Seizures

What to do if it happens:

1.  Immediately move the pet to a cool shady area
2. Offer small amounts of water (too much will cause vomiting)
3. If the pet will not drink on its own then wipe the mouth area with a clean wet towel
4. Slowly dampen the dogs body with a hose or whatever is available (do not use ice cold water)
5. Once the pet is damp get them in front of a fan or fan them to cause a breeze
6. Bags of ice may be placed around the pet’s neck to speed up the cooling process
7. Do not cover the pet even with a damp towel as heat cannot escape
8. Only after the pet is cooled down take them immediately to the Veterinarian
9. In some extreme cases CPR may be necessary (local classes are available)

If left untreated dogs suffering from heat exhaustion/stroke will slowly slip into unconsciousness and perish.  As we always say, prevention is the best choice.  There is no possible benefit of putting your pet into a situation where they are at the risk of heat exhaustion/stroke.  Be smart and always carry water with you on these hot humid days.

This entry was written by John Gifford, DVM, posted on July 20, 2011 at 8:18 pm, filed under The Vet is In - Ask the Pet Specialists. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.