Do you know how to recognize the signs of heat stroke in dogs?
A dog’s normal body temperature is somewhere around 103° F (39° C). In very hot days, your pet’s body may heat up much faster than it can dissipate heat, resulting in non-fever hyperthermia, or heat stroke. Heat stroke in dogs is associated with temperatures 106° F (41° C) or higher, without inflammation. Dogs can’t cool themselves down by sweating like we do (although they have a few sweat glands on their paw pads). Instead, they release heat by panting. Any dog can get heat stroke, but dogs who are overweight, have squishy noses, dark coated, thick coated, very young or very old are at higher risk.
What are the signs of heatstroke in dogs?
- Restlessness
- Heavy panting
- Bright red gums
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hypersalivation
- Collapse
What should you do in case of heat stroke?
- Keep your cool– If you’re calm, your dog will remain calm too.
- Cool your dog down– Spray your dog with cool water, wrap in cool towels or use a fan to help cool your dog’s body. You can also try evaporative cooling by using isopropyl alcohol on foot pads, groin and under forelegs.
- But don’t go overboard– Use cool, not cold water to avoid constricting the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, as this will prevent heat dissipation. Shivering creates internal heat, and lowering your dog’s temperature too suddenly can lead to other health problems. Gradual lowering is best.
- Take your dog’s temperature– Using a rectal thermometer, take your dog’s temperature and stop cooling procedures when body temperature reaches 103° F (39° C).
0
0
