Summer is in and with the raise in temperature we need to be aware of the possibility of our pets suffering from heat stroke. This condition is more common in the NYC area during the months of July and August when people spend more time outdoors with their pets in extreme heat. Normal body temperature in dogs is 101.5 plus or minus 1 degree F, when the temperature increases over 105 F the body thermo-regulatory mechanism fails and this can be a true pet emergency.
What are the signs of heat stroke:
Excessive panting and salivation, body temperature over 104 F, increased and thumping heart rate, diarrhea, vomiting, collapse, and in the worse cases seizures and coma.
How to prevent a heat stroke:
- It is particularly important to pay attention to any sources of heat and to keep your pets protected from it.
- Do not leave you dog unattended in the car, even with a cracked window the temperature inside the car can increase by 40F within an hour.
- Have plenty of water to drink available and make sure to offer a shade.
- Do not over exercise your dog during hot and humid days. Keep in mind that dog dissipate heat while panting so those breeds that have compromised airway ( Brachycephalic breeds) like Bulldogs, Boxer, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Pug, Lhasa Apso etc, will have a harder time using their termo-regulatory mechanism; on the other hand black coated dogs will accumulate more heat while in the sun compared to light coated ones.
What to do?
- Move your pet to a shaded and cool place and direct a fan on him if possible.
- Try to determine the rectal temperature so that you can keep tract of the events.
- Begin to cool your pet’s body by placing cool, wet towels over the back of the neck, in the armpits and the groin areas. Directing a fan to these wet parts of the body will help to speed evaporative cooling. Contact and transport your pet to the closest veterinary facility immediately.
What not to do?
- Do not use ice or cold water for cooling.
- Do not overcool you pet, this can lead to another emergency condition called hypothermia.
- Most pets with hyperthermia will have temperatures above 105F, a reasonable goal is to bring the temperature down to 102.5 to 103 F while the pet is transported to a veterinary facility.
- Do no force water into your pet’s mouth. Have fresh cool water available for her to drink if desired.
- Do not leave you pet unattended until the temperature have been regulated and stable for more that 2 hours.
Trying to cool your pet with ice and cold water will create vasoconstriction, a condition by which the superficial vessels shrink creating a insulating barrier that keeps the heat inside of the body, so fast cooling can be more effectively achieve by using tap water.
Severe hyperthermia is a disease that affects many systems in the body, simply lowering the body temperature fails to address all the internal changes that may occurred from this syndrome, that is why heat stroke is considered a veterinary emergency and pets should be seen by a veterinarian.
Remember that it is much easier to prevent than to treat heat strokes.