Heat Stroke

Most people are aware of the risk to dogs left in cars on sunny days. Many vets have directly encountered cases of dogs dying in hot cars. One case occurred where an owner found herself caught in a traffic jam on a hot summer's day, with two dogs in the back of her car. When she reached her destination, she was worried about the two dogs, and rightly so. Both animals died.

However, cars are not the only dangerous places. There are potential problems whenever a dog is left in an enclosed space with no shade or no water on a sunny day. Additionally, when the dog is excited or very active e.g. at a dog show or after heavy exercise, the internal heat produced by muscular effort has an additive effect to the high environmental temperature, and heat stroke commonly results.

Dogs do have sweat glands in the pads of their feet but the most important heat-losing process is panting. The breathing becomes rapid and short (up to 400 breaths per minute), the mouth is opened and the tongue becomes enlarged as its blood supply is increased. The movement of air causes evaporation of water from the surface of the tongue, which carries with it excess heat from the body.
Panting is an extremely effective process of heat loss, but it uses large amounts of water, which is why it's essential that dogs have access to plenty of fresh water in hot weather.

It's important to be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke, so that affected animals can be identified and treated as soon as possible. You'd think it would be obvious, but if an owner doesn't link the situation with the risk of overheating, people can be fooled. An example is when dogs are exercised in the sun. If the animal becomes unwell, owners are often slow to realise that simple overheating is the cause.
The most obvious signs are panting and an increased pulse rate. Affected dogs stand still, looking anxious, panting rapidly, and unable to do anything else. They feel hot to the touch and the body temperature may be over 104'F, and up to 109'F. If a dog is not treated, the body temperature will continue to rise until the dog collapses. Vomiting and diarrhoea may occur, the dog enters a coma, and will often die.

This is a situation where first aid can be life saving. Obviously, the first thing is to remove the dog from the overheated situation - get into the shade and out of the sun. The dog should then be immediately immersed in a bath of cold water. If this is not possible, soak the dog with cold water either from a hose or using a bucket. The skin should be massaged vigorously, and the legs flexed and extended, to maximise the blood flow to skin and limbs.
The owners should rush the dog to the vet as soon as possible after a 10 minute cold bath. The vet will be able to give other treatment to bring the temperature back to normal.

Ten rules for dogs in hot weather.
1. Never leave a dog alone in a car – it is illegal in Spain!
2. Be aware of keeping your dog cool when on car journeys together e.g. leave a window open for fresh air and stop regularly to check your animal properly
3. Always ensure a plentiful supply of drinking water.
4. Never leave a dog in a sunny place with no shade.
5. Give long haired dogs a short clip.
6. Exercise the dog out of the heat i.e. morning or evening.
7. Take your dog for a cool swim rather than a walk.
8. Give your dog 10% less food than normal.
9. Give the meals at cooler times of the day e.g. morning and evening.
10. Carry water with you when out on hot days, and give your dog frequent small amounts.

More excellent advice available from http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/peter_wedderburn

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