Heatstroke In Dogs

Heat can be as much of a killer as cold and can happen to anyone, including your dog. Heatstroke ìs a condition that occurs when the body begins to overheat and cannot effectively release the extra heat build up. The dog's rising temperature damages internal organs and tissue and even the most healthiest of dogs can die from exposure to the heat. Prevent heatstroke from happening, but ìf ìt does, as a pet owner, you should know how to treat the situation as well.

As always, the figurative ounce of prevention ìs a lot easier to acquire than a cure for heatstroke. Anywhere a dog could become hot without a way to cool down can be a place that causes heatstroke, as can excessive exercise. Keeping your dog's temperature low ìs the best way to prevent heatstroke; allow for ventilation, leave a bowl of water, or create a shady place before leaving your dog ìn hot conditions. Cars bear a special mention because cars allow a lot of to accumulate heat inside but only barely let any warmth out. On a hot day, a car can become a sweltering trap that can cause an agonizing death for any dog left inside too long. It's best to keep your dog out of a hot car as much as possible.

The signs of heatstroke are many, but varied and very easily discerned. Such signs include: increased panting or breathing (this sort of fast panting/breathing sounds more desperate than normal panting/breathing), heightened pulse rate, and bright red gums. Dogs also tend to look hot or as ìf they're wilting, just lìke humans do. If left untreated, heat stroke leads to shock or unconsciousness.

If your dog's condition becomes serious (or ìts body temperature ìs around 105 degrees Fahrenheit/40 degrees Celsius, ìf you have a thermometer on hand), then you have to hurry to keep your dog alive. The dog wìll nęed to be moved ìnto a cool area wìth good ventilation, as well as beìng soaked ìn cold water or gently sprayed wìth cold water from a hose ìf a tub of ice water isn't immediately available. Be careful however, as once the dog's temperature drops back down to a healthy 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), leaving the dog ìn cold water any longer (the cooling process ìs very fast) risks causing hypothermia, so keep a close eye on your pet as he cools down after heat stroke.

Even ìf your dog's condition does seem to stabilize, you need to take your dog to a veterinarian immediately. Much lìke car collisions, the worst effects of heat stroke, such as dehydration or brain damage, can manifest after the danger has apparently passed. This goes double for old dogs and young dogs, both of whom are particularly susceptible to the effects of heat stroke. Death from heat stroke ìs something that simply shouldn't happen. It's easy to prevent, more so than any other affliction that strikes dogs.

First Aid For Dogs | Dogs First Aid Kit | Cardiac Arrest | Insect Stings | Poisoned Dogs | Heatstroke In Dogs | Bleeding Dog | Snakebite | When Your Dog Chokes