Overheating & Dehydration
Overheating & Dehydration
It is officially summer and with that comes heat and humidity. We often walk outside and get hit by the wall of warmth, but let’s imagine for a minute that we are wearing a full-length fur coat. As the temperatures rise, so does the chance that our furry friends can get overheated or become dehydrated.
Causes and symptoms can be similar, but here are some things to look for:
Overheating can be caused by exposure to high temperatures, excessive exercise and limited water intake. Your dog may be overheated if he or she is panting hard and nosily, has pale or bright red gums, tries to vomit unsuccessfully, has diarrhea, or acts disoriented.
If you notice these signs, here are a few suggestions to try to help your dog:
– get your dog inside or to a shady area
– if possible, put a fan on your dog
– wrap your dog’s head & neck in a wet cool towel or hose
him/her down with cool water: NO ice
– you can also wet the ear flaps and paw pads
– if your dog wants to drink, let them, but make sure water is not
too cold and don’t force them, also don’t let them drink too fast
this can cause vomiting (VetInfo.com)
Dehydration can occur independently or with overheating. Some signs your dog is dehydrated can include: sunken eyes; dry or pale mouth, gums or nose and lethargy.
Not sure if your dog is overheated vs. dehydrated? Do a skin test: gently pulling up on the skin at the back of your dog’s neck. If the skin doesn’t immediately spring back to its normal position, the dog is dehydrated.
How can you prevent dehydration?
– provide new, clean water often
– monitor your dog’s intake (good rule of thumb, one oz of water
for every pound of dog’s weight)
– bring lots of water when you travel, go for walks, or exercise
– limit exercise when it’s hot, even if your dog wants to keep
going. be a parent and have them take a break.
“Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat,” says Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Veterinary Advisor, “and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly.” So if you are concerned your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek assistance right away.