Heatstroke In Dogs: Warm Weather Safety

While we’ve discussed how to get your pup ready for warm weather, how do you keep them comfortable and safe when the temps begin to soar? The summer months can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It’s difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results. We’ve assembled a list of tips to help you and your dog stay safe in the heat!

• GOT ERRANDS? LEAVE BRUISER AT HOME – On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your dog will be much more comfortable at home in the AC or on the patio in the shade.
• HUMIDITY CAN BE DANGEROUS, TOO -“It’s important to remember that it’s not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet,” says Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”
• WHAT TO LOOK FOR – Taking a dog’s temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem, as their temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees. Other symptoms include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness. Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus and other breeds with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat. If your doggo exhibits any of these signs, take steps to cool him off immediately!
• WHAT TO DO – Move your dog into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to his head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over him. Let him drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. And obviously, take him directly to a veterinarian as soon as possible to facilitate the quickest recovery. Dogs treated by vet professionals for heat stroke within the first 2 hours have a 50% greater likelihood of full rehabilitation.

Bottom line, you are the most important factor in keeping your dogs safe in hot weather. Do everything you can to keep them safe, educate yourself on how heat exhaustion and heat stroke develop, and work quickly in any event. Stay safe and enjoy the coming summer!