Photo from www.pet360.com
The temps have been staying steadily above 90º here in
the Midwest and above 100º in the southwest and even in the northwest. My husband and I were at the Good Guys Car
Show in Des Moines on July 5th and we saw a couple walking two small
rat terriers that were obviously over heated.
I decided to write this blog on the signs of heat stroke in pets and how
to treat it.
The key to saving a pet
suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion is immediate treatment. Pets do die from being over heated. If you are going to take your pet out on hot
days like this, please keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get over
heated.
Signs of heat stroke include (but are not limited to):
-
Excessive or exaggerated panting
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Drooling
- High fever
- Dark red gums
- Rapid heartbeat
- Unresponsiveness to commands and surroundings
- Vomiting
- Collapse
- Staring/anxious expression
- Warm/dry skin
photo from pitbullmixed.com
If you suspect that your pet is over heated, take them
immediately inside to an air conditioned room or in front of a fan or if you
can’t get indoors to a shady spot. It is
important to remove them from the source of the heat immediately.
Cool them down by pouring cool water over their head and
body. You could also use a garden hose
by gently spraying them with water. Put
your pet in front of a fan and spread their fur with your fingers to help cool
them.
Photo from blog.northjersey.com
When they come around give them a small amount of water
to drink. If you have it you could also
give them a pediatric electrolyte solution.
Call the emergency vet for assistance. If your dog is not coming around immediately
take them to a vet or emergency vet clinic.
After your pet is recovered you should still visit your vet for a
checkup just to make sure there isn’t any internal damage.
Photo from www.bordervetgoondiwindi.com.au
Remember to keep calm as you are treating your pet. If you are panicking your pet will feel that
and will be stressed out even more.
Remember during these hot summer days not to leave your
pet in a parked car. Even with the
windows cracked and parked in the shade the inside temperature can get to 90º
on a 70º day. On a 90º+ day, even with
the windows cracked, the inside temperature can get to 150º+.
Photo from www.thepetdoctorinc.com
Also, if you have an outside dog, make sure they have
plenty of fresh water and plenty of shade.
Especially if your dog has a thick coat of fur or is used to northern
climates. Black pets are also in more danger because dark colors absorb heat.
Breeds of dogs and cats with short snouts will be more prone
to heat stroke because they have a more difficult time breathing. You want to be especially aware of heat
stroke in breeds like Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Persian cats.
Remember that dogs cannot sweat like we do. They do sweat through their paws and pant to release
excess body heat. Cats sweat through
their paws also and groom themselves to help keep cool. The grooming wets their fur and cools the cat
as it evaporates. If you notice your cat
panting, they are too hot and it is time to take them inside to cool off.
Photo from lifewithchcats.com
Best rule of thumb, if it’s too hot for you to be
outside, it’s too hot for your pet to be outside. Keep your pet inside or in a shady spot with
plenty of fresh water to help keep them cool.
Be Well & Be Happy,
Pet~Pourri
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