When temperatures begin rising, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pets cool – like scheduling walks in the early morning and checking pavement temperatures before heading out.
Many pet owners don’t realize that pets suffer much more from heat than humans do and can suffer heatstroke after something as harmless as a walk on a hot day.
To help your pet beat the heat in summer, these tips can help you recognize and avoid heatstroke in dogs.
What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke occurs when a pet’s body can’t regulate its internal temperature within a safe range.
Heatstroke is a pet emergency and should be treated immediately. If it’s not treated, it can cause organ damage, internal bleeding, infection or, in severe cases, death.
What causes heatstroke in pets?
“Humans sweat, but dogs and cats don’t. When they cool themselves, it’s through respiratory measures, which is especially difficult to do in hot conditions,” said Dr. Miryam Reems, a critical care veterinarian at BluePearl.
Because pets can’t sweat like we do, they feel the effects of heat more quickly and strongly, especially when exercising or in a hot environment.
“Many people think of heatstroke as being caused by being confined in a space with little or no ventilation, like a hot car, but there are other common ways for pets to have heatstroke,” added Dr. Reems. “It can happen anywhere – even walking or exercising during a warm part of the day can be dangerous and deadly.”
What are the signs of heatstroke in pets?
“There are ways pet owners can prevent overheating from progressing to heatstroke, but they must know the signs and act quickly,” said BluePearl emergency veterinarian Kevin Kelley.
The signs of heatstroke in dogs can include:
- Uncontrollable panting
- Foaming at the mouth or excessive drooling
- Glazed eyes or staring
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Agitation or restlessness
- Vomiting
- Trouble standing or walking
- Loss of consciousness (or sudden collapse)
- Tongue and gums that are bright red, purple, blue or gray
- Capillary refill time of more than two seconds
What should I do if my dog has heatstroke?
“Heatstroke is extremely dangerous, but it’s also preventable,” said Dr. Kelley. “If you notice your pet is panting heavily, lethargic, or uncoordinated, get them cool quickly. But remember: Even if you cool your pet down, they still may need veterinary care and possibly medication.”
Here are a few immediate things you can do if you suspect your dog is overheating:
- Run cool water over your pet with a water bottle or hose or put them in a cool tub.
- Wrap damp, cool towels around your dog.
- Make water available, but do not force them to drink. Also, never give pets sports drinks or electrolyte supplements, as they can be harmful.
- If your pet is panting uncontrollably or collapses, immediately take them to an emergency veterinary hospital.
How to prevent heatstroke in dogs.
These simple steps can help prevent heatstroke during periods of warm weather:
- Never leave your pet in a hot car. Heatstroke can occur in just minutes on a warm day.
- Keep pets inside on hot days. Even if your yard has shady areas, temperatures can shift throughout the day.
- If it’s not too hot and your pet is outside, ensure they have access to shade, ventilation, and cool, fresh drinking water. Once the outdoor temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 90% humidity, bring pets inside.
- Avoid exercising or walking your pet during peak temperature hours on hot or humid days. Walk pets earlier in the morning when it’s cooler outside.
- Keep pets well groomed. This helps their fur do what it’s intended to do – protect them from the sun and insulate them from heat. If their coat is matted and tangled, their fur may actually trap heat. Longer-haired pets can be given a coat trim to help ventilate their skin.
- Know if your pet is at high risk. Pets who are overweight, elderly, have cardiac or respiratory problems, and dogs with short noses (such as bulldogs, boxers and pugs) are heat sensitive. Take extra precautions if your pet falls into one of these categories.
Tips to help your dog beat the heat.
When it comes to beating heatstroke, “People who recognize symptoms and can react tend to have pets that can do better,” said Dr. Reems. “Any breed, any age pet can get heatstroke, and it can happen within just a few minutes.”
In addition to the ways you can prevent heatstroke, these tips can help your pet avoid overheating in warm weather:
- Limit activity and maintain a healthy weight for your pet.
- Keep your walks at a gentle pace, and if your pet seems tired, rest or stop the activity.
- If you suspect your dog is having a heatstroke, soak their body with towels and water and put them in front of a fan if possible; then, bring them to a veterinary hospital immediately.
- Create a cooling source while outside, such as a kiddie pool filled with cool water.
- Hose down pavement, patios and porches. A little water can help keep paws cool and avoid paw pad burns.
- Add ice to your pet’s water. Ice cubes will gradually melt and help keep the water cool for a longer period of time.
- Cool the crate. If your pet is crated while you’re away, keep a fan on to ventilate the crate and keep your pet comfortable.
- Dress them in a cold compress. A refrigerated, damp bandana may help keep your pet cool as temperature receptors are located around dogs’ necks.
The bottom line.
Remember: The effects of heatstroke are often subtle and not immediately apparent. If you believe your pet is overheating or having heatstroke, bring them to your nearest emergency veterinary hospital for treatment.
