The summer months can be brutal to your dog. Dogs are much more
susceptible to heatstroke than humans. One reason for this is, your dog
wears his fur coat all year round. And while dogs do have sweat glands on
their feet, they do not have them on the rest of their body. They rely on
panting, a method of breathing out excess heat, to cool down their bodies.
This method is not as affective as sweating.
Some breeds are much more susceptible to the heat then others. Dogs
with thick, double-coats have a harder time beating the heat. Also dogs
with pushed back faces, such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Boxers, have smaller airways,
and therefore have less of an ability to blow out hot air.
The major cause of heatstroke in dogs is leaving a dog in a parked
car. Even with the windows cracked on a 70° F (22° C)
to
80° F (26° C) day, while it may feel comfortable
outside, the inside of your car can heat up to over 100° F (38°
C) in minutes! As you can imagine, with that fur coat on, your
dog's body temperature rises very quickly.
Exercising in hot weather is another common way heatstroke
can occur. As with humans, older dogs, over-weight dogs and or dogs with
heart or lung ailments, are much more likely to suffer from heatstroke than
younger dogs that are more in shape. Do not push your dog to exercise on
very hot or humid days.
Suspecting Heatstroke
If you suspect your dog has heatstroke, cool him down as
quickly as you can and call your vet immediately. Some of the symptoms of
heatstroke are; rapid heavy panting, drooling, gasping for air, glassy eyes,
weakness, and sometimes deep-red gums and the inability to stand. In some
extreme cases seizures, diarrhea and vomiting can occur. Cooling your
dog's body temperature down quickly is very important. The fastest way to
do this is by using cool water. Do not use ice water, as a dramatic change in
temperature can be dangerous. You can put your dog in a bathtub, sink or
kiddie pool filled with cool water. Another way is to put cool wet towels
around your dog's body. Be sure to refresh the towels in cool water every
few minutes, as the towels will quickly reach the same temperature as your dog's
body. Spraying your dog with the hose, dumping buckets of water on your
dog, or placing your dog directly in front of an air conditioner are a few more
ways you can cool down your dog's body temperature. Offer your dog a drink
and be sure to contact your vet right away.
Enjoying a dip in the stream on a hot day.
Ways to Avoid Heatstroke
Do not leave your dog in a parked car on hot
days. Even on 70° F (22° C) or 80° F (26° C)
days, if your car is parked in the sun, even with the windows cracked,
temperatures can reach over 100° F (38° C) in just a few minutes.
Parking in the shade will help a little, but on hot days, even parking in the
shade is not enough. It is best to leave your dog home.
| Provide plenty of fresh cool drinking
water. Dogs should be provided with water at all
times. Keep your dog's water clean and fresh. Do not leave your
dog's water bowl in the sun, or it will heat up. Imagine drinking a cup of
hot tea in the summer sun! |
|
|
Lilli the English Bulldog and her Pug friend Smash getting a drink after
playing
Always provide a shady spot for your
dog. Dogs should always have a shady spot to get out
of the beating heat of the sun. Be sure there is a shady place for your
dog to go. Remember, as the sun shifts, so does the shade. Trees may
not provide the proper shade all day long.
