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June 29th, 2009 by KittyKitty

A quick visit to the swimming pool, the local creek, or the ocean helps us stay cool during the “dog days” of summer.  But what about our canine companions – how do we keep them cool?

The owner was frantic. Just an hour before, her Lhasa Apso, Gizmo was playing in the backyard. Now he was listless and having trouble breathing.

Rushing him to the nearest veterinary clinic, a concerned veterinary technician informed her Snicker’s temperature was over 106 degrees – he was suffering from heat stroke. Luckily for Gizmo – and with the help of a fast acting owner and the veterinary team – he recovered fully.

Every summer, hundreds of dogs end up in the animal hospital spending just a few hours in the hot sun.

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Dogs can not sweat like people do. Cooling themselves by panting, dogs use the moisture evaporating off their tongue as a means to lower their body’s temperature. Anything stressing this natural cooling system may lead to heat stroke. With a lot of families away from home during the day, our dogs are sometimes left outdoors where it may be difficult to find shady, cool places and water to drink.

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A dog’s normal body temperature ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees. In cases of heat stroke, temperatures over 106 degrees are considered to be an emergency situation – temperatures over 110 degrees can be fatal in a matter of minutes.

This high level of hyperthermia (higher than normal body temperature) can affect every major body system, such as the kidneys and heart, so it is imperative you get your pet to a veterinarian as soon as you safely can.

Dogs with heat stroke often show the following symptoms:
• Vigorous panting
• Collapses, or is weak when standing
• Thick, ropy saliva, hanging copiously from the mouth
• Bright red mucous membranes, although some dogs may show pale or even muddy gums.

Heat stroke can affect any dog, but the dogs with short faces, such as Boston, Pugs, and Bulldogs may be at higher risk due their inability to effectively pant and cool themselves.

A lot of pet owners believe that their pet will be fine outdoors. Insufficient shade and/or cool water can affect even the most seasoned outdoor dog.

Interestingly, heat stroke in cats is very rare.   Most animal experts believe that cats are extremely good at finding the coolest spots to lay and also avoid the excessive, excitatory exertions that many dogs seem to thrive on.

If you find your dog vigorously panting on a warm summer day, immediately move the pet out of the environment and into a cooler place.   Getting the pet into a shady area with a fan running on him can be very helpful. Using cool, not cold, tap water on the extremities and trunk can also help to effectively lower the body temperature, as well as rubbing alcohol placed on the skin of the stomach. Use cool water, not just ice or extremely cold water.  Although it seems logical, extreme cold will cause surface blood vessels to contract, forming an insulating area that traps heat in the body, delaying the cooling of the vital organs.

Forcing your dog to drink water is not recommended. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke, quickly load your pet carefully into a car and take him to your veterinarian. Never leave your pet alone in the vehicle, even if the windows are cracked.

Without these life saving steps, many dogs might develop heat stroke and lose their lives to the “dog-days” of summer. But, as Gizmo will testify, quick thinking owners and veterinary professionals can help get them back on their feet in no time.

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