Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Kelley on Pet Hoarders: How many cats are too many? | Dr. Justine Lee
- Cora on Focus on Health-Focused Breeding of Dogs
- justinelee on How to euthanize a dog with Tylenol… and why you don’t….
- Susan bergunde on How to euthanize a dog with Tylenol… and why you don’t….
- Norman on Focus on Health-Focused Breeding of Dogs
Archives
- February 2022
- August 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- August 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- August 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
Heat stroke in dogs: Part 2 | Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Board-certified veterinary specialist
Posted by justinelee in Animal Safety, Blog, Pet Health, Pet Help
Last week, I talked about how to keep your dog(s) safe this summer by avoiding heat stroke. Find out what signs to look for, including how to prevent it!
Regardless of what the temperature or humidity is, always monitor your dog carefully for signs of fatigue or heat stroke. The sooner you notice these signs, the sooner you should stop any form of exercise, cool down your dog, and seek veterinary attention.
Signs of heat stroke include:
• Constant panting
• Dragging behind (e.g., in other words, on a leash lagging several feet behind you)
• Dry gums that feel sticky to the touch
• Dark red gums
• Vomiting
• Acting wobbly or walking drunk
• Collapse
• An elevated heart rate
• Feeling warm to the touch, with red, flushed skin
• Seizures
• Dark, concentrated urine
The longer heat stroke progresses, the more deadly to your pet. Other life-threatening signs to look for as heat stroke progresses include:
• Seizures or tremors
• Dark red-wine colored urine
• Bloody or black, tarry diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• A racing heart rate (due to arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms)
• Collapse
• Death
If you notice any of these signs, stop immediately and do the following:
• Call someone who can get their car and bring you to a veterinarian immediately
• Get your dog into the shade or to a water source so you can cool him down (e.g., ask a random person walking by if they have water and dump it on your dog’s head to cool him down).
Unfortunately, even with aggressive supportive care and treatment by your veterinarian, heat stroke can be fatal. The problem is that the heat destroys the cells in the body, resulting in havoc. Even with aggressive IV fluids, plasma transfusions, antibiotics, cooling measures, anti-vomiting medication, anti-vomiting medication, anti-seizure medication, oxygen therapy, and 24 hour, continuous critical care monitoring, organ failure can still occur.
As treatment for heat stroke is expensive to you and costly to your pet, keep in mind that prevention is key when it comes to avoiding heat stroke.
Some preventative tips on avoiding heat stroke include the following:
• First, always check with your veterinarian to see if your dog is healthy enough – or a breed that is safe – to exercise with you.
• Avoid exercising in the mid-day sun, which ranges from 10 am – 3 pm. Remember, the head index is very high during this point.
• If possible, make sure to exercise in shade if possible.
• If you’re by a body of water (e.g., water fountain, lake, stream, etc.), take the time to cool your dog down and allow him or her access to drink while out.
• If you’re not near a water source, make sure to carry a water bottle or Camelback for your dog. If you’re running out for both of you, save that water you’re your four-legged friend instead!
• For you rollerbladers, keep in mind that your dog has to pace at a much faster rate than your walk or jog, so take it easy.
• Prevent your dog from becoming overweight to obese, as this predisposes your pet to overheating.
The easiest hint? When in doubt, STOP. It’s not worth losing your four-legged friend to heat stroke for you to keep in shape!
As previously published by Dr. Justine Lee in Pet Health Network at www.pethealthnetwork.com