Important to Know: Summer Cautions - Heat Stroke
Warmer weather is here!! But with the warmer weather, we start to see some dangers for our beloved pets. Here are a few most common conditions to be aware of, and some advice on how to manage them.
Quick Read (30 Seconds):
Dogs are seen more commonly for heat stroke than cats, but both can be affected
Heat stoke occurs when the bodies ability to cool is overwhelmed by heat
Heat stroke is very dangerous and can lead to death
Never leave a dog in a car on a warm day
Seek out ways to cool your pet if they appear too hot
Read below to see our top tips!
Heat Stroke
Most Pets love the sun, but everyone, humans, cats and dogs alike can be susceptible to heat stroke. We don’t see many heat stroke patients in our clinic, but when we do see them, we tend to see more dogs than cats affected.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Because most cats are capable of looking after themselves, much of our advice centres on dogs, however, should you have a sun-loving cat, the tips will be easily applicable! Over-heating and heat stroke occurs when the body’s ability to cool itself is overwhelmed by the cooling it needs to do. Look out for important symptoms including:
Heavy panting
Glazed eyes
A rapid pulse
Excessive salivation
Lack of coordination
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Loss of consciousness
How to Prevent Heat Stroke and Over-heating
Anything that raises temperature should be minimised and avoided when the weather is hot, for example, be mindful of not taking dogs out for walks in the day when it is the hottest. The best times to go are, early morning or late evening and do not leave dogs in the garden all day. Make sure they have access to shade and lots of drinking water. There are also tools out there to keep animals cool, for example –
Never leave a dog in a car on a warm day
Don’t let dogs stay in the sun all day
Ensure plentiful supply of fresh water
Encourage them to stay in shaded areas and away from direct sunlight
Put down damp towels for them to lie on
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water, but keep an eye out for any signs of chewing as the material could be harmful if swallowed
Put the garden sprinkler on
Keep a paddling pool in the shade for them to splash about in.
Regular grooming as matts can trap the heat in.
Sunscreen if needed for thin coats or light skinned.
Be careful of hot surfaces that your animal will walk on (tarmac or sand) if it is to hot to touch then it will be to hot for your animals feet.
As said earlier, heatstroke develops when a dog, cat or human cannot reduce their body temperature and it can be fatal.
What else do you do for your hot-dog? – Let us know on Facebook!
How to Treat Heat Stroke in Dogs
If you think your dog has heatstroke, you need to act fast. Take them to a cool, shaded area. Apply towels soaked in cold water to their head, neck and chest and let them drink water or lick an ice cube. Never place them directly into ice cold water or give them too much to drink as they may go into shock. Then make sure you get your pet to a vet urgently.