31/07/2021
Please read….. Heat Stroke in Dogs
Any dog can develop heatstroke, but overweight, young, elderly, flat-faced, giant-breed, and thick-coated dogs are particularly at risk, even from just sitting out in hot weather.
Signs of heatstroke in dogs
Signs of heatstroke in dogs include:
* Panting
* Drooling and foaming at the mouth
* Bright red gums
* Shaking
* Weakness and collapse
* Confusion
* Vomiting and diarrhoea (sometimes containing blood)
* Seizures
* Death
* The average normal body temperature for an adult dog is 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 degrees Fahrenheit).
* However, a healthy adult dog can have a body temperature range from 37.7 to 39.2 degrees Celsius (100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
* If your dogs body temperature rises above 40.0°C take your pet to your vet.
Dogs only have sweat glands on the tip of their nose and on their pads, and their coats are designed to keep heat in, not out. As a result, they struggle to lose heat when their body temperature rises – the only way that they can cool down is by panting.
Panting works fairly well for a short time – but it uses up a lot of water. Sooner or later, the dog will become dehydrated and won’t be able to salivate anymore, then their temperature climbs rapidly and dangerously.
Many dogs which die of heatstroke actually die of shock as their body becomes dehydrated, leading to the collapse of their circulatory system. However, in exceptionally hot weather, even well-hydrated dogs can die, as their body temperature climbs faster than they are able to lose heat.
In this situation, the high body temperature literally cooks their blood, brains, and internal organs, resulting in abnormal clotting, brain damage, multi-organ failure, and then death. While a dog’s normal temperature is about 38.5C, a core temperature of 41C can lead to permanent brain damage, and the higher it goes, the more severe the damage and the faster it occurs.
How can I keep my dog safe?
Prevention is the key! On a hot day…
* Always allow your dog access to shade
* Make sure your dog always has water available
* Keep at-risk dogs, especially short-nosed breeds, indoors out of the heat during the day
* Spray hot dogs with cool water before they become ill, to help them cool down
* NEVER leave a dog in a car, even in the shade as temperatures can rise to dangerous levels within minutes
* Exercise your dog in the early morning or late evening, when it’s cooler
* Watch out for the warning signs…
