Heat heat stroke is a serious condition in which the dog is unable to dissipate heat fast enough and his body temperature rises to dangerous levels that can damage multiple organs and even cause the death of the dog. This disorder is not the same as fever. In fever, the temperature rises as the body's response to injury and infection. On the other hand, in heat stroke, the increase in temperature is due to the fact that the dog cannot eliminate the heat generated by its own body or that it receives from the environment.
Because it is a serious condition, heatstroke must be treated immediately to avoid major damage and death to the dog. Unfortunately, most of the time the symptoms are not recognized until it is too late. That is why it is important to recognize the symptoms of heat shock, but it is even more important to recognize the causes and know how to avoid this risk to the he alth of our dogs.
On our site we will give you the keys to detect the symptoms of sunstroke in dogs as well as the treatment or first aid that we should to offer.
Causes and risk factors
Dogs are susceptible to heat stroke because they don't have a very efficient system for regulating their temperatureThey can't remove heat through perspiration and its main mechanism of heat regulation is gas exchange through respiration. This is why they wheeze when they do strenuous physical activity.
The dogs that are most at risk of suffering from this disorder are:
- Those who are restricted to very hot environments without the possibility of sheltering from high temperatures (locked in cars, locked in areas exposed to the sun and with asph alt or concrete floors, locked in rooms without adequate ventilation, etc.).
- Dogs that live in very hot and humid places.
- Dogs acclimatizing to high temperatures.
- Those who have heart or respiratory conditions that affect efficient breathing.
- Those who exercise excessively (hyperactive dogs, working dogs, etc.)
- Very young dogs and very old dogs.
- Dogs with previous history of heatstroke.
- Long-haired breeds.
- Molossoid breeds (boxer, bulldog, Dogue de Bordeaux…)
- Dark colored dogs.
- Obese dogs.
- Dogs under severe stress (eg subjected to physical abuse, fighting, etc.).
- Dogs that use muzzles in stressful situations (This can happen when the dog is at the groomer, when traveling by car or in any other situation that causes a lot of stress. This can also cause vomiting and the dog chokes on his vomit.)
Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs
The symptoms that a dog suffers when it is suffering from heatstroke are the following, don't miss any details:
- Elevated body temperature
- Signs of anxiety
- Excessive and fluctuating panting
- Excessive Drooling
- Foaming at the mouth
- Dry, sticky gums
- Forced or Difficult Breathing
- Tachycardia
- Irregular heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscular lack of coordination
- Tremors
- Very red gums
- Small stains of blood on the skin
In the advanced stages symptoms include:
- Apathy
- Weakness
- Inability to move
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
Impact
The consequences depend on the time that passes since the temperature rises, the first aid and the treatment the dog receives. They can range from dehydration without major impact to the death of the animal. Consequences of heatstroke can include:
- S alt loss
- Internal bleeding
- Liver failure
- Renal insufficiency
- Stroke
- Multiple organ damage
- Eat
- Death
First aid and treatment
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from heatstroke you should take him to the vet as soon as possibleIdeally, you contact the veterinarian at that moment, explain the situation and tell you how to proceed. However, if you can't get in touch with your vet, you need to lower your dog's body temperature gradually. For that you can use the following options:
- Take your dog immediately to a shady spot where he can cool off
- Soak him in cool water slowly, Never ice cold as he could go into shock, using a hose, a sprinkler or by immersing his body in a bathing suit or bathtub (do not submerge their head and be careful not to get water in their nose or mouth).
- Check your dog's rectal temperature with a thermometer and stop cooling your dog when it reaches 39ºC. From that temperature your dog will be able to self-regulate his body heat and you don't want to cause hypothermia by continuing to cool your pet.
Please note that you should not immerse your dog in ice or ice water. The water to lower the temperature must be water from the sink or be at about 20ºC. Ice water causes vasoconstriction and that reduces heat dissipation. In addition, freezing water can also cause your dog to shiver, which will increase his body temperature instead of lowering it. During the trip to the veterinary clinic you can wet your dog with cold water using a spray.
It is important that the heat dissipates gradually, so do not try to bring it down immediately with ice dips or very drastic procedures. Very sudden changes in body temperature can cause problems in the internal organs.
Once at the veterinary clinic, the treatment will depend on the condition of your dog. There is no specific treatment for heat stroke, but it is common to regulate the temperature of the environment, apply serum and keep the dog hospitalized for some time. The prognosis may or may not be favorable, depending on the damage suffered by the dog.
How to prevent sunstroke in dogs
While it's good to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke, it's even better to know how to avoid this veterinary emergency. To do this, take into account the following tips:
- Do not confine your dog in very hot environments, such as a car on a sunny or hot day, a sunny room with little shelter, a garage, a deck without shade, a patio with an asph alt floor or concrete, etc.
- If you live in a very hot place, avoid letting your dog exercise during very hot hours and avoid walks at noon.
- When your dog exercises intensely or plays intensely, make sure you force him to have rest periods. Most dogs can play or run to heat shock.
- Provide a shaded spot.
- If your dog is desperately trying to escape from a stressful situation and makes a lot of physical effort to do so, immediately take him to a place where the situation does not occur and reassure him.
- Procure good nutrition and good care.
- Make available plenty of clean, fresh water at all times, especially if you're in a hot place.
Of course, these tips are most important for dogs that live in hot, humid places, for dogs with brachycephalics (flat face and flat nose), and for very young and very old dogs. However, they are valid for all dogs.
Please, take special care never to leave your dog locked in the car. The interior of a car heats up very quickly, and it can take just a few minutes for your best friend to get fatal heatstroke.
If you want to know more…
- Heat stroke in dogs
- How to take care of a dog in summer?
- Homemade serum for dogs
