scone.com.auHelping Hounds with the Heat
By Peta Gay Raiton, veterinarian, PetMedical
Dogs are very susceptible to overheating in hot weather.
A dog with heat stroke will pant and drool excessively.
The gums will turn brick red and they will become wobbly on the legs with muscle tremors progressing fitting and death.
Hot humid days are the most difficult for dogs, especially the very young, the old and breeds such as pugs and bull dogs which don’t breathe that well normally.
Dogs which exercise, such as working dogs are also at risk.
If your pet is overheating you can cool them off by spraying them with cool water or wrapping with wet towels, change these often as they heat up quickly.
Icy cold water will cause the blood vessels of the skin to close and trap heat inside the animal making the situation worse.
Alcohol applied to the pads and hairless areas of the body will help.
In many cases patients need to be hospitalized until their temperature is stabilized, and may even need intensive care for several days if organ failure has occurred.
Be aware of the clinical signs of heat stroke so you may respond quickly to an episode.
Know how to cool your dog properly, and talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate procedures for maintaining proper body temperature and lowering it in the safest way possible.
If your dog is older, or is a brachycephalic breed that is prone to overheating, avoid taking your dog out during the hottest times of day, or leaving the dog in places that can become too hot for your dog, like a garage, sunny room, sunny yard, or car.
Never leave your dog in a parked car, even for only a few minutes, as a closed car becomes dangerously hot very rapidly.
Always have water accessible to your dog; on hot days you might even add ice blocks for your dog to lick.
Pet Medical offers state-of-the-art medical care delivered with old-fashioned care and compassion. There are three clinics in the Upper Hunter including Scone, Muswellbrook and Denman. For more information visit: Pet Medical.
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