You’ve probably heard of this health problem or emergency that can happen to your pet. A heat stroke can cause his death if you don’t react quickly and properly.
So, here I’ll explain everything you need to know and what to do if you find yourself in a situation like this.
Table of Contents
How does heat stroke occur in dogs?
First of all, heat stroke is a rise in the canine’s body temperature reaching over 42°C, while their normal temperature is between 38° to 39°C.
This happens because dogs cannot regulate their body temperature easily since they don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies (like humans). They eliminate or dissipate heat by panting and pawing.
Dogs have sweat glands in their pads that help them sweat and thus lower their body temperature, but in very high temperatures and in certain problematic situations, they are not enough to regulate your pet’s temperature.
On the other hand, they can also perspire through the mouth, which is why we often see dogs panting heavily, either due to high temperatures or intense exercise.
So, in short, heat stroke usually occurs on very sunny days when your dog has been exposed to the sun and maybe even doing physical activity, and as the temperature rises very quickly, the dog’s body is not able to regulate it promptly.
Dog breeds prone to heat strokes
Some breeds’ anatomy makes them more prone to certain problems, such as heat stroke. For example, brachycephalic breeds, dogs with short heads and “flat” muzzles cause respiratory problems.
Some breeds with this characteristic are:
- French Bulldog.
- Pug.
- Pekingese.
- Shih Tzu.
- English Bulldog.
- Boxer.
- Shar Pei.
- Boston terrier.
Age of the canine
On the other hand, we know that both puppies and senior dogs (around 7 years old) are more delicate. In addition, we must take into account that old dogs are more prone to suffer from different diseases that can further complicate temperature regulation.
So you should take extra care of dogs at these ages when it’s getting too hot and you notice the following symptoms. Even your dog with pre-existing diseases (such as respiratory pathologies) may be in serious danger.
What can happen to my dog if he has heat stroke?
Heat stroke is an extremely serious problem that can cause respiratory, neurological, vascular, hemorrhage, seizures, and permanent damage to the heart, lungs, or other organs. And of course, it can even cause the death of the furry one; at least half of the dogs that show severe symptoms (about 50% that arrive at the veterinary clinic due to the pathology) die.
The sudden rise in the body temperature causes the canine to lose body fluids and slows down circulation, which hinders the transport of oxygen to the whole organism. In addition, the blood vessels enlarge in an attempt to dissipate the heat, resulting in congestive mucous membranes (very bright red color).
In more technical terms, this is what happens:
“In addition, with a progressive increase in core body temperature, metabolic derangement occurs cardiac output decreases, leading to a failure of heat dissipation, which exacerbates body heat buildup. When hyperthermia, combined with dehydration, progresses, cutaneous and splanchnic blood pooling results in decreased circulating blood volume and hypotension.” (pathophysiology of heat stroke in dogs).
Hypotension is a drop in blood pressure (the opposite of hypertension) where not enough blood reaches different parts of the body, which can lead to fainting and failure of various organs and blood vessels.
You don’t want any of this to happen to your dog, so you better be careful.
Symptoms
Symptoms that a dog is suffering from a heat stroke are:
- Heavy breathing and excessive panting.
- Staggering (dizziness).
- Temperature over 40°C.
- Its mucous membranes, tongue, and gums have a bluish color.
- The canine may even lose consciousness (faint).
- Vomiting.
- Convulsions.
How to prevent heat stroke in dogs?
Outings – temperature
First, do not take your dog for a walk or exercise at times of the day when the temperature is too high and the sun is at its highest point.
Water
Your pet always needs to have fresh water available, so make sure he has plenty of it at all times. For example, I refill my dog’s bowl several times a day. Also, every time you go out you should bring water with you and a bowl or cup to serve her if necessary.
In summer
If it is summer or very hot, do not lock your pet indoors. Many times people (inadvertently) leave them inside their car for a while which can be fatal. Make sure they are always in the shade and in large ventilated places.
Cooling mats
Cooling mats are filled with cooling gel that will keep your canine cool and absorb body heat, lowering the temperature. They must be kept in the shade (because they will absorb the ambient heat, especially if they are exposed to the sun).
They are an excellent option for your dog to rest, besides you can easily take them wherever you need.
What to do if your dog suffers from heat stroke?
A heat stroke is a veterinary emergency, so the moment you notice the first symptoms in your pet, the best thing to do is to go immediately to your veterinarian. He/she will be in charge of lowering the temperature appropriately and making sure that the organs are working properly.
In case you cannot go to a veterinary care center quickly and your canine shows very worrying symptoms, you will have to do something quickly.
- First: take your dog to a cool, shady place out of the sun. You should not lower the temperature all at once, that is, don’t use ice or cold water. You must lower the temperature gradually as I explain in the next step.
- Second: apply cloths soaked in water, but cool water at room temperature. Put them on the head, neck, paws, and belly. You should not cover him with the cloth completely, just wet it a little at a time so that the temperature regulates.
- Third: you can wet your canine’s mouth and tongue, but don’t force him to drink.
- Fourth: monitor your dog’s temperature, it should start to drop until it reaches at least 39°C. The tip of the thermometer should go in the dog’s anal orifice and you can use any thermometer, however, it is not recommended to use the glass one because if the furry one moves it could break and cause more damage. So use a digital one, plus it will be much faster at taking the temperature.
- Fifth: If after 8 to 10 minutes it doesn’t improve, go to your veterinarian quickly.
Important Recommendation: It will always be better to take him to the vet, even if you cannot move you can contact a professional by phone to guide you and be aware of the recovery of your pet.
Moreover, even if you manage to lower your canine’s temperature at home, you should take him to the veterinarian afterward to make sure that the episode has not left serious after-effects.
