Loving summer the smart way: Preventing and identifying heat stroke in dogs
I am an emergency veterinarian and absolute animal lover (all kinds of animals)! To give you an idea, I am the kind of person that says “I love you” — without sarcasm or hesitation — to a cow I see while running, a deer while driving, or a dog while walking. I’m usually met with blank stares or looks of “what are you saying, hooman?” but I like to believe they are saying “hello” right back to me. So with this level of passion towards animals, it will come as no surprise that I’ve devoted my career to helping them, as an emergency veterinarian in Canada’s largest veterinary hospital, and now at one of the busiest emergency hospitals in California.
Over the coming posts, I’m going to use my personal and professional experience to share stories and tips of how to care for your pets in the best way possible. That being said, the following remains guidelines and cannot replace a consultation with your veterinarian. In case of any doubt, I always recommend you consult your veterinarian! ☺️
Let’s dive into today’s topic: Heat stroke!
Summer is coming soon and we are (myself included) very thrilled and antsy to enjoy outdoor activities with our little furry ones!
While summer offers an incomparable number of activities that you can do with your pet, it is also the time of year where veterinary emergency hospitals are the busiest. Heat stroke is one of the most common reasons for presentation in the emergency room during the summer. Here is a brief summary on what heat stroke is and tips to avoid ending up in a possibly life threatening situation with your pet this summer.
Heat stroke
As a runner, I am the first one to LOVE running with my dog (Pablo)! That being said, it is not always safe to do so. As a quick example, when I was finishing a run a few weeks ago, I saw someone beginning their run with a large dog at noon while it was quite hot outside. This made me worried and this is why I decided to post on this topic today. I’m hoping to reach as many pup parents as possible to keep them safe!
Dogs do not have the same mechanisms for eliminating heat — primarily because they do not sweat — as humans and do not react to heat the same way. Multiplying the concern: most of them have thick fur and, unfortunately, too many of them are overweight, which also plays a role in their ability to regulate their temperature (more to come on pets’ optimal weight in future posts!)
Heat stroke can be defined by the body reaching extremely high temperatures (higher than 105.8°F (or 41°C); normal high being 102.5°F (or 39.5°C)). This situation often happens either after 1) prolonged and strenuous exercise, and 2) exposure to high temperature (e.g. sitting in a hot car, being outside under the sun during humid conditions, etc.). As mentioned above, other factors can also play a role (e.g. overweight, face conformation (brachycephalic (short face) breeds such as: French bulldogs, Boston terriers, English bulldogs, etc.), fur coat (ex. Malamute, Huskies, etc.), and all of these may predispose these dogs to suffer from heat sooner than others.
How do you know if it is too hot and if your dog is going into heat stroke?
- I like to start by thinking that if it is too hot for me, it is definitely too hot for them.
- Animals that are going into heat stroke are often going to pant excessively, will show signs of weakness, their gum colors (gingiva) may change from pink to red or blue, they can collapse, show gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes with blood), etc.
Although mild heat stroke can be resolved by cooling the body and giving supportive treatment, it is not always the case. Severe heat stroke (very high temperature for a prolonged period of time) can lead to multiple organ failure, seizures, coagulation problems, and in the worse case, death of our 4-legged partner.
How can you avoid heat stroke?
- First, please avoid leaving your pet in the car at ALL times . Even if you are only going away for a very short period of time, the risk of a fatal injury is too high to risk it. Here is an interesting video from a veterinarian showing how quickly temperature rises in a car and possible impacts on a dog.
- Second, if you want to be active with your dog during summer, prioritize the activities in the early morning or just before sunset when it gets cooler. Avoid doing high intensity activities during the middle of the day, especially if sunny.
- Third, if you have to be outside with your dog when it is hot, try to find shade areas and ALWAYS carry water with you for your furry friend! There are a wide variety of cute and easy to carry water bottles on the market for them. You can also provide a good source of refreshment by making frozen treats!
- Finally, if you notice that your pup seems to get tired on the walk and might start to get warm, is panting a lot, try putting water on his fur and finding a shady and windy area as a first step. Water should be at room temperature or slightly cooler but avoid cold water that will cause constriction of blood vessels and make things worse. If your pup doesn’t get back to his normal self quickly (keeps panting a lot, is weak, has a change in his gum color, has gastrointestinal signs) contact an emergency veterinarian quickly.
In summary, summer is an amazing time to share good moments outdoor with your dog. (Summer is without a doubt Pablo’s favourite season and I absolutely cherish every minute of happiness shared with him during this time!) On the other hand, we also have to be extra cautious in choosing the appropriate intensity and time to do outside activities.
I hope this article provided you more information on the possible risks of exercise in summer and gave you ideas on how to do it safely to share lifelong memories with your dog!
Happy summer everyone!
