Preventing Heat
Illness
Okay, much of
this is "common sense" but it's important. So, even if you think you know
all the reasons why, keep reading to learn how to prevent heat injuries...
-
Avoid strenuous
activities during the hottest part of the day (about 12 noon to 3 p.m.).
-
Excercise/play
for short periods of time and take lots of breaks.
-
Acclimate your
dog to the heat. --Don't just rush outdoors and spend a full day practicing
agility if your dog is not accustomed to such work. Starting in cooler
weather, slowly build up to longer play periods.
-
Have lots of
cool (not ice-cold, however) water available. Stop frequently and give
your dog (and you) a chance to get a drink.
-
When possible,
work/play in a shady area.
-
Know your dog!
He's your best friend, after all, so keep an eye on him. Slow down the
activity when he wants to slow down. --More importantly, slow down when
he doesn't want to! Some animals are so keen to please that they'll
keep work well past the time they should have stopped. It's up to you to
know when it's time to stop!
-
NEVER LEAVE
YOUR CAR IN A PARKED CAR! I know, most
of you are saying, "Hey, that's common sense!" Maybe so, but this is still
the leading cause of heat stroke in dogs today. It only takes minutes on
a hot summer day for your dog's core body temperature to rise to deadly
levels. So just don't do it!
Identifying
Heat Stroke
How do you know
if a dog is suffering from a heat stroke? Here are a few things to look
for...
-
Heavy, excessive
panting with a lot of salivation.
-
Collapsing,
still with heavy panting.
-
Bloody diarrhea
or vomiting.
-
Pull on the
skin on the back of the dog's neck. If the dog is healthy it will return
in one or two seconds. A delay indicates dehydration, which often accompanies
heat stroke.
-
Check the dog's
mucous membranes (either the gums/inner lip of the dog's mouth or, in the
case of breeds with black gums, the inner lower eyelid). These should be
pink. Any other color indicates an emergency.
-
Check the dogs
capillary refill time (this is a quick way to see if the dog's circulation
is normal). Press lightly on the gums/inner lip of the dog's mouth. As
you press, the color should go from pink to white. When you release, it
goes from white to pink, with color returning in one or two seconds. If
it's faster than that (and other symptoms are present) and it's a good
bet that your dog is suffering a heat stroke.
-
The dog's temperature
is above 104° Farenheit.
If you see a
combination of these, chances are good that your dog is suffering from
heat illness and needs to be treated, so start immediately (see below)
and get the animal to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Treating Heat
Stroke
If your dog
is suffering from heat stroke, act quickly and get the animal to your vet!
Some of the effects of heat stroke (like kidney failure, swelling of the
brain, heart rhythms) may not show up for hours or days and can be fatal
if not treated. So, even if you do everything below and your dog appears
to be acting normal, play it safe and get to the vet!
-
Move your dog
to a cool, shady spot. Get her out of the direct heat.
-
Take the dog's
temperature (if possible). If it's above 104° F, you want to lower
that in 10 to 15 minutes and stop when the dog's temperature reaches
104°.
-
Spray or immerse
the dog in cool water. Note: Use cool, not ice cold water!
-
Place cool,
water-soaked towels on the neck, feet, and belly.
-
Let the dog
drink if it wants.
-
Get to the nearest
veterinarian.
With a little
common sense and attention, you and your dog can have a fun, safe summer
without any troubles!
References:
ASPCA Complete
Dog Care Manual by Bruce Fogle, DVM
Pet First
Aid: Cats and Dogs by Bobbie Mammato
