Beware of the heat!
Heatstroke in dogs
Summer is upon us, and we need to be aware of how our pets handle the coming heat. A dog's normal body temperature is between 37.8-39.2°C. This temperature must be measured after the dog has been at rest. The temperature may be falsely elevated if the dog has just gone for a walk, run around outside or is scared and stressed. In connection with illness such as pain, inflammation, infection or after an operation, the dog's body temperature can be really elevated.
Heatstroke is used as an expression that the dog's body temperature has increased, but without there having been previous signs of illness at the same time as the dog has been exposed to a lot of heat from the surroundings.
The anatomy behind
Dogs don't sweat like we do. They only have a few sweat glands on their paws and therefore they regulate their heat needs through breathing and by necking. Heat stroke is often triggered by lack of or insufficient ventilation. This can be if the dog is left in a hot car or if they are otherwise sitting somewhere without the possibility of shade such as in the park or in the garden. This situation can worsen if they do not have access to fresh water. When the dog is hot and begins to clear its throat, but cannot inhale cool air from its surroundings, the body temperature begins to rise very quickly. Especially the short-nosed breeds have a problem with being able to cool the air themselves, as the nose is not long enough for this. So be extra aware that they are more quickly affected by heat stroke than other breeds. Heatstroke can become critical for the dog and cause significant medical problems, especially if the temperature exceeds 41°C.
Unfortunately we have to repeat it again
It shouldn't be something that needs to be pointed out anymore, but unfortunately far too many dogs still come into clinics due to heat stroke after staying in a car and far too many don't get out of the car before it's too late. It is obvious that cars parked in the sun are hot, but cars parked in the shade or cars with the windows rolled down can also be dangerous. This is because the temperature can be much higher inside the car than outside the car. Many people think that it is enough to roll the window a little down, but this only works if there is enough wind. On windless days, an open window make no difference to your four-legged friend. So please think about whether it is better to leave the dog at home than for it to sit in the car and wait.
What symptoms should you be aware of with heat stroke?
- Rapid breathing.
- Dry or sticky gums.
- The color of the gums can become red or blue.
- Sores may appear on the gums.
- The dog can drool a lot.
- The dog may seem confused and not like himself.
- The dog does not move normally.
- The dog may convulse and collapse.
- Vomiting and dehydration can also appear
What should I do if I suspect my dog has heatstroke?
Your dog requires immediate emergency treatment by a veterinarian. Before driving to the vet, you may try to stabilize the dog, but this must be done under control. It is important that you do NOT cool your dog too fast.
- Immediately move the dog to a cool area with ventilation.
- Offer the dog fresh water immediately.
- Pour water over the dog's stomach, feet and armpits. The water must not be ice cold, as the cooling of the dog must not go too quickly.
- Keep the dog calm to avoid heat build-up from muscle tremors.
While driving to the vet, you can continue to pour cool water on the dog's stomach, feet and armpits. It is important that there is good ventilation in the car when you drive to the vet.
Beware not to cool the dog to fast
If the cooling takes place too quickly, the blood vessels can contract/collapse, after which there will be less blood flow and circulation will be reduced. This can lead to slower cooling and the dog can go into shock.
Treatment at the vet
Each treatment depends on the individual patient. The goal is to bring the dog's body temperature down in a continuously controlled manner. Overall, the treatment may include the following:
- A venous catheter and liquid drip that slowly cools the body.
- It may be necessary to slightly anesthetize the dog so that it relaxes/does not have muscle tremors and cramps, which will increase the body temperature.
- It may also be necessary to give the dog oxygen treatment, either via a mask or via an oxygen cage.
- The dog's temperature and general condition are continuously monitored.
- The treatment is stopped before the dog becomes too cold. However, the cooling will continue after the treatment has stopped, as the dog's coat is wet. Therefore, the dog is also monitored after the treatment has stopped.
- Often a blood test is also taken to have an overview of the patient's organ status, as a heat stroke can affect e.g. liver, kidneys and brain.
The long-term prospects
The prognosis for your dog depends on how high the body temperature is, how long the dog had been too hot and whether there are signs of organ damage (e.g. liver, kidneys, brain).
It is possible that the dog's blood tests must be continuously monitored in the period after the heat stroke.
A final word from us
Then we got through the important thing about heat stroke. So next time the heat strikes, remember to consider whether your dog is better of at home in a ventilated house, instead of a hot car. In addition, plan to go for a walk when the heat is not at its worst. Especially if you have a short-nosed breed. If you are in doubt as to whether it is too hot, always assume that it is, because otherwise you would not be in doubt.
-MyPetPassion
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