Heatstroke in Dogs
When the sun comes out, there is no better feeling than enjoying the warm weather with your canine best friend. However, it is vital to remember that dogs can quickly overheat so it is important to take precautions to prevent heatstroke in your dog.
What is heatstroke?
If dogs get too hot and cannot reduce their body temperature, they will develop heatstroke – which can be fatal. Dogs don’t perspire in the same way as humans and have only a small number of sweat glands, contained mainly in their paw pads, so they have to rely on panting to cool themselves down.
Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs:
- Excessive severe panting
- Severe salivating or drooling
- Warm or dry skin
- Dark red gums
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Collapsing
- Uncoordinated movements
- Becoming unresponsive to commands and surroundings
Treating heatstroke in dogs:
If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke, don’t panic – act promptly. The first thing you should do is seek veterinary advice, as heatstroke in dogs can be fatal. While you are waiting for veterinary attention, here are actions you can take to care for a dog with heatstroke.
- Remove your dog from the heated area by moving them into a cool shaded area or into a cool air-conditioned room.
- Sponge your dog’s body with cool (not cold) water to slowly reduce their body temperature.
- Use fan to cool your dog down.
- Don’t spray or put your dog in freezing cold water as this may cause them to go into shock.
- Give your dog small amounts of water to improve their hydration.
How to prevent heatstroke in dogs:
- Know the clinical signs of heatstroke so that you can contact your vet immediately.
- Being aware of your pet’s risk factor. Puppy and senior dogs are more likely to experience heatstroke, along with those with short, flat faces such as Pugs and Bulldogs.
- Restrict exercise on hot days to early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Never leave dogs alone in direct sun or in a car on hot days.
- Make sure your dog has access to a cool, shaded place and cool drinking water.
- If you go out on a hot day, make sure you have a good supply of water for the dog (and yourself!).
- Let your dog play in a cool (not freezing cold) water in a safe place, such as a paddling pool in the garden.
- Groom your dog ready for the season. Dogs with thick, heavy coats are more at risk of overheating.
Barking Mad Dog Sitting Service
At Barking Mad Dog Care, pet welfare is our absolute top priority. We are not just an online agency, we provide 24-hour local support to all our hosts. Since our dog sitting service was established in 2000, we have ensured that the dog holiday care we provide is a five star service, by implementing very high standards when it comes to all our checking and vetting procedures.
All of our host families are real dog lovers and take special care to make sure their doggy guests are comfortable, no matter what the outside temperature – enter your postcode here to find your local dog sitting service.
We’d love to chat to you on 01524 220202 if you would like to en
