Map

Heatstroke

Phoenix summer is now upon us and these months bring on extremely high temperatures.  Just as we can suffer from heatstroke, so can your pets.  It is a potentially deadly injury that, with proper precautions, can easily be avoided.  Older, younger, overweight, short nosed, heavy coated or ill pets are more at risk to develop heatstroke, however, the healthy pet may also suffer.

As a good rule of thumb, if it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for your pet.  Can your feet stand to walk on the hot concrete or blacktop?  Neither can your pet’s.  Keep in mind on an 85 degree day, a cars temperature can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes and up to 120 degrees in thirty minutes, even with the windows open.  On a 90 degree day, temperatures in a car can top 160 degrees. 

Think your pet is safe in the back of a pickup truck while you quickly run into the store…Think again.  Unlike people, animals lack sweat glands for evaporative cooling so they rely upon panting to reduce their core body temperatures.  Unfortunately panting also requires a lot of work from the respiratory muscles, which can create heat, and start a vicious circle of inefficient cooling and unfortunate circumstances.

Heatstroke happens when the body’s temperature exceeds its cooling capacity.  Normal body temperature of a dog, taken with a rectal thermometer, ranges from 100.5 to 102.5.  In the initial onset of heatstroke, you may see heavy panting and excessive salivation, even while sitting, which can quickly progress to the more severe form if action is not taken.  

Moderate heatstroke occurs at 104-106 degrees.  You may notice heavy rapid panting vocalizing with each exhale, a fast heartbeat, incoordination and dry, red mucous membranes (gums) and finally collapse.  Temperatures above 106 degrees become deadly, some symptoms may be depression, gray mucous membranes, vomiting, and diarrhea, shock, collapse, seizures and finally organ failure even after cooling, coma and even death.

If you think your pet is overheated or in danger of heatstroke, remove the animal from the sun and heat.  Immediately seek aid from your veterinarian.  If available, use the A/C to cool the pet on your way to the veterinarian.  If you can not get to your veterinarian immediately, take steps to cool the pet down.  Soak your pets coat with cool water (not ice cold) or towels drenched in cool water placed over the back, belly, feet and neck.    The use of a fan will maximize evaporative cooling.  Monitor the animals temperature every 5 minutes, once the temperature drops to 103 degrees, stop the cooling process.  Allow small amounts of water, Gatorade or Pedialyte frequently.

If your pet has suffered from heatstroke, your veterinarian may want to hospitalize your pet.  Intravenous fluids will likely be needed to cool, rehydrate and diminish signs of shock. Blood work will likely be run to see that organs are functioning properly and no prolonged damages occurred.  Further medical treatment may also be needed.

To avoid heatstroke, exercise with your pet during the early morning hours.  Always have fresh clean water available. Provide outside shade and consider a misting system.  Keep your pet indoors whenever temperatures exceed 95 degrees.  Never muzzle a dog in the heat as this impedes him from panting and will certainly lead to death.  NEVER leave an animal in the car.

Jessica Okhuysen, CVT

Desert Hills Animal Clinic

1039 East Carefree Hwy, Suite A, Phoenix, AZ 85085

Phone: 623-581-1558    Email: DesertHillsAnimalClinic@hotmail.com