Heat exhaustion in dogs

By Gianna Tuckner CVT at ZimmVet                                       

Heat exhaustion can happen because most dogs want to be with the people they love. Knowing the signs of heat stress and reacting to a pet in danger is important.

Humans deal with hot weather by sweating, but dogs shed heat by panting. In the wild, dogs seek shade during the hottest part of the day; left to their own devices, most pet dogs will, too — unless they are lured into activity by playing fetch or going on a walk.

Leave your pet at home when it’s warm, never leave your dog in the car even on a mild day (heat builds up quickly), and exercise your pet in the cooler mornings or evenings. If you wonder if a street or sidewalk is too hot for your pet to walk on, place the palm of your hand on the pavement: if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s feet.

For dogs with short faces, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekinese, and mixes of these breeds, the risk is even higher. These dogs cannot breathe well even under the best of circumstances and should be kept in air-conditioned areas during the warmer months. Older dogs, overweight or obese dogs, and unfit dogs are also at higher risk.

A dog’s normal temperature is between 100.0-102.5. More than a couple of degrees up can be concerning, and it’s certainly an indication that you need to get your dog calm and cool. Since most people don’t carry a thermometer around, they have to rely on the signs of an overheated dog. These include: Heavy or rapid panting, drooling, distant-eyed expression, anxiety and restlessness, confusion, exhaustion or fatigue, bright red or blue/purple gums, vomiting or diarrhea and collapse.

If your dog is overheated, move your pet immediately to the shade or an air-cooled area. You can use cool water, not ice-cold water or ice, on your dog’s belly, fousing on the groin or put a fan in front of your dog and have it blow over them. If you have a thermometer, lubricate the tip and insert it gently into the rectum to get an accurate temperature to share with your veterinarian. Offer your pet cool water to drink but don’t force water into your dog’s mouth.

Then call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic to let someone know you are on your way.

Adapted from Dr. Marty Becker, DVM Vetstreet article