04/Jun/2009
How to Prevent Heat Stroke For Your Pet This Summer
By Carrie Schultz, D.V.M
Housepet-Housevet
It’s summer time again, and it’s not just plants, AC units and antiperspirants that get pushed to the limits in the South Louisiana heat. It’s an important time to keep animal safety in mind as well.
Heat prostration and heat stroke can cause serious injury or death within a very short period of time. For example, leaving dogs in cars is a common cause of heat stroke. The temperature in a parked car can quickly reach over 150 degrees, causing your pet’s body temperature to rise to 110 degrees or more. This can cause irreversible brain damage or death within just a few minutes.
Believe it or not, animals can even suffer from heat stroke in their own backyard. Pets that are normally kept indoors are not acclimated to high temperatures. This can cause them to overheat within just 10 to 15 minutes. Limit your indoor pet’s time outside in the heat, especially if they are very active.
Even pets who have been kept outside for years can be at risk of heat stroke. As pets get older, they become more sensitive to the heat. Animals that sleep soundly or those with joint problems that make getting up uncomfortable can develop heat stroke quickly if they spend too long in sunny areas of the yard without shade.
Brachycephalic (smushy-faced) breeds, such as Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs are at a highly increased risk of heat stroke because their facial structure can make panting, the body’s way of cooling off, ineffective. This increased panting can actually interfere with their breathing, which may develop into respiratory distress.
Minimizing the risk of heat stroke
Here are a few simple guidelines to help protect pets from the intense summer heat:
Once an animal becomes overheated, brain damage or death can happen very quickly. It is important to recognize the signs of heatstroke and seek medical help immediately.
Here are a few symptoms to look for when determining whether your pet is overheated:
Vigorous panting
The animal may be lying on its side, unable to stand, or they may be agitated and restless
Thick, ropey saliva in the mouth, or froth coming from the mouth and nose
Rigid posture, extending its head, neck and legs
Red, pale or “muddy” colored mucous membranes
Shock
Keep in mind that not all of these symptoms may be present. Just one or two symptoms could be a vital sign that your pet is in danger.
What Now?
If you suspect your pet is suffering from overheating or heat stroke, time is very important. Do not hesitate to take the following steps:
Simply lowering the body temperature will not sufficiently address this problem. Severe hyperthermia affects nearly every system in the body and can lead to extremely serious consequences, even after the body temperature has been lowered. Any pet suffering from hyperthermia should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
So remember, protect your pet from the intensity of the heat and you can enjoy a relaxing, fun-filled summer together!
Dr. Carrie Schultz is an onsite veterinarian in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. For more information, call 362-4926 or email at cschultzdvm@gmail.com.
By Carrie Schultz, D.V.M
Housepet-Housevet
It’s summer time again, and it’s not just plants, AC units and antiperspirants that get pushed to the limits in the South Louisiana heat. It’s an important time to keep animal safety in mind as well.
Heat prostration and heat stroke can cause serious injury or death within a very short period of time. For example, leaving dogs in cars is a common cause of heat stroke. The temperature in a parked car can quickly reach over 150 degrees, causing your pet’s body temperature to rise to 110 degrees or more. This can cause irreversible brain damage or death within just a few minutes.
Believe it or not, animals can even suffer from heat stroke in their own backyard. Pets that are normally kept indoors are not acclimated to high temperatures. This can cause them to overheat within just 10 to 15 minutes. Limit your indoor pet’s time outside in the heat, especially if they are very active.
Even pets who have been kept outside for years can be at risk of heat stroke. As pets get older, they become more sensitive to the heat. Animals that sleep soundly or those with joint problems that make getting up uncomfortable can develop heat stroke quickly if they spend too long in sunny areas of the yard without shade.
Brachycephalic (smushy-faced) breeds, such as Pugs, Lhasa Apsos, Boston Terriers and Bulldogs are at a highly increased risk of heat stroke because their facial structure can make panting, the body’s way of cooling off, ineffective. This increased panting can actually interfere with their breathing, which may develop into respiratory distress.
Minimizing the risk of heat stroke
Here are a few simple guidelines to help protect pets from the intense summer heat:
- Provide plenty of shade for your dogs outside, and monitor them regularly to make sure they are using it.
- If you have an indoor dog, limit its outside time during peak heat times of the day.
- Buy a cheap child’s pool for your back yard that your dogs can use to cool off.
- Ensure that animals in hot environments have adequate ventilation (leave car windows partially open, add a fan to dog houses, etc.).
- Provide your animals with a constant supply of fresh cool water.
- Never leave your pet in a hot car. If you absolutely must, keep the windows partially open.
Once an animal becomes overheated, brain damage or death can happen very quickly. It is important to recognize the signs of heatstroke and seek medical help immediately.
Here are a few symptoms to look for when determining whether your pet is overheated:
Vigorous panting
The animal may be lying on its side, unable to stand, or they may be agitated and restless
Thick, ropey saliva in the mouth, or froth coming from the mouth and nose
Rigid posture, extending its head, neck and legs
Red, pale or “muddy” colored mucous membranes
Shock
Keep in mind that not all of these symptoms may be present. Just one or two symptoms could be a vital sign that your pet is in danger.
What Now?
If you suspect your pet is suffering from overheating or heat stroke, time is very important. Do not hesitate to take the following steps:
- Remove the pet from the hot environment immediately.
- Move them into the shade and direct a fan onto them.
- If possible, determine a rectal temperature - temperatures over 106 degrees are a true emergency.
- Begin to cool the animal with cool water on the trunk and legs using cool tap water (DO NOT use cold water or ice - very cold water will cause the blood vessels on the outside of the body to shrink and actually trap the heat inside the body)
- Use rubbing alcohol on the skin of the stomach, the foot pads and tips of the ears, and allow a fan to evaporate the alcohol. This leaves a cooling sensation.
- Transport the animal to a veterinary facility as soon as possible
Simply lowering the body temperature will not sufficiently address this problem. Severe hyperthermia affects nearly every system in the body and can lead to extremely serious consequences, even after the body temperature has been lowered. Any pet suffering from hyperthermia should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
So remember, protect your pet from the intensity of the heat and you can enjoy a relaxing, fun-filled summer together!
Dr. Carrie Schultz is an onsite veterinarian in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. For more information, call 362-4926 or email at cschultzdvm@gmail.com.
