Hot weather for the hounds??
They're running around, but keep them cool!!!
Wow, it seems like it wasn’t that long ago when I was offering cold weather tips for your dog. Now, here it is, only the end of April and we are facing record temperatures in the northeast for the next 3-4 days. This presents a great opportunity to speak about the needs and care of dogs in the hot weather!!
Heatstroke is the most prevelant condition for dogs in hot weather. Heatstroke occurs when the normal way a body works cannot keep the body temperature in a normal range. Humans have the ability to sweat and that helps keep us cool and minimizes the incidents of heat stroke. However, animals, including dogs, do not have similar types of cooling systems and they can overheat very quickly. This can often turn into a dangerous and deadly situation for the dog.
Some of the signs that you might see if your dog is experiencing heatstroke include the following:
1) rapid panting
2) a bright red tongue
3) red or pale gums
4) Thick, sticky saliva
5) Depression
6) Weakness
7) Dizziness
Vomiting - sometimes with blood
9)Diarrhea
10)Shock
11)Coma
None of these signs should be ignored. You should plan on taking your dog to the vet, but first attempt to lower his body temperature gradually before going to the vet. This can be done by wetting the dog with cool water, but on small dogs, you should use lukewarm water. Do not use cold water, as a drastic reduction in the body temperature of the dog could create other serious medical conditions. Even if the dog improves rapidly, he/she should be taken to the vet for an examination and further treatment if necessary.
Take precautions so that this condition does not happen to your dog. It could be disasterous. There will be some other dog/hot weather tips to follow in future entries!!!
May 7th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Thank you for writing about this. My babies and I live in Florida and it can get boiling hot out here. Last weekend we were at the dog park for an hour, and even though they rested under trees they were getting hot and panting excessively.