LAST week I wrote about the effect of hot weather on your dog.
Dogs have a very inefficient cooling system compared to humans. They cool themselves by panting, or drawing air into their lungs to bring down their body temperature. But when the air temperature is as warm as, or warmer than their body temperature, that cooling system becomes dangerously inefficient, leaving the dog susceptible to heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body is not able to maintain normal functions due to an excessive loss of body fluids and salt. Dogs salivate profusely when they pant as they try to cool themselves and that salivating can lead to dehydration if the fluids are not replaced. Dehydration can then lead to heat exhaustion.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: repeatedly rolling in an attempt to cool down; a bright red, thick tongue shaped like a wide spoon at the end; intense thirst; loss of coordination; nausea; and a weak but rapid pulse.
When you see this, offer your dog fresh cool - not ice cold - water. Ice cold water might shock the dog's stomach and cause it to bloat and twist, another serious problem altogether. Get the dog to a cool area in the shade or an air-conditioned environment. You want to cool down the dog as soon as possible to prevent it from getting heat stroke. Then take it to a veterinarian immediately for further treatment.
Dogs can go from heat exhaustion to heat stroke very quickly. Heat stroke is extremely serious and can lead to coma and death rapidly if it is not recognized and treated ASAP.
It begins with heavy, almost uncontrollable, panting and difficulty breathing. The tongue and mucous membranes appear bright red and the tongue will be hanging from the side of a dog's mouth. The saliva is thick, sticky and there is a lot of it, and the dog often vomits.
The dog's normal temperature of 38-39.2 C rises to 40-43.3 C. The dog becomes progressively weak and unsteady and may pass bloody diarrhea. As shock sets in, the lips and mucous membranes turn grey, the dog will collapse, seizures, coma, and death rapidly follow.
Get to a veterinarian immediately! While on the way to the vet, emergency measures to cool the dog must begin at once. Move the dog out of the heat, preferably into air-conditioning, so it can draw cool air into its body.
Begin dousing the dog with cool water and wrapping it in cool, wet towels, focusing on its groin and stomach area, because those areas typically have less fur and therefore cool faster. If the dog wants to drink, offer it water in small amounts. It may vomit the water back up if it is allowed copious amounts all at once.
A dog with heat stroke may be affected by laryngeal edema, which is basically swelling within the throat.
This can obviously worsen the breathing problem and may require an emergency tracheostomy to prevent respiratory distress.
As you can imagine, being a hot dog is not a pleasant experience. So be mindful of your dog's comfort this summer and do not leave your dog in your vehicle. It is a recipe for disaster. Joan has been working with dogs for over 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation: k9kinship.com.
