Heat stroke is one of the most important health issues to know about for your dog in the summertime. It’s been a hot one so far, and Off Road Paws wants to make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat stroke in dogs, so that you can avoid this potentially fatal medical emergency.
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke is generally defined as the overheating of a person or animal, which can be either gradual or very fast in it’s onset. A dog’s normal body temperature can range between 100 and 102. When a dog’s temperature is over 103, it is considered abnormal. When it reaches 106 or higher, then the symptoms of heat stroke set in. Dogs can’t sweat like humans and they can only regulate their body temperature through panting.
Certain breeds and body types are more susceptible to heat. Brachycephalic breeds (dogs with short nasal cavities/small noses) are extremely sensitive to heat. This includes pugs, boxers, Shih Tzus, French Bull Dogs, American Bull Dogs, etc. as some examples. Large breed dogs, dogs with longer hair or dark hair and overweight dogs are all more susceptible also.
It can help to get your dog’s body, especially their paws and abdomen, wet with cool, not cold, water to help with heat exchange and bringing their body temperature down. When caught early, these symptoms usually resolve and the dog is fine. If you wait too long, your dog may suffer organ failure and even death.
The good news is that you can often catch overheating before it’s a problem by knowing what to look for in your dog! Here are the signs of heat stroke in dogs, and a few ways to help combat it.
What are the Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs?
- Panting and/or fast, noisy breathing
- Disorientation
- Collapsing or convulsing
- Bright red or blue gums,
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Glazed eyes
- Rapid heartbeat
- Excessive thirst
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Profuse salivation
- Seizure
- Unconsciousness
If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should get them out of the heat immediately, offer water and get to a veterinarian immediately. If they are simply panting too much and overheated, you can cool them down by allowing them to get their paws, abdomen and body in cool, not cold, water and cool air. You can also try offering them something cool and refreshing, like this fun DIY Peanut Butter Pup-sicle or water with ice cubes in it.
However, if your dog has ANY of the symptoms listed above, or becomes unresponsive, you need an emergency vet as soon as possible.
Cars and Dogs: Always Be Cautious
Never, never, never leave your dog unattended in the car for ANY length of time in the summer! This is a dangerous and potentially deadly combination. In just a few minutes, your car’s internal temperatures can soar from a fairly comfortable level to overwhelmingly hot. Remember, your dog has a fur coat on, and no sweat glands like a human. They can dissipate some heat through panting, but it isn’t a very effective way to combat rapidly rising temperatures in your vehicle.
In the sunshine, your car begins to act like a greenhouse: the sun coming in heats the air inside the vehicle, but with nowhere to escape to, the temperature inside continues to rise with the length of time the car is exposed to the sunshine. Even cracking the windows or leaving the A/C on in an idling car doesn’t relieve much of this greenhouse effect, merely allowing some movement of air.
The onset of heat stroke in dogs can be very quick. See just how fast your car heats up with this graph.
Your car becomes a sweltering sauna in just a few minutes’ time, so NEVER leave a living creature – your dog, child elderly relative, hamster, or whatever- in the car unattended!
Paws on Hot Pavement: Paws-itively Painful!
In the summertime, you have to watch out for the surfaces your dog walks on, such as pavement, asphalt, sand, or metal (like a truck bed). These surfaces can reach temperatures exceeding 145℉! You wouldn’t go walking our on any of these surfaces yourself with bare feet- why should your dog? His pads are made up of callused skin– but it’s still just skin. Your rubber soles protect your feet, while Fido doesn’t have that luxury!
To avoid burning your dog’s paws, stick to grassy areas, instead of paved paths, and try to walk in the early morning or the evening, when temperatures are cooler. You can test the temperature of the surface by putting your own hand down. If it is too hot for you to keep your hand on the pavement for roughly more than 10 seconds, then it is too hot for your dog’s paws. Remember that asphalt and pavement can stay hot long after the sun goes down, too!
If you notice your dog limping, biting or licking their paws excessively, missing pieces of pad, or worrying at blisters on the pads, take your dog to the vet immediately. Trouble with their paws can affect much more than just their feet!
Avoiding Overheating in the Summer
- Keep extra water on hand- hydration helps to combat many of the initial symptoms of heat stroke.
- Take dog on trails near running streams or other bodies of water that they can get in to cool off. THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP YOUR DOG COOL.
- Stick to shady areas and avoid dark pavement, as it’s hotter than lighter paving.
- Consider an umbrella to shade yourself and your dog from the sunshine.
- Take short trips outside- the less time you spend in the heat, the less at risk your dog is!
- Try to keep to grassy areas, instead of paved trails and roads.
- Take your walks early in the morning, or in the evening, instead of at midday, when the sunshine is strongest and hottest.
- Take cold treats with you- like the pupsicles or even water with ice in it. For more pupsicle recipes, check out these: watermelon and yogurt, yogurt peanut butter banana, and 13 more recipes and ideas here.
For The Best Summer Dog Walking, Call Off Road Paws Today!
One way to avoid overheating yourself in the summertime is to book an outdoor adventure for your pooch through Off Road Paws. Our Veterinarian trained staff are able to recognize the warning signs of heat stroke, and keep your dog safe in the heat while still letting him have some fun. We do street walks around neighborhoods, but trails are more forgiving to a dog’s paws in the bright summer sunshine.
Contact Off Road Paws today to get your pooch signed up for a trail adventure, or even a walk around the neighborhood! Our staff can walk multiple pets for those with multi-dog households, and we also do daytime pet sitting. For more about Off Road Paws’ available services, go to our website!
This post is a part of our Summer Safety series! For more tips and info about staying safe in the summertime around Colorado, check out this post or this post.