by Leanne Gossett
Just as human athletes must take additional precautions
during the "dog days of summer", we as dog owners must watch over
our canine athletes. Canine heat exhaustion, however, is not
limited to canine athletes, every dog is a potential victim.
The leading cause of heat exhaustion, and its advancing into
heat stroke; is leaving a dog in a hot car. Even on a mild day
(75-80 degrees F), the temperature inside a car can raise up to 130
degrees rather quickly. Leaving a window slightly open will not
prevent heat build-up. Leaving a dog in a car on a warm day is a
risk to the dog's life.
Dog's do not sweat. Their only means of reducing built-up
body heat is by panting. Long coats also hold in body heat.
Clipping a dog's coat a little shorter for the summer will help to
kee p the dog cooler. Be sure not to clip the hair too short or
shave the dog - the dog's coat protects him from sunburn and is
additionally an insulator. The best thing to do in the summer for a
long coated dog is to comb or brush the coat regularly. It will
remove the shed hair, helping the skin to breathe and by reducing
the excess hair the coat will tend to trap less heat. The color of
your dog's coat also has an impact on your dog's ability to reflect
the sun's rays. Black dogs absorb more of the sun's rays than do
dogs with lighter-colored coats.
There are many variables in triggering a dog to experience
heat exhaustion; the dog's physical condition, its age, its coat
length, its breed, and its climatization to heat. An older,
couch-potato, "snuggle the air conditioner" dog will have less
tolerance to the heat than a young, romp outside all day,
adolescent. Both the very young and very old dogs are among the
highest risk categories. Brachycephalic (short muzzled) dogs, in
general, are high risk on hot humid days.
The first signs of heat exhaustion:
a) Excessive panting
b) The skin on the inside of the ears becomes
flushed and red.
Heat Exhaustion can progress in to
Heat Stroke, as
indicated by :
a) Weakness
b) Staggering
c) Fainting - loss of consciousness
Heat stroke is an emergency
situation. If your dog shows signs of heat stroke, you must cool
him down as rapidly as possible. Don't
wait for veterinary treatment. Heat Stroke is an Emergency - Treat
the dog NOW ! Hose the dog down with
cool water. Apply an ice pack to the dog's head. If your dog is
small enough to move - hold him in a tub of cool water. Do not stop
treatment until your dog's body temperature is approaching normal.
As soon as the dog's internal
temperature has stabilized at a near normal level transport the dog
to your vet. Heat stroke can leave permanent damage.
Many dogs will play until they
drop. You must supervise the games, and determine when it is time
to stop. During hot weather limit your dog's time outside. Be sure
that there is a shaded area for your dog to rest in and that your
dog has a constant supply of clean water.
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