How to Prevent and Treat Overheated Dogs
Summertime is the perfect time to spend outdoors with your pet. Whether you are planning to take your pet on vacation, trips to the park or lake, or just hanging out in your yard, outdoor play offers important exercise, fresh air and valuable bonding time for both you and your pet. It's important to be a responsible pet owner and monitor your pets when spending time outdoors. Dogs, especially, can become overheated. If your dog begins panting excessively or acts fatigued or wobbly, they need to cool down. Give them plenty of fresh water and get them to a cool place to rest
In the summer, dangers to dogs increase due to their spending more time outdoors. As we dog lovers prepare for potential danger we often overlook the sun. Illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase along with the air temperature. Dogs can develop heat stroke or exhaustion from any activity that raises their body temperature – even swimming!
Dogs pant to cool their body but they only sweat from their paw pads. Dogs with short muzzles such as Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Pugs and Boxers are more susceptible to heat stroke and their owners should be extra cautious.
Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting and heavy breathing, excessive salivation followed by sticky dry mouth, loss of balance and a lack of response or refusal to obey commands. Rectal temperature rises and the dog may vomit, collapse, go into shock or have a seizure.
Heat exhaustion is caused by too much exercise on hot days. The signs of heat exhaustion are similar to heat stroke. A dog with heat exhaustion may vomit, stagger or fall, or have muscle cramps but will not necessarily have a rise in temperature. Move the dog to a cool area and keep him calm while offering water.
Heat stroke, or Hyperthermia, is caused when a dog’s body temperature rises above the normal 100 to 102.5 degrees (94 to 97 degrees for puppies under 4 weeks). This rise in temperature can be caused by exercise or excitement and can develop in just a few minutes.
Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated immediately but you must take steps to cool the dog before transporting to the veterinarian. To treat heat stroke remove the dog from the heat and into air conditioning if possible. Begin cooling the dog immediately using cool – not cold – water. Cold water or ice should not be used because it can decrease circulation and actually delay cooling.
Bathe or rinse the dog with cool water for a few minutes. Cold packs can be applied to the groin or armpits, and paws can be sprayed or wiped with water. Place the dog in front of a fan, the cool breeze will help speed the cooling process. Check the dog’s temperature every ten minutes until it is below 103 degrees, at which point the cooling process should be stopped so that the dog does not develop hypothermia.
Hyperthermia can result in death in a short amount of time so getting your dog to the veterinarian quickly is of utmost importance. Kidney failure, irregular heartbeat and seizures can result from heat stroke, sometimes showing up hours, or even days, later. Even if your dog appears completely recovered he should be examined by a vet.
Dogs play their hardest with no thought to the outside temperature. It is up to us, their human caretakers, to take the steps necessary to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Never leave your dog in a closed car during warm weather. Not even in the shade. Temperature rises quickly in cars and can reach lethal temperatures in minutes.
Do not pen your dog on concrete or asphalt surfaces as they absorb and reflect heat back to the dog, making the surface temperature hotter than the air.
Always provide lots of fresh water and a shaded area if your dog is outside. Be sure that the shade will cover your dog throughout the whole day as the sun moves across the sky. If natural shade is not available use a Silvershade Mesh cover for your exercise pen or kennel. Silvershade Mesh is highly reflective; it blocks 60% of the sun’s rays and still allows air flow.
Exercise your dog early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat of midday. If your dog is not accustomed to strenuous exercise, start with small amounts of activity in the coolest part of the day so he doesn’t overexert himself.
The obvious concern in the warm weather is for outside dogs but even inside dogs can overheat if they become too excited on a hot day. In addition to giving your inside dog plenty of water you might consider a Chilly Bone or Chilly Cone to cool your dog while he chews. If your house is closed up, be sure to provide your dog a cool place indoors with a fan or air conditioning.
Inside and outside dogs will benefit from a Cool Bed III. Fill this unique cooling bed with water and it will lower your dog’s body temperature while he lays on it. No electricity needed!
The Kool Dogz ice treat maker will keep dogs cool and hydrated while they lick their way to their favorite toys and treats. If you can make ice cubes you can make this custom frozen treat for your outside dog.
Cherrybrook offers a variety of products to make your dog’s summer cool and safe, from Cooling Beds, Cooling Systems and Kennel Covers to Travel Water Dishes. With some common sense and a visit to www.cherrybrook.com, your dog can be healthy, happy and cool this summer.
In the summer, dangers to dogs increase due to their spending more time outdoors. As we dog lovers prepare for potential danger we often overlook the sun. Illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase along with the air temperature. Dogs can develop heat stroke or exhaustion from any activity that raises their body temperature – even swimming!
Dogs pant to cool their body but they only sweat from their paw pads. Dogs with short muzzles such as Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Pugs and Boxers are more susceptible to heat stroke and their owners should be extra cautious.
Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting and heavy breathing, excessive salivation followed by sticky dry mouth, loss of balance and a lack of response or refusal to obey commands. Rectal temperature rises and the dog may vomit, collapse, go into shock or have a seizure.
Heat exhaustion is caused by too much exercise on hot days. The signs of heat exhaustion are similar to heat stroke. A dog with heat exhaustion may vomit, stagger or fall, or have muscle cramps but will not necessarily have a rise in temperature. Move the dog to a cool area and keep him calm while offering water.
Heat stroke, or Hyperthermia, is caused when a dog’s body temperature rises above the normal 100 to 102.5 degrees (94 to 97 degrees for puppies under 4 weeks). This rise in temperature can be caused by exercise or excitement and can develop in just a few minutes.
Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated immediately but you must take steps to cool the dog before transporting to the veterinarian. To treat heat stroke remove the dog from the heat and into air conditioning if possible. Begin cooling the dog immediately using cool – not cold – water. Cold water or ice should not be used because it can decrease circulation and actually delay cooling.
Bathe or rinse the dog with cool water for a few minutes. Cold packs can be applied to the groin or armpits, and paws can be sprayed or wiped with water. Place the dog in front of a fan, the cool breeze will help speed the cooling process. Check the dog’s temperature every ten minutes until it is below 103 degrees, at which point the cooling process should be stopped so that the dog does not develop hypothermia.
Hyperthermia can result in death in a short amount of time so getting your dog to the veterinarian quickly is of utmost importance. Kidney failure, irregular heartbeat and seizures can result from heat stroke, sometimes showing up hours, or even days, later. Even if your dog appears completely recovered he should be examined by a vet.
Dogs play their hardest with no thought to the outside temperature. It is up to us, their human caretakers, to take the steps necessary to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Never leave your dog in a closed car during warm weather. Not even in the shade. Temperature rises quickly in cars and can reach lethal temperatures in minutes.
Do not pen your dog on concrete or asphalt surfaces as they absorb and reflect heat back to the dog, making the surface temperature hotter than the air.
Always provide lots of fresh water and a shaded area if your dog is outside. Be sure that the shade will cover your dog throughout the whole day as the sun moves across the sky. If natural shade is not available use a Silvershade Mesh cover for your exercise pen or kennel. Silvershade Mesh is highly reflective; it blocks 60% of the sun’s rays and still allows air flow.
Exercise your dog early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat of midday. If your dog is not accustomed to strenuous exercise, start with small amounts of activity in the coolest part of the day so he doesn’t overexert himself.
The obvious concern in the warm weather is for outside dogs but even inside dogs can overheat if they become too excited on a hot day. In addition to giving your inside dog plenty of water you might consider a Chilly Bone or Chilly Cone to cool your dog while he chews. If your house is closed up, be sure to provide your dog a cool place indoors with a fan or air conditioning.
Inside and outside dogs will benefit from a Cool Bed III. Fill this unique cooling bed with water and it will lower your dog’s body temperature while he lays on it. No electricity needed!
The Kool Dogz ice treat maker will keep dogs cool and hydrated while they lick their way to their favorite toys and treats. If you can make ice cubes you can make this custom frozen treat for your outside dog.
Cherrybrook offers a variety of products to make your dog’s summer cool and safe, from Cooling Beds, Cooling Systems and Kennel Covers to Travel Water Dishes. With some common sense and a visit to www.cherrybrook.com, your dog can be healthy, happy and cool this summer.
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