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All dog owners should be aware of the symptoms of heat stress and the emergency action until a Vet can be contacted. Early identification of the condition can reverse the heating process, but always remember this is a killer, often the damage done to the internal organs is so great that even with Vetinary care the dog will ultimately die. Prevention and awareness is much better than an attempted cure.
Dog is hot to the touch
Rapid breathing, deep panting, can cause difficulty swallowing
Drooling
Vomiting
Agitation
Character changes, some dogs may become aggressive, if it is necessary to muzzle the dog (for safety) use a basket/racing greyhound type so as not to restrict the dogs breathing, which is already compromised.
Muscles twitching
Uncordination, dog stumbles, glazed expression
Lips and gums dark red
Higher temperature than usual, especially over 105 degrees
Dog collapses
Coma
First they will become more active, panting, whining and possibly barking.
The dog is obviously agitated.
The panting becomes laboured and excessive, drooling saliva
Next the dog struggles to breath, it has red gums and appears dazed, movement is uncoordinated.
If not treated, cell death in the brain will result in seizures, coma then ultimately the dog will die.
Take the dog away from the hot area into the shade
Get the dog wet any way you can:
Immerse in water – some authorities no longer recommend this as it can overcorrect the dog’s temperature, leaving your dog cold and wet. Not recommended for a collapsed dog, Please dry the dog well afterwards.
Wrap in a towel soaked in cool water
Run cold water over the back of the dogs head
Ice packs – or frozen packs of veg! - wrapped in towels or similar can be placed between the hind legs, on the stomach and behind elbows, as well as on head and neck.
When the dog appears to have began to recover offer a SMALL amount of water, little and often. Do not allow the dog to drink a lot of water in one go.
If the dog has collapsed, take to the NEAREST VET. It is vital to continue with the wet towel therapy on the journey.
If the dog appears to of recovered, bear in mind that the symptoms can quickly return, so a visit to the vet is advisable.
Having suffered from heat stress once, the dog will be more prone to suffer episodes in the future.
Be aware of the symptoms above
Provide lots of fresh water at home and when out, take water with you on long walks, stop and let your dog rest in the shade. If dogs are left, ensure water bowls/buckets are full and are secured so they cannot be tipped over, leaving the dog without water.
Limit the time in the sun, provide plenty of shade, especially indoors, never shut your dog in an un shaded conservatory- this becomes an oven!
Use a fan to keep the air circulating indoors
Feed less in hot weather, as over eating leads to over heating, try to feed at the cooler times of day.
Do not exercise during the hottest part of the day, early morning or late evening are better for both you and your dogs.
If you must go jogging or running – leave your dog at home in hot weather.
Provide a paddling pool for your dogs in the garden
There is no excuse worth your dog’s life!
Even on a warm day, the temperature inside a stationary vehicle – car, van, truck, caravan – will rise rapidly, even if parked in the shade with the windows open a few inches.
Sit in your car on a hot day and see how long before you are uncomfortable in the heat, time how long you are able to stay in there with the doors and windows shut. Remember you can open the door and escape – your dog cant!
On a long journey ensure there is plenty of airflow around the dog, make sure it has adequate room to move and lie out flat, if travelling in a crate ensure it is not in direct sunlight, or covered up so the airflow is restricted. Stop and cheek dog frequently offering water and opportunity to relieve itself. Carry plenty of water in the car; water bottles can be frozen the night before a journey so they stay cool longer. Towels soaked in water frozen the night before can be very useful. Have a battery operated fan in the car in the event of breakdown and of course a space blanket.
Paws can burn on hot sand at the beach; tarmac often melts in the sun so road walks can also cause the pads to burn, check and wash feet on return.
Water, sand and rocks at the beach will reflect the sun, so attracting even more heat, dogs can be susceptible to burning, keep them in the shade as much as possible and lookout for sunburn, apply sun block as necessary.
Please make sure your dogs enjoy the summer too!!
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
79 hits
WHAT TO DO
PREVENTION
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A PARKED CAR
and BEE STINGS
WASP
Being nosey, dogs are prone to running foul of the odd bee or wasp! Some treat them as toys to chase and snap at whilst others grab anything they can to eat; either way a sting is a common summer occurrence so it is best to be (sorry!) prepared.
Bees leave their sting in their victims, so remove the sting first, using tweezers if possible, trying not to squeeze any more poison into your dog. Then bathe the area with Bi-carbonate of Soda to counteract the acid.
Wasps can sting more than once; so don’t leave their sting behind. Bath the area with vinegar (wasp stings are alkaline).
Most dogs are stung on the face around the lips and nose, also on the front legs and paws, if they hold the wasp down to nibble it! If a dog is stung inside the mouth or throat, watch carefully, as swelling could block its airways; in which case take to the vet a.s.a.p.
Ice packs covered with a towel and placed over the site of the sting will help reduce the swelling.
Arnica, Rescue Remedy and Apis Mel are commonly used homeopathic remedies for use with stings.
As with people a few dogs are allergic to stings and can react badly, when anti histamines can help; or go into anaphylactic shock, which will require very prompt vet treatment
An old film cartridge with some bi-carb, and one with vinegar, plus some anti-histamine tablets taken on outings, or left in the car, can make the insect season happier for both you and your dogs.
