Heat stroke is the common name for hyperthermia, a rise in body heat to such an extent that there is a risk of damage and malfunction of physiological processes. Its effects can be temporary or irreversible, can cause death, and depend for each animal on the exposure time and temperature. Dogs are just as sensitive as humans to dehydration and heat stroke. However, they have an added difficulty in regulating their Heat stroke is the common name for hyperthermia, a rise in body heat to such an extent that there is a risk of damage and malfunction of physiological processes. Its effects can be temporary or irreversible, can cause death, and depend for each animal on the exposure time and temperature.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs
A dog that reaches a body temperature between 42ºC and 43ºC enters a critical phase that is difficult to overcome. The symptoms that can alert that the dog has a body temperature that is too high are: dizziness, feeling that the dog is sick, breathing with difficulty, panting, unable to walk, losing balance, tachycardia, elevated temperature, congested mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea and, on some occasions, shock or loss of consciousness. Once the dog enters this dangerous phase, you must act quickly to prevent the symptoms from advancing.
Dogs at higher risk from high temperatures
Dogs that are flattened, such as the French Bulldog, Boxer or Pekingese, as well as animals that are overweight and obese or heart or respiratory failure, are especially sensitive to suffer from heat stroke. This is because they lack proper refrigeration capacity, so it is easy for them to reach more than 42ºC.
Under normal conditions, the body temperature of dogs ranges between 38ºC and 39ºC.
Puppies (before one year of age) and very old dogs are also groups susceptible to heat stroke and other health complications due to high temperatures. Puppies have an immature immune system and their cooling capacity is not at 100%, as in the case of an adult dog. Very old dogs (11 years and older) cannot maintain a proper body temperature as easily as a young dog. Special care must be taken with them when high temperatures begin.
How to act when the dog suffers a heat stroke.
Speed is essential to save the life of the dog whose temperature reaches 43ºC. Body heat must be lowered as soon as possible and, to do so, you must place it in a cool place, wet it with cold water, put ice on its head and abdomen and offer it water to drink, little by little.
In this extreme situation, the dog can be doused with alcohol because, by evaporating quickly, it helps the body temperature to drop faster.
Prevention against the consequences of heat
To avoid the consequences of heat in our pets, it is convenient:
- Do not go out to exercise or walk the dog during the hottest hours of the day.
- Ensure that the dog always has clean and fresh water at its disposal, throughout the year, even if it is not hot. A dog can survive without food, but if it loses more than 12% of its body water, it can die
- If you notice that the dog is very hot, cool the body and head with water.
- The air conditioning is also suitable for dogs. If you have the possibility of having it, the dog will also appreciate it.
- Trim the coat if it is too long, but do not cut it too short, as the coat protects the dog from both heat and cold.
Heat strokes in the car
Most heat strokes in dogs occur in cars. We often think that, for a few minutes, with the car in the shade and a window ajar, the dog is in no danger. But nothing further from reality. In just a few minutes, the car becomes a death trap for the dog. The vehicle can reach temperatures that exceed 50ºC when it is hot and the dog will suffer a rise in body temperature in these circumstances that will put its life in danger.