Heat stroke is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when your dog's body temperature becomes too high. It can happen to any dog, but it's most common in young, thin, and short-nosed dogs. Dogs with fur are more likely to develop heat stroke than those without fur (such as poodles).
Factors that contribute to heat stroke
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from heat stroke, there are several factors to consider. The most important one is the temperature and humidity level of your environment. If it's hot outside and humid, this can cause problems for dogs as well.
The second thing to look at is the age of your dog--puppies tend to be more sensitive than adults when it comes to heatstroke because they lack fully developed systems for regulating body temperature. Other factors include: breed (some breeds are more prone), health status (if your dog has an illness or injury), activity level (the more active he/she is outside), and anything else that affects his ability to cool down such as panting or drooling excessively; fever; seizures; vomiting; wobbly legs
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you suspect your dog has a heat stroke, take him or her to the vet immediately. The symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Hyperventilation (rapid and deep breathing)
- Disorientation and confusion
- Excessive panting and difficulty breathing
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and/or blood in the stool due to dehydration caused by excessive thirst
The most important thing for pet owners who live in hot climates is to check on their pets regularly during the summer months. Make sure they have plenty of shade at all times so they can cool off if necessary; also make sure there is plenty of fresh water available at all times!
Steps to take if your dog has heat stroke
- Call your vet. If you are unable to get your dog to the vet immediately, try to cool him or her down as much as possible. Move them to a cooler area, and immediately start cooling the dog with water.
- If you can take your dog to the vet right away (or if they are already there), call ahead and tell them about what happened so that they will be able to treat your pet appropriately. Heat stroke occurs when a dog's body temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 30 minutes, causing damage to internal organs like lungs and kidneys. It can also cause inflammation in other areas of their bodies such as joints or muscles.
- Signs include panting heavily; rapid heartbeat; vomiting/diarrhea; confusion/lethargy; seizures.
- If these signs appear after being left outside during hot weather--and especially if it's been over 90 degrees Fahrenheit recently--it may be best not just because heat stroke is dangerous but also because exposure could lead to dehydration issues later on!
First Aid Techniques for Dogs: Handling Heat Stroke
Call your vet immediately. Keep your dog cool and calm until they arrive, but do not give them water or ice baths as this can cause further damage to their organs. Do not give them alcohol, salt or baking soda (these are all very dangerous for dogs), aspirin, or anything else that could harm them even more than heat stroke already has done. If the body temperature is below 104 degrees Fahrenheit and your dog seems to be able to handle it on his own without help from you then go ahead and offer him some water--but only if he is conscious and isn't having seizures! It's also important not to overdo things: if an hour has passed since his last symptoms appeared then he might be ready for some liquids again!
Heat stroke can be deadly, but there are some things you can do to help.
Don't panic. Heat stroke can be deadly, but there are some things you can do to help.
- Do not give your dog any food or water. Heatstroke causes the body to stop producing saliva, which allows bacteria in the stomach to multiply and cause serious illness.
- Don't give them medication for it either -- if they're vomiting or having diarrhea from the heatstroke already (and many do), then giving them something else could make their condition worse by causing further dehydration and inflammation of organs such as their liver or kidneys if already damaged by an overdose of medications like ibuprofen (Advil).
- Don't rub their fur -- this won't cool them down! In fact, it will make matters worse because rubbing creates friction between skin cells leading to increased production of body heat due to friction = heat generation = bad news bears!
Conclusion
Dogs are susceptible to heat stroke just like humans. You can help your dog cool off by providing a cool place for it to rest and offering water or ice packs for the neck and groin area. If you have a hose or sprinkler, spraying them with cold water will also work well in this situation.