Summer time is without a doubt here. With all that beautiful sun comes the sweltering heat. My previous post on summer fun discussed some of the things to consider in these warmer months but perhaps I could go a bit deeper.

Heat exhaustion can happen quickly and can be fatal and it is useful to be aware of some of the signs:

• excessive panting and drooling
• fast noisy breathing
• less responsive to commands, disorientation
• bright red or blue gums
• vomiting, diarrhea
• collapse
• convulsions

Brachycephalic breeds (smoosh faced) are at an increased risk of heat stroke as one of the main methods dogs dissipate heat is through panting. (They also have the ability to sweat through their paws, but this is a VERY small proportion of their temperature control). Fat dogs or those with long thick coats or working dogs are also at an increased risk of overheating.

With dogs suffering from heat stress it is a good idea to bring them in to the vet. The veterinarian has the ability to help give cool IV fluids and to monitor your pet for a gradual recovery. It is important to note that GRADUAL is a key word. We do want to avoid any sort of extra damage the high temperatures can cause but this should be done in a controlled manner. For example, putting cold water on a dog suffering from heat exhaustion will cause vasoconstriction and eliminate the possibility to diffuse the excess heat. The cold water causes those vessels near the body surface to tighten up, less of that hot blood flows to the surface and therefore less heat is able to escape via evaporation. Instead it is advised to use cool water and fans to aid in evaporation but often it is a good idea to have the ability to give the cooled IV fluids. Along the same lines giving ice cubes to a dog in heat distress is probably not a great idea either. (There has been some debate on this but I will stick to the fact that when dealing with heat stress gradual/controlled alleviation is best) Instead freeze their dish or add an ice cube to their water to keep it cool.

As with all medical issues, prevention is key. So be aware of the outside temperature, keep a close eye on your pet, provide them with breaks and water and shade. If your pet shows any signs described above give your veterinarian a call.