[TeddyandTiffy]

Tips for Avoiding Heat Stroke
*Heat stroke is an emergency.
These tips do not substitute for
a veterinarian’s care!!!!


First and foremost, never leave your pet alone in a parked car in the summer--not even if you leave the air conditioner on, not even if you crack the windows, and not even if you park in the shade. Car batteries can die, along with the air conditioning. The sun moves, which means your car may not be shaded for long. And cracked windows simply don’t have significant ventilating impact within cars parked in warm weather.

Not many people realize that though it may be a mild 75-80 degrees out, within minutes the temp inside your car can reach a suffocating 130 degrees.

Dogs can’t cool themselves in the same way people do. People sweat. Dogs pant. They have sweat glands only on their noses and paw pads. Neither panting nor a dog’s sweat glands are efficient at cooling their bodies on very humid, hot days.

These types of dogs have it extra-hard in the heat:

• Short-faced or snub-nosed dogs (Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Llhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus and Pekingese)
• Very old or very young dogs
• Dogs diagnosed with heart ailments or breathing problems
• Overweight or under-conditioned dogs
• Heavy-coated or dark-coated dogs

Clip the hair of heavy-coated dogs to one inch in length. Don’t shave to the skin, because that deprives your dog of the insulating factor of a layer of hair. And it exposes them to sunburn.

Always carry water for your dog on exercise outings. That water should be cool, not cold. Ice cubes in the water bowl for a dog just hanging out in the backyard can be a good thing, but when dogs exercise strenuously, cool water is best. A convenient portable device combining bottle and water bowl all-in-one is the Gulpy Pet Water Dispenser. A hook attaches it to your backpack or belt loop, so your hands are free to hold a leash.

Light-colored dogs with pink skin are especially susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. Before venturing outdoors, apply a sunscreen that is pH-balanced for a dog’s skin, especially to the ear-tips, nose, and back.

The best time of the day to venture out with your dog is before or after the sun reaches its peak. Even then, a cooling bandana helps prevent overheating.

Finally, it’s always good to be prepared. Travel with a portable first aid kit for pets, so you won’t be empty-handed when the unexpected occurs.

Many dogs just don’t know when to call it quits! Learn how to recognize the stress signals of an over-heated dog.

• Heavier than usual panting.
• Bright red gums, lips and ears.
• Dry mouth and decreased salivation.
• Distracted or staring facial expression.
• Weaving or wobbly walk.

These symptoms can all too quickly lead to seizures and unconsciousness. A dog’s normal temperature range is about 100 to 102 degrees. At 106 to 110 degrees, dogs will suffer brain damage, organ shut-down and death. A dog that survives such extremes often faces life-long, irreversible health challenges.

What Should I Do If My Dog Overheats?

• Don’t immediately race your dog to the vet. First, take 10 minutes to cool your dog down.

• Get your dog out of the sun, into shade or air-conditioning.
• Give your dog water to drink. The water shouldn’t be too cold, and you shouldn’t let your dog gulp.
• If you can, hose down your dog (let the water run for a few seconds first to let the water cool down!) or immerse your dog in a bathtub, wading pool or sink filled with cool water. Monitor your dog’s body temp anally with a thermometer. Remove your dog from the water at 104 degrees. (Overcooling or cooling too rapidly can be dangerous.)
• What if you can’t hose down your dog or place your dog in a bathtub? Do you have ice bags? Place those ice bags to your dog’s groin, around the neck, and underneath the front legs. Or use towels wet with cool water--but don’t cover your dog completely, because that can trap heat.
• Place your dog in front of a fan while the coat is still damp. The fan will aid in evaporation.
• Go to the vet as soon as your dog is stabilized at about 103 degrees. Roll down your car windows and turn on the air conditioning full-blast. If you have a cell phone, call ahead so that your dog can be rushed in without a wait.


Hugs to all Lee