Riley = Heat Exhaustion Episode !?
 

I took Riley to a yorkie meet-up, today, as we do every month.
Something Strange happened right after we left.
It Was Extremely HOT & HUMID as it has been, these days in DC.....
I parked in the parking lot Behind the building. There is a Black Top/parking lot. We got out and he walked across the black top. I did think for a split second.... WOW... I remember walking over a black top in the summer time with no shoes and it being REALLY HOT....and wondering if it were really hot to Riley!! But that was it.....
Well, we left about 1 1/2 hours later. It is in the basement of a pet store. I did notice that Riley's lip was a little wet.

Well, I walked him across that Black Top and he jumped onto a patch of grass and went peepee... we then continued across the other part of the Black Top. I then had to fiddle with the keys to the car..... The car was Very Very Hot, inside, from sitting in the parking lot. He hesitated like he didnt' want to go in it..... but I was finally able to put him in the passenger seat and then went to start the engine. I looked over at him and his mouth was wide open!!!! His Tongue was beet red and curled up and he was panting MAJOR. His moustache and hair all around his face was Complately "Soaking Wet". He was totally disoriented looking up into the sky to the left and to the right and wanting to jump into the back seat....and his eyes were wide eyed. I started to panic a little and stepped on it and grabbed him and put him in front of the a/c letting it blow on him at high speed.....freezing. I then drove to a burger king drive through and got him a glass of ice water. Pulled into a parking spot and let him drink.

I usually go to a pet food store and stock up on food for him, but this time thought, forget the food store, I need to get him home or get him
to the emergency vet.

I didn't know what to think but thought, Maybe Heat Exhaustion???????
I am sure walking over that Black Top didnt' help!!?? I Felt Sooooo Bad!!!!!

I was sooooooooooooo frazzled..... Halfway home, he started calming down.
I have Never had this happen before and it has totally opened my eyes!!

Please, Please make sure you have water available for your pups, at all times. I'm not sure but was thinking maybe it was that HOT Black Top that got his body temperature UP!! I will be carrying him from now on, across that parking lot!!!!

UGH!! LESSON LEARNED!!
This happened about 5-Hours Ago and he seems to be Completely Fine, now. He ate and is now taking a nap. Of course, I am keeping an eye on him, just in case.

I would be Devastated if anything were to happen to my pumpkin!!!!

Oh my!!!! How scary! Poor Riley. It has been so hot. It very well could be heat exhaustion. And black tops are terribly hot. I think it was just so hot and I am sure the cool water helped. I am so glad he is ok. I know that you are now able to relax as well. We Yorkie momma's worry about our babies so much.

Thank you for the reminder. I just purchased a collapsible bowl to carry in my car. I think I will make sure to have a bottle of water in my purse at all times if one of my two girls are out with me.

Give Riley extra hugs and kisses. Give him kisses from Rosie and Mikki! :)

We had a similar situation happen a number of years ago with one of my parents toy poodles- basically the same symptoms, except she was also vomiting- the vet said in the future to put a cold rag on their stomach to cool them down quickly without sending them into shock. What I do now with mine is carry an old t-shirt (like the cheapo ones you find at target for $1) and if they get really hot- I will soak it in cool water and put it on them. Just something to think about in the future. Glad everything turned out okay.

It was sooooo Scarey!!! Yes.... I am just soooo Glad we weren't out walking with no car a/c And no water!! I have a handi-drink water bottle thingie but always forget to bring it along. After that episode I am so paranoid that I may even start carrying it on our nightly walks. I was reading and it says that a dog can die from heat exhaustion in just minutes.... :(

I have been smothering Riley with smooches and lil' hugs since we got home. I will give him some Extras from you all!! :) Thanks, So Much!!!! :)

Good idea! I will get a cheap tshirt to keep with me.

I swear I was sooo freaked that i was just waiting for him to start vomiting. I was stroking him and talking to him the whole 45-min. ride home.

Oh my, I know how scared you must have been. I would have been trembling. Zhoie doesn't care for the heat much and she let's me know it. Heck, I take her flip top water bottle even to play in the yard or sit in our swing . Believe me, she makes it known when she wants a drink too. :D

How scary! Yeah that sounds like heat exhaustion to me. I usually carry Uni over the black top but let her walk on the white sidewalks. I usually open the car door and hold Uni with my left hand, and kind of halfway go in the car and turn on the car and blast on the a/c and wait a few mins before I put Uni inside. Often if we are at home or leaving the shop, she won't even jump up into the car until she knows the ac is on and the car has kind of cooled down. Then even when we are on our way, she liked to hog the a/c vents.

I'm glad Riley's doing better. :)

Oh how scary Theresa!! I am glad you got Riley cooled down before it got worse. I always keep a small water bowl in the car and take bottled water with us, even in the winter.
That is a great idea about wetting a t-shirt and I wouldn't have know to put a wet cool cloth on the tummy either. Great info to keep in mind. I am so glad that Riley is ok.

Aw Theresa - it sounds like you were so scared! I'm so glad he is okay. Heat is so unpredictable...it seems like sometimes they do great, and other times it can affect them much more. Maybe he 'overdid it' with his other fur buddies. The black top gets super hot here too...and I didn't really know this until I moved here and went barefeet on it - wow. Do his paws look okay? Maybe it was a combo of the heat and the feeling of the black top.

In any case, so glad the little fella is okay. He should *not* scare his Mama like this!

Wow!!! So incredibly scary!!! I worry with this heat we've been having, too. Jackson does NOT do well in the heat, unless he's in the pool, etc. And he's terrible about drinking water... I hate when he's like super panting and I offer him water and he WON'T drink it!

I am glad Riley is feeling better!!

Poor Riley! That is so scary. I am glad he is feeling better now.

wow, thats so scary! Glad Riley is better now

Rule of thumb if any surface is too hot for the heel of your hand, it is too hot for a dogs paw...I prefer a stroller...and I put frozen gel packs under the pad..the girls have been to some hot events and were perfectly comfortable...

Dogs came not sweat like us humans...they only perspire through their foot pads and it is so easy for them to over heat and it can cause brain damage.

Thank God Riley is ok...what a scary event!