The Dangers of Heat & Your Pets

Overheating with dogs varies in every situation. Each situation should be treated uniquely but never brushed off. If you think your pup is showing signs of heat stroke, contact your vet right away.

Getting too hot is one thing, heat stroke can be a real danger though. Most dogs are good at self-regulating, but some just love to play a little too much. Whether that’s chasing a ball non-stop, excessive roughhousing, or just not being able to recognize the signals that their own body is overheating. That’s where we come in as owners. Some signs your dog might be going down the path to exhaustion or heat stroke include the following.

Pet MD listed these as some possible treatments for dogs suffering from extreme heat fatigue. These should be treated as helpful tips, but always seek medical attention for your pet if you think they’re in danger.

• Take your dog somewhere they’ll be cool and comfortable

• Get water on them as fast as possible. Cool water, not cold water.

• Keep their head lifted, avoid flooding their head and their lungs

• Ice packs on the neck and back of the head can help lower their body temperature.

• If they can, have them drink water, don’t push them to drink more than they can, but as much as they need.

  • putting a little salt in the water is a great way to replace minerals in their system.

• Increasing their blood circulation can help quicken the process.

Your dog and the environment you live in will influence whether or not you should shave your dog. There is a lot of debate about if shaving helps or hurts your pet to regulate their temperature. One thing that does seem to be certain is that you should not shave a shorthaired dog. That could lead to bad sunburns.

Dealing with the heat inside homes and cars is an entirely different scenario. Everyone should know by now, but leaving a pet in an enclosed space without proper air conditioning or ventilation is a dangerous situation that should be avoided at all costs.

For more information, talk to your vet or read follow up articles on Pet MD to learn about how best to protect your pets.