What is a heat stroke?
Heat stroke is a term used for hyperthermia or elevated body temperature. For dogs we speak of hyperthermia when their temperature gets over 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit). A heat stroke occurs when their body temperature exceeds 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher without signs of inflammation, a heat stroke can lead to multiple organ dysfunction.
Causes
-Environmental heat and humidity
-Upper airway disease that inhibits breathing: the upper airway includes the nose, nasal passages, throat (pharynx), and windpipe (trachea)
-Underlying disease that increases likelihood of developing hyperthermia, such as paralysis of the voice box or larynx; heart and/or blood vessel disease; nervous system and/or muscular disease; previous history of heat-related disease
-Some poisonous compounds, such as strychnine and slug and snail bait, can lead to seizures
-Anesthesia complications
-Excessive exercise
-Being left in the yard without access to shade or fresh, cool drinking water
-Staying alone in the car on a hot day
-Being left in the house with the central heating to high and no fresh air
Which dogs have higher risk?
- very young/old dog's
- short nosed/ flat faced dogs (brachycephalic breeds) such as pugs, boxers and bulldogs
- dogs that are muzzled with a (too) small size muzzle that does not give them the possibility to pant
- Long and thick haired dogs such as my breed the Border Collie
-Dogs that stay in the yard and have no access to fresh clean Drinkwater and shade
-Obesity patients
It is impawtant to remember that ALL dogs cannot control their body temperature by sweating as humans do, since they only have a relatively small number of sweat glands located in their footpads. Their primary way of regulating body temperature is by panting.
Symptoms
-Dehydration (dry nose, visible tiredness, extremely excessive panting, and sunken eyes)
-Excessive drooling
-Increased body temperature: Above 39° C (103° F)
-Bright red, gray or purple gums and moist tissues of the body showing different color as normal
-Only small amounts of urine or no urine at all
-Acute kidney failure
-Rapid/irregular heart rate (you can feel this by putting your hand on your dogs chest)
-Stoppage of the heart and breathing (cardiopulmonary arrest)
-Fluid build-up in the lungs, sudden breathing distress
-Blood-clotting disorder
-Passage of blood in the bowel movement or stool
-Black, tarry stools
-Small, pinpoint areas of bleeding
-Generalized inflammatory response syndrome
-Changes in mental status, stressed state
-Muscle tremors, shivering or shaking
-Wobbly, uncoordinated or drunken gait or movement also know as ataxia
-Unconsciousness in which the dog cannot be stimulated to be awakened
-Vomiting or diarrhea
What to do if your dog shows signs of heat stroke?
If your dog loses consciousness or seems severely ill (vomiting, seizing,..) rush to a veterinary hospital immediately!
1. Take your dog to a cooler/shady area.
2. Lower their body temperature by wetting them thoroughly with cool water, it may be poured over the head, stomach, armpits and feet, or cool cloths may be applied to these areas. Rubbing alcohol may be applied to the footpads to dilate pores and increase perspiration. DO NOT use cold water! It seems counterintuitive, but cooling too quickly can cause a shock reaction use lukewarm water instead of cool.
3. Apply more cool water around their ears and paws. This helps reduce fever.
4. If you have a pet thermometer handy, check their temperature every few minutes. Once their temperature drops to 39.4ºC (103ºF) Stop applying water and towel dry the dog.
5. As they continue to cool down, provide them with small amounts of lukewarm or cool water to drink. Again, NOT cold water, and no ice!
6. Call your veterinarian asap. Even if your dog seems to be recovering, they may need to be monitored for shock, dehydration, kidney failure, and other possible complications of heat exhaustion. Your vet will be able to advise you about next steps in most cases you will have to go visit the clinic so that the doctor can check your dog.
Why is it so impawtent to handle as soon as possible?
If a heat stroke is not treated on time your dog may experience permanent organ damage or may die at a later date from complications that developed secondarily to the hyperthermia. Pets that have experienced hyperthermia are at greater risk for subsequent heat stroke due to damage to the thermoregulatory center.
Heat stroke is a serious thing! Take care of yourself my furiends,
Paw Luna🐾
