It’s July, it’s North Carolina, and it’s hot. As a human, your whole body sweats to keep you cool, but that’s not true for Fluffy and Spot. Believe it or not, dogs only sweat from their paws, and cats from their paws and tongues.
This leaves your furry friends susceptible to hyperthermia. The danger isn’t just for animals left in hot cars or direct sun. At Town N Country, most of the heat stroke cases we see are exercised induced.
Hyperthermia requires immediate treatment and can be life threatening. Know the signs to watch for in your pet:
1. Excessive panting and restlessness
2. Discharge from the nose or drooling from the mouth
3. Unsteadiness while walking
4. Gums turning blue, purple or bright red.
What to do:
1. Call us.
2. Get your dog out of the environment where she became overheated.
3. Move your dog to a shaded, cooler place and direct a fan on her.
4. Cool your dog slowly. Place cool, wet towels on the back if his neck, in armpits and groin region. You could also wet her ear flaps and paws. Avoid the use of ice or cold water.
5. Keep drinking water available, but don’t force water into your pet’s mouth.
6. Stay with and observe your dog closely.
7. Once your dog has cooled down and is stable, take him to the vet. Heat stroke or hyperthermia affects nearly every system in the body. Your dog should be checked for any inconsistencies or potential problems.
In this weather, it may be to hot for Spot to trot. If you have any questions about heat stroke and your pets, please trot on over to Town N Country – or at least give us a call.
