How to prevent heatstroke in my dog? What to do when it occurs?

What is dog heatstroke?
Heatstroke, also known as overheating or heat exhaustion. It occurs because dogs and cats have few sweat glands and cannot cool off by sweating like humans, so they overheat more easily. Pets mainly cool off by panting, as moisture evaporation from the oral cavity helps lower body temperature. Heatstroke most commonly occurs when pets are left outside on hot days.

What types of dogs are more exposed to heatstroke?
· Breeds with short muzzles like bulldogs or pugs, or heavy fur like Akita
· Dogs with a medical history of lung or heart diseases
· Elderly dogs

How to prevent heatstroke in my dog?
· During hot weather days, only walk your dog in the morning or after the sunset when the temperature is comfortable
· Never leave your dog in a parked car even if the windows are left open
· Avoid strenuous exercises under the scorching sun
· Always provide a water bowl nearby
· Trim your dog well
· In possible, provide good air ventilation/AC/cooling pad for your dog at home

Signs of a heatstroke
· Excessive panting and difficulty in breathing
· Excessive drooling
· Dizziness
· Vomit
· Diarrhea
· Body incoordination or sudden collapse
· In even more serious cases, seizures

What to do when my dog suffers a heatstroke?
· Leave the heat source right away. In serious cases you should shower your dog immediately and rush to the vet instead of spending time taking the measures below. In milder cases, please read as below.
· Let your dog inhale some cool air from the AC or the fan.
· Shower your dog with large amount of cool water, especially on the back and the belly to faster cool down the body temperature. Attention: avoid rinsing the head as it may cause choking thus worsen the situation.
· Rub alcohol to the dog’s paw pads and ears.
· When the situation gets more stabilized, feed her/him some cool water.
· The dog should feel better in 10-15 minutes. If not, take her/him to a nearby vet for further treatment.

Some DON’TS
· Don’t feed water right away as it may cause choking thus worsen the situation.
· Don’t feed COLD water or ICE or give COLD air as they may provoke pressure for the heart and the blood circulation.
· Don’t soak your dog in a bath tub, as the pressure of the high water level is too much to take for the lung right now. It hinders the breathing, rather than helping.


Sources and references:
https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/how-can-i-prevent-heatstroke-in-my-pet/
https://www.noahsarkvet.com/11-symptoms-of-heat-exhaustion-in-dogs
Photo by Mel Elías on Unsplash