How to Tell if Your Pet is in Heat Distress
Posted 10/18/2011 by Pet Deals
Hyperthermia just means elevated body temperature and its very bad news for dogs and cats. Because God or dog or whomever didn't give them the lovely ability to sweat through their skin like humans, dogs and cats can only release body heat by panting and by sweating through their foot pads and nose. Not very efficient for cooling an active dog in summer, a furry cat left stuck outside without shade, or any animal locked inside a car on even a fairly mild day.
Both forms of hyperthermia, Heat Stroke and her only-slightly-less-frightening cousin Heat Exhaustion are nothing to fool around with. BOTH CAN QUICKLY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE OR DEATH. BOTH CALL FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Once the symptoms of any type of hyperthermia appear, you've got very little time to act. When a dog's internal body temperature reaches 106 degrees, the poor thing could very well have irreversible damage to cellular systems and organs, which may literally begin to shut down.
When to be Concerned
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Internal temperature over 104 degrees. Over 106 Degrees is a dire emergency.
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Vigorous panting
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Dark red gums
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Tacky or dry mucus membranes, specifically the gums
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Lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up
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Collapse and/or loss of consciousness
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Thick saliva
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Dizziness or disorientation
What to Do
If you even the suspect your pet to be suffering from heat distress, act immediately.
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Stop all activity.
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Move your pet out of heat and sun.
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Start cooling gradually using cool, wet rags or towels. Concentrate the towels around the head and on the foot pads. Get some help if your pet doesn't like this. Your average cat – even one in heat distress – probably won't be thrilled.
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Avoid use of ice or ice water. You could actually do more harm than good with too much cold by constricting blood vessels, which can prevent the body's core from cooling and cause internal temperature to rise instead of fall.
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Take your pet's temperature again. (You DO have a veterinary thermometer, don't you?) When it reaches 103 degrees, stop the cooling.
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Offer water but don't force it.
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Get your pet to the vet, even if he seems better. Unless your pet can look at you and say "Don't worry – I am fully recovered and do not require further treatment and tests," take him in ASAP.
Avoid the Problem
I know you've heard this a million times, but it bears endless repeating: NEVER leave your pet alone in a car on a warm or warm-ish day. Everybody loves to have their dog along on errands and trips and sometimes it's even necessary, but PLEASE be extremely conservative about temperature. Your car can be an oven in a matter of minutes even with windows open – shade can shift; a cooling breeze can die down.
If it's at all warm out, please either:
Bring them in. Better to bring your pet into the store and get thrown out than risk his life by leaving him in the car. Really. If you're going out to eat, www.fidofactor.com has great listings and reviews of dog-friendly restaurants, bars, and all kinds of other businesses that welcome pets with open arms. Check 'em out.
OR
Leave them home if you can't plan a safe outing. I know it's hard to ignore the pleading eyes and the "Can I come? Huh? Huh?" look when you pick up your keys, but this tragedy just gets repeated again and again. Take a deep breath and shut the door.
Skip the crazy exercise on warm days, especially if you have one of those loony/happy activity hounds who just don't know when to quit. They can't help themselves. You'll just have to be the grown-up.
It sounds obvious, but do be sure your pet has plenty of shade options when outside and (screened) open windows or AC inside where possible.
Keeping plenty of fresh water available is obvious too, but did you know that dogs and cats both drink more water when it's running water? Some remnant of evolutionary survival. Just like us, pets need to keep hydrated in heat but they won't always drink enough if it's not appealing (your pup's toilet-drinking habit notwithstanding). There's even some evidence that cats who drink more water avoid urinary tract problems. Check out some of the great pet water fountains on the market.
Don't forget that short-nosed Pugs, Pekes, Pits, Bulldogs, and smash-faced kitties are much more heat sensitive. Think of them as delicate flowers in any kind of heat and keep them out of it! Honestly, a longer nose in the next life would be a great idea.
This Pets Love Deals, Inc. article is intended for general information only. It is not intended to be professional medical advice and is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified veterinarian. Pets Love Deals, Inc. makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information on this website. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your licensed veterinarian. If in doubt, call your Vet! Nothing in this article or elsewhere on this website should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.
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