In this article you will learn in 5 tips exactly what to do if your dog has a heat stroke and what you recognize this. Because especially when it is really hot, such a heat stroke can happen very quickly and the symptoms are not always clear to interpret.
Unfortunately, it still happens often that dogs are left in the car or suffer a heat stroke and then a heat-collapse for another reason. I’ll tell you more about that here:
Tip 1: What are the risk factors for overheating the dog?
Short-nosed dogs (bulldogs, boobs, etc.) get heavy air and can regulate less about panting than long-nosed dogs. Then of course dogs with thick fur with a lot of undercoat, overweight, old age and: car parked in the sun!
In any case, in summer it is equally possible for the dog to overheat during a “normal” walk, as we walk in the midday heat and do not consider that we can sweat wonderfully over every pore of the body, but the dog’s temperature can only regulate about the panting and he sweats, if any, over the paws. So in the summer in the morning and early evening turn the big round and otherwise “just a short time” around the block.
“Dogs sweat in contrast to us only over their paws.”
Even when playing in the garden, the dog should always be able to walk in the shade and have plenty of water available. Best not only to drink, but also to swim (with a bathrobe, baby bath etc.)
Tip 2: What are the heat stroke symptoms?
When the heat stroke starts, the pulse rate and respiration rate in the dog increase. The dog is panting or hollering very hard. Other signs are bulging red mucous membranes and a dark red tongue. To control the mucous membranes, open your dog’s mouth and look at the gums.
Also typical is a glassy look and wide-open eyes.
The body temperature can reach life-threatening values (41-43 ° C!) So fast, especially in a car. Therefore, this is often the reason for a heat stroke.
Often the dog vomits too, is apathetic and begins to cramp. If the dog has been overheating for some time, it quickly becomes shock and unconsciousness, and then cardiac arrest.
It is also possible that your dog can no longer control his body, stumbles or can not get up.
Tip 3: How can you help your dog immediately?
If your dog shows these heat stroke symptoms or if you rescue a dog from a car, then the highest commandment (I did not know that and learned it in the first aid course) is that you cool it down slowly (!!!)!
This means: a hot car in a cold bath can kill your dog directly. How should the small body cope with this blatant temperature shock?
“Cool a dog with heat stroke necessarily slowly, otherwise there is danger to life!”
So the motto is: cool off slowly. First, put him in the shade or a cooler environment. Gladly on tiles. Then towels in lukewarm water, wring out and thus cover the dog a bit and put this especially under him. There should be no heat accumulation under the towels!
Wet the paws. Of course, he goes to drink from the water when he can drink.
Then again take slightly cooler water and wring out the towels and again envelopes. We are talking about a period of well over an hour.
However, if you quickly get the feeling that your dog does not really recover, does not feel more alert and the mucous membranes do not turn from dark red to pink, then drive directly to the vet. It’s best to call there on the way to the veterinarian, describe the case and warn that you’ll be there in a hurry, so that the team can prepare for an emergency and you’ll get it right away. Because this is really about life and death!
Tip 4: What to do if you find a dog in a car that is panting heavily and is obviously on the brink of heat stroke?
Do not shoot right away and play Supergirl / Superman and hit the disc with a kung-fu kick, because that can cost you a lot of money, but act prudently: Seek out witnesses right away: talk to people around you, shut them up your witnesses and accomplices so that you not only watch but help and call for the holder.
Have a witness call the police. If they say that they are not going to arrive directly, you tell them that this is a mortal danger and you will now hit the target – with the witnesses or while the witness is standing there.
Tip 5: Watch your healthy dog so that you can see a change in behavior
Only if you know very well how your dog works when it is healthy, satisfied and fit, you can also see a clear change in its behavior.
Look in healthy condition once:
What do pink mucous membranes look like? How to wake up? How does his body feel when it has normal temperature? Incidentally, dogs have an average body temperature of 38 ° C and always feel warmer than, for example, our skin.
“Only if you know what your healthy dog looks like you will immediately recognize a change.”
If you can compare all this information, you’ll be able to spot a pathological change much faster, like a heat stroke! And so act much faster in an emergency.
I hope that I have been able to give you some of my first aid knowledge. And that you, like me, never have to use this knowledge. But for sure it is safe. 😉