06/07/2024
This is the face of ‘Kojo’. This is the face of heat exhaustion. There may be plenty of awareness for overheating among dogs, yet, it still happens. So, we thought it may be more impactful to share an individual example of a dog who was just a few minutes away from becoming a statistic.
Kojo was outside for just 20 minutes before he collapsed. It was only 80° outside, he was panting, but otherwise, he was seemingly enjoying the good weather with his mom. Thankfully, his mom acted quickly, dropped everything, loaded him in the car, and carried his 60 lb body through our front door. Unfortunately, this happens often enough that our staff knew exactly what had happened and were swift to action. We were able to bring down his temperature carefully over the next hour (if cooled too quickly, their body can go into shock). Kojo was then hospitalized on IV fluids for the day in order to complete his stabilization. Thanks to his owner’s quickness- none of his organs were permanently damaged, and he made a full recovery ❤️🩹
As the season continues, please be vigilant. Of course we recommend avoiding elevated temperatures and leaving your pet in the car, but Kojo’s situation reminds us to always be aware no matter the circumstance. It could happen to anyone.
Much like Kojo, dogs with short-snouts (Brachycephalic) are quicker to overheat. It’s also important to remember that the bigger the breed, the more likely it is to happen. However, while there are predisposing factors in play, no dog is immune. Let Kojo be the reason why your pet never experiences heat exhaustion 🫶
