21/11/2023
HEAT STROKE- How to avoid cooking your pet this summer.
As temperatures rise into the high 30’s some pets here in Perth will be hospitalised for the catastrophic effects of heatstroke. Many will survive if their owners are aware of the signs and take immediate life-saving action. Sadly despite the best of veterinary care, some may die of the complications of this horrific condition.
Dogs are most commonly affected but vets will also see cases in rabbits, guinea pigs, and other pocket pets.
As dogs cannot sweat, their main method of cooling themselves is to evaporate water by panting, in addition to drinking water, decreasing their activity, seeking shade and finding cool surfaces to lie on.
Signs of heat stroke include excessive, distressed, harsh sounding panting and then collapse. Dogs with heat stroke are trying so hard to breathe faster, that they often cannot stop for long enough to drink water.
Particularly at risk are geriatric animals, short nosed dogs which always have noisy breathing, dogs with stridor due to narrowing of their upper airway, and any dog which already has heart or lung disease, is obese or already ill. We have also seen young excitable dogs develop heat stroke secondary to chasing balls or playing excessively on hot days.
Consequences of heat stroke are death or damage to any organ, commonly muscle damage and bleeding disorders. Other complications include seizures, severe shock, ulceration, bleeding from the stomach and intestines causing blood in both vomit and diarrhoea, damage to the kidneys, liver, brain and lungs.
If your dog starts to develop distressed panting and excessively noisy breathing in hot weather, immediately stop any exercise. Actively cool your dog for at least five minutes by continuously saturating the whole coat with a hose or placing under a cold water shower. If your pet does not appear completely back to normal after 5 minutes of active cooling then you should immediately seek veterinary attention for your pet. Cooling them with a hose is essential first aid, but in moderate and severe cases intravenous fluids and medications to treat complications may be required. Their chance of survival is much better if medical care is started rapidly; waiting a few hours to see if they will get better can be associated with a decreased chance of survival.
While driving to the veterinary clinic have the air conditioning on full or have the windows open while continuing to wet the dog’s coat with a water bottle. If your dog is small take a blanket or towel with you (just in case you manage to drop their body temperature too low and they start shivering).
Safety tips for dog owners over the hot days ahead include:
1) Do not exercise your dogs in the heat of the day
2) Never leave dogs in cars (or sheds), as temperatures rise within minutes in enclosed environments, even if the windows are left partially open
3) Always make sure they have plenty of fresh water and shade and keep dogs at increased risk inside; in air-conditioning if possible.
4) If heat stroke is suspected immediately start cooling your dog with cold running water for five minutes and then seek immediate veterinary attention
5) If your dog has had heatstroke in the past be extra vigilant, they are at greater risk of it occurring again.
6) Keep dogs with stridor (noisy breathing) in air conditioning and have them checked by your vet (in many situations surgery can help them to breath more normally and decrease their risk factors for heat stroke).
If you have caged animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs or ferrets, remember cages prevent them burrowing underground or seeking a cooler area on hot days, so you will need to take care that their cage is moved to a cool location.
Finally please leave water bowls out for birds and wildlife as their ability to remain well hydrated is important for wildlife surviving hot weather days. Sadly, climate change has significantly decreased rainfall in our environment over the past few decades which affects wildlife who can't turn on the tap to take a drink when they need it.
