16/07/2022
PSA TO ALL PET PARENTS:
These heat waves aren't just dangerous for dogs!
I had a personal experience with a pet overheating recently and I wanted to share:
(*If you don't feel like reading the whole story this is the main takeaway: If you're taking your pet in the vehicle on a hot day, MAKE SURE the air conditioning has been on for a sufficient amount of time and the inside is very cool.)
I was heading back to the city from my hometown on Tuesday and I had been packing my car, then I went to get gas. I had my windows open the entire time to get some air flow (as I enjoy fresh air over A/C). I then stopped back at the house to pick up Norman (my cat) and headed out. (Just a little note, he rides in the front seat, facing me, in a pet carrier) As soon as I hit the highway, which is about 5 min outside of town, I closed the windows and cranked the A/C.
About 10 min later, I happened to look over at him as he was whining fairly aggressively, which he doesn't usually do. I caught a flash of red and I realized it was his tongue. Now, normally mucous membranes of pets should be the same light pink as ours. This includes tongues as well. I didn't know it was his tongue at first, and as I looked closer, I could see he was PANTING.
Now, panting (or open-mouth breathing) is VERY dangerous for a cat! They should never breathe this way, EVER. I immediately knew he was either too stressed or too hot. As he's traveled with me back and forth many times, and it was about 30 degrees outside (and he had a mild sedative the night before) I figured it wasn't stress. I instantly pulled off to the side of the road and opened his carrier door. Luckily I had an extra big bottle of water with me. I DOUSED his head, neck and back with water, as well as his ears, which were extremely hot. I also felt his nose which was incredibly hot as well. I tried to get him to drink some water, however I didn't have a syringe. Instead, I dumped the rest of the water in the bottle into the bottom of his carrier to try and get his paw pads wet. He wasn't very happy with me but at that point, I just needed him to cool down as fast as possible.
I also turned the A/C vents to be blasting toward the open door of the carrier. I already had his carrier covered with a sweatshirt to block the sun, so I made sure it was in place properly. Now, this all took about 2 min to do, but it took him about 5 minutes to cool down enough where he FINALLY stopped panting (and I could stop having a panic attack).
As a vet tech, I know what to do when a pet comes into clinic with suspected heat exhaustion. But when it's your own pet, sometimes it's hard to remember not to freak out. The reason I'm sharing this is because while dogs are more prone to heat exhaustion/stroke, cats, rabbits, and other pocket pets can also be affected. Knowing what to do when you see the signs can save your pets life.
In the end, Norman was ok and he was back to normal pretty much right after. We got home and he drank some water and ate, and was acting like his normal self. If I hadn't caught the signs, he might have gone into full-on heat stroke which is a LIFE-THREATENING emergency.
So please remember, if your dog still needs outdoor time during heat waves, keep it short, make sure you give them plenty of breaks in the shade, and access to lots of cold water. Or you're traveling with a pet, keep the air conditioning on towards them. Below are some warning signs of heat exhaustion:
- Excessive panting (ANY signs of open-mouth breathing in cats)
- Red gums/tongue
- Lethargy
And the more dangerous heat stroke:
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Inability to move/get up (laying on side)
- Lack of coordination/weakness
- Grey gums/tongue (indication shock is setting in and the pet needs emergency veterinary care immediately)
And don't forget, dogs that are old, brachycephalic (smushy-faced), young, dark and/or long-haired are MUCH more susceptible to heat exhaustion and stroke. (*This applies to cats too).
Keep your fur babies safe this summer! 🌡️🙀
(And here's a pic of Norman to show he was just fine after 💙)
