Heatstroke in Dogs-Symptoms and Prevention
As the summertime approaches, you tend to get excited about spending more time outdoors and indulging in fun activities with your dog. However, it is very important that you keep your dog safe from the harshness of the hot climate. Just like us, humans dogs can also suffer from sunburns, dehydration or heatstroke. But in their case, a heatstroke can prove to be a life-threatening situation. To help you understand the symptoms and precautions, we have discussed everything that you need to know.
What is a Heatstroke?
Heatstroke occurs when a dog’s standard body mechanism can’t keep or maintain his body temperature in a safe range. Unlike us, dogs can’t sweat except for their nose and around paws. Which is not enough to cool down the body temperature, so they are at a higher risk of overheating. A dog’s normal body temperature falls between 100-102.5° F, and if their body temperature rises above 106° F, it can be fatal, and they require immediate veterinary care.
Heatstroke Symptoms in Dogs
While some dogs with previous conditions like heart disease, breathing problems, obesity or old age, etc. are more susceptible to heatstroke. Environments and weather play a significant role in it too, and there are always some obvious symptoms that if you notice early on can help save your dog’s life.
- Panting
- Excessive Drooling
- Dehydration - easily avoided with Actijoy water monitor low intake notifications
- Rapid heart rate
- Irregular heartbeats
- Increased body temperature above 103° F
- Production of a small amount or no urine
- Lethargy - easily spotted by the Actijoy smart dog activity tracker
- Muscle tremors
- Reddened gums and soft tissue of the dog’s body
- Seizures, etc
How can you prevent heatstroke in your dog?
Being a pet parent, you need to be smart and take precautions to prevent your dog from a heatstroke. Here are a few ways how.
- Make sure that your dog has access to fresh and cold water at all times with the Actijoy smart water bowl, especially when outdoors. Also, make sure that your dog gets plenty of shade that protects him from the scorching sunlight.
- Get your dog a haircut for the summertime. Don’t go crazy with the razor though and shave to the skin. Leave a layer of hair that will protect your dog against getting a sunburn on their skin.
- Leave a sprinkler on the outside for a bit while your dog plays or a cooling water pool that he can splash in and keep cool at the same time.
- NEVER leave your dog alone in a parked car even if you have to run an errand for a few minutes. The temperature of the car can quickly rise and can be fatal for your dog.
What to do if your dog is having a heatstroke?
Here are a few things you can do if your dog is having a heat stroke.
- Take your dog to a cool place like in an air-conditioned room or shade
- Allow the dog to drink cool water and splash some on him too
- Don’t cover or confine your dog
- Call an emergency veterinary service immediately
Prevention is always better than cure so keep your dog safe from the harsh weather and avoid any serious issues.
By utilizing the Actijoy smart dog water bowl, you can more closely monitor whether your dog is drinking enough water in the summer. Besides, this water bowl will alert you to the weather forecast so that you can ensure dehydration is prevented, as well as letting you know when your dog’s bowl is low or empty.
Pre-orders on the Actijoy dog tracking system are now live! Order yours to make sure your dog is adequately hydrated in hot weather to prevent heatstroke in your dog.
If you are interested in learning more about symptoms of dogs illnesses!
Please note: all dogs should be treated as individuals. The Actijoy blog is for educational and entertainment purposes only. In case of emergency, always seek qualified healthcare from a local veterinarian or emergency facility. Actijoy blogs are not designed to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medication for your pet.
