Heat Stroke Signs & Safety Tips
With warm weather coming in fast, I want to talk about heat stroke in dogs..
We all know that people can get it and that it can be a very dangerous condition if not caught and dealt with right away. The most common way for dogs to get heat stroke is being left in a vehicle in warm/hot weather. In a matter of minutes, your car can get way hotter than the temperature outside and make it unbearably hot for anyone (people or dogs) is inside the vehicle.
All it takes for your pet to get heat stroke is their body temperature rising by 2 degrees. A dog can die within 15 minutes of heat stroke setting in. It is very dangerous to leave your dog in the car even just for a few minutes to go get milk or something quickly from the store.
We are all human and can get distracted, or something can happen that makes us stay in the store for longer and it can cost us our dog's life. If it's warmer than 15°C outside, just leave the dog at home. Don't take them on errands unless they can come into the store with you. It's not worth their life to avoid leaving them home for a few hours.
Dogs can also get heat stroke from just being out in the warm weather too long. If it's too hot out, take them for walks in hardware stores or other pet friendly stores in your area. You can also train your dog to walk on a treadmill, then if it's too hot (or too cold) outside, they can safely get exercise out of the heat. Be sure to always have fresh water available and if you can't comfortably walk barefoot on the hot concrete, get some booties for your dogs paws. They can get burnt paws from the hot sidewalks!
Here are some of the warning signs of heat stroke:
Elevated breathing rates
Abnormal gum color
Dry gums
Lethargy
Seizures
Please be careful with the heat with your dog, and if you're ever unsure of if something would be safe, call your trainer or vet to get advise!
Also be sure to bring your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect heat stroke or burnt paws. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
