Heat stroke, heat stroke, acute hyperthermia, heat stroke... are all possible risks in dogs in hot weather and owners need to pay attention to this. So how to handle when a dog has heat stroke due to hot weather? The following article will help you answer this problem.
Why do dogs get heat stroke when it's sunny?
On hot summer days, dogs are at a very high risk of heatstroke and heatstroke. Because they are different from humans, they do not have a "sweating" mechanism to regulate body temperature and their very thick fur also greatly affects their ability to release heat.
The way dogs heat is simply sweat glands on the soles of their feet and panting. Dog cooling mechanisms are not effective enough to deal with the high heat and scorching sun during particularly hot summers, especially with thick-haired dogs.
Heat stroke is common in older dogs, overweight or obese dogs, or flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, or breeds from temperate regions such as Sam, Husky, Alaska.
In addition, dogs that are subjected to excessive exercise in hot weather or in the sun are also at risk of heat stroke - which is extremely dangerous.
Tình trạng sốc nhiệt rất nguy hiểm có thể gây tử vong ở loài chó. Thời điểm từ tháng 6 đến đầu tháng 8, dogs and cats rất hay bị sốc nhiệt, nhất là các giống chó ngoại bởi chúng có nguồn gốc từ các nước có khí hậu lạnh hơn.
Therefore, at the beginning of summer, you already need to pay extra attention to your dog care experiences in the summer to completely avoid the risk of heat stroke.
Signs that your dog has heat stroke
1. Common signs of heat stroke in dogs
Dogs with heat stroke often show the following signs:
- Heatstroke, increased body temperature leads to heat stroke and causes dogs to have noticeable symptoms such as:
- Panting, gasping for breath.
- The tongue is bright red and the gums are pale.
- Lots of thick drool.
- Inactive or unable to walk due to overheating.
- Body temperature rises above 39°C.
2. Signs of severe heat stroke in dogs
- Vomiting.
- Gums turn bright red and then darker.
- Tired breathing, wheezing.
- Lying in one place and staggered when had to get up.
- Coma – loss of consciousness, when you pat or shake the dog, it does not open its eyes or does not respond.
How to handle when dogs have heat stroke or heatstroke due to hot weather
We can cool the dog by using isopropyl alcohol when the dog's body temperature is above 39°C. When doing this, use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and then wipe all the skin pads under the dog's 4 legs, wipe the groin and armpits below the front legs. Volatile alcohol will help cool down the dog.
You must do this immediately when you find your dog showing signs of heatstroke to avoid heatstroke and prevent the dog's life from heat stroke.
Steps to handle when a dog has heat stroke:
Step 1: Remove the dog from the hot environment immediately. If outdoors, put the dog in a shady place, at least with a canopy, awning, or near a water source and out of direct sunlight. If indoors, take the dog to a place with a fan to effectively cool the dog.
Step 2: Gradually reduce the dog's body temperature by finding the faucet, open the faucet to drain all the hot water in the faucet. When the water is cool, dip a large towel to wet it and then cover the dog's body to completely cover the dog's body (from shoulder to tail) – or wrap it around the dog's body. Continue to let the dog lie still under the faucet and turn on the small faucet so that the water continuously flows down the towel and soaks into the dog's body.
Step 3: Lower body temperature immediately by filling a large basin with water and submerging the dog in the water with its head raised out of the pot. If there is only a faucet or shower, you can let the dog lie under the faucet, using your hand to direct the water down the dog's entire body, especially the nape area behind the head and neck. When cooling your dog with a hose, run the coat against the back of the dog's neck, neck, and back to allow the water to fully absorb into the skin to help cool the dog.
Step 4: Provide clean water – cool water for dogs to drink comfortably to lower body temperature. However, you also do not need to force the dog to drink water, and also do not give the dog cold water. Just keep water next to it so it can drink it whenever it likes.
Note: If you put your dog in a basin of water, you need to pay attention to keep the dog's nose up to prevent the water from making it difficult to breathe. Do not use very cold water or ice when handling a dog with heat stroke because it will make the heat stroke worse. If your dog has a severe heat stroke, you can do an emergency cooldown without a towel in step 2, but this is also not recommended. When the dog's body temperature drops below 39°C, cooling should be stopped.
Measures to prevent heat shock for dogs
To prevent heat stroke for dogs you need to do the following:
- Trim your dog's coat in the summer with long-haired dogs to ensure that the remaining coat is only about 3-5cm long.
- Do not let your dog out in the street or expose it to direct sunlight for too long on hot days.
- Always keep cool water available in a shady area, and keep plenty of bowls of water to prevent your dog from drinking all of it due to extreme heat.
- If the dog area is outside in the yard, when it's hot, keep a large pot of water in the shade so the dog can cool down when needed.
- Avoid taking your dog out in the sun during midday, early afternoon is the time when the sun can be hottest.
- If you have conditions at home where the dog has to be in a hot place, without fans or air conditioners and not enough shade, the owner can prepare pieces of fruit to keep in the refrigerator such as watermelons, apples and occasional treats. for dogs as a measure to reduce heat and nourish the body. Or if it's too hot, you can also throw a large rock straight for the dog to play with.
Another thing you need to keep in mind is that dogs who have experienced heatstroke or heatstroke are very likely to get it again when they are in the same situation. Therefore, you need to be very cautious and proactive in preventing and protecting your dog when it is too hot.
Here is some information on how to handle it Dogs get heat stroke when it's hot that we want to share with you. Wish you have healthy and lovely dogs. If you need to know more about other ways to take care of dogs, please contact http://vanchuyenchomeo.com/ for advice.
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