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Pet Beware of Heat Stroke
Wow, with the Fourth of July, we really know that summer is here! And is it HOT! If you can walk across a blacktop parking lot in the steamy midafternoon heat and not feel like you're melting into a puddle, you're definitely in the minority. But have you considered the toll this heat and humidity may be taking on your pet?
Dog owners, in particular, love to share all of their summer activities with their furry friends. Pets go along to the shopping mall, to loll on the beach, to the Art Fair in the park and Venetian Festival on the Bluff. And dogs love to be with their People--even if it puts their lives at risk. Yes, puts their lives at risk . That happy, endearing, tongue-lolling grin may also be a warning of impending heat stroke, and just as with people, severe heat stroke will cause nausea, loss of consciousness, irreparable brain damage, and, finally, death.
Remember that blacktop parking lot? You've seen the heat waves shimmering up off it. You've felt the heat right through the bottom of your shoes, maybe even had to clean off bits of melted tar when you got home. Now, imagine walking barefoot down a blacktopped street. That's what you're asking your dog to do when you take him to events uptown. Ouch! And, hey. How hot is that beach sand he has to lie down in?
Oh, you only walk in the grass? Good for you. But, have you noticed that you tire easily, and that you get very, very thirsty? Guess what? Your dog will tire more easily and become dehydrated from panting, too, compounded by the stress of being surrounded by so much activity (he'll want to see it all) and all those people (who must be there just to pet him). Many owners don't even realize that their dogs are overheated, thirsty, and just plain terrified of the crowds and confusion!
So, you'll leave Fido in the car, right? Wrong! Even with the windows open, how hot is that vehicle when you come back to it? Like climbing into an oven, right? And you want to leave your Best Friend in there? Not even for a few minutes. Here are the boring statistics--but keep reading, because this info may keep you from loving your dog to death.
On an 85 degree day, the temperature inside your car, even with the windows open a bit, will climb to 102 degrees in 10 minutes! After half an hour, it will go up to 120 degrees or even higher! On a 90 degree day, temps in that car can top 160 degrees faster than you can walk around the block. We won't even talk about the back of a pickup truck, "in the fresh air," with no shade. If you really love your dog, leave him at home, in a nice, cool, place, with plenty of fresh water to drink.
In fact, if it's an exceptionally hot day, keep your dog or cat in the house with you, a fan, and/or the air conditioning, maybe even some frozen-bullion dog treats (low-sodium beef or chicken bullion cubes dissolved in water and frozen in an ice cube tray). When your dog has to go out, monitor him . Don't let him play hard or lie on the deck in the sun too long. That ground heats up fast, the shade offers little protection when the temps top 90 and the humidity soars, and your vet can tell you all sorts of horror stories about well-meaning owners who let their dogs out "just for a minute," got involved in something else--and forgot Fido. Some people leave a wading pool full of cool water out for their dogs to splash in--which is OK, as long as your dog likes water, and the water in the pool isn't sun-warmed to tea temperature. Even then, a general rule is, if it's too hot outside for you, it's too hot outside for your pet.
Yeah, but animals can handle the heat better than humans, right? Whatever gave you that idea? A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. A body temp of 107 - 108 degrees for a dog would be equivalent to, say, 104 - 105 or so in a human. Not only that, but dogs don't cool themselves by sweating, as their People do, but by evaporation through panting. As for cats--well, below is Crash, an Animal Aid rescue. As a kitten, he was found in a stifling attic, his mother and siblings dead, nearly dead himself from heat stroke and severe dehydration. As a consequence, he suffered brain damage--it was predicted that he'd never be able to walk or eat by himself. It's only thanks to the perseverance and dedication of his adopted family that he now "walks, eats, and drinks by himself, and rules the house." He does have coordination problems, though, hence his name, Crash.
With the right combination of circumstances, your pet can suffer heat stroke even if you do all the do's and don't all the don'ts . A normal-length walk or run can end in tragedy, and one Boston Terrier nearly died in the car as it sped down the highway on a spring vacation trip. His People weren't even uncomfortable, but it was hot, and the dog was stressed. Luckily, there was a vet clinic just off the freeway in the town they were passing through. The vet told them that short-nosed dogs, such as the bulldog breeds, are often more susceptible to the heat. Surprisingly, short-haired dogs can be, too, as are very young or older animals and animals with health problems.
How do you recognize heat stroke in your pet? He'll pant like crazy, become exhausted or agitated, start upchucking. At this point, you can usually cool him down by giving him ice cubes to lick (cold water will upset his stomach worse and hasten dehydration), sponging him down with a wet towel, and letting him lie in front of a fan. In extreme cases, after the previous symptoms manifest themselves, his gums will take on a grayish tinge, then his tongue will turn blue, then he'll lose consciousness. Take immediate action! Immerse him in cold water or hose him down with a gentle but soaking spray and direct that fan on him. Get his body temperature down first, then call your vet! If you do these in reverse order, it may be too late. It would be a very good idea to print this page and discuss it with your vet beforehand, just to be prepared.
Really, though, just a little common sense is all it takes to ensure a trauma-free summer with your favorite companion. And maybe a trip to Tastee Freeze for ice cream...!
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