Heatstroke - Symptoms and treatment in dogs.

I know this is another Dog related thread by Sammy but i believe it is a very important one as many of us are dog lovers and owners.

We have seen in the news that many dogs have been lost by being left in vans and cars, 2 alsations recently dying in a police van/car in the police carpark! When we are at dog shows we hear of dogs in distress being left in dog vans. So here is an article that was past on to me to share with you good selves!

Cheers

Sammy

Dog Heatstroke Survival Guide
Know how to treat and prevent this dangerous condition.
by Robert Newman


What is heatstroke?

In simple terms, heatstroke occurs when a dog loses its natural ability to regulate its body temperature. Dogs don't sweat all over their bodies the way humans do. Canine body temperature is primarily regulated through respiration (i.e., panting). If a dog's respiratory tract cannot evacuate heat quickly enough, heatstroke can occur.

To know whether or not your dog is suffering from heatstroke (as opposed to merely heat exposure), it's important to know the signs of heatstroke.

A dog's normal resting temperature is about 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a dog's temperature rises above 105 degrees, physiological changes start to take place, and the dog begins to experience the effects of heatstroke. At 106 to 108 degrees, the dog begins to suffer irreversible damage to the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, heart and brain.

If a dog is experiencing heatstroke, you may observe excessive panting; hyperventilation; increased salivation; dry gums that become pale, greyish and tacky; rapid or erratic pulse; weakness; confusion; inattention; vomiting; diarrhoea; and possible rectal bleeding. If the dog continues to overheat, breathing efforts become slowed or absent, and finally, seizures or coma can occur.
The amount of damage a dog sustains when stricken with heatstroke depends on the magnitude and duration of the exposure. The longer and more severe the exposure, the worse the damage will be.

What to do

1 Pay attention to your dog. Recognizing the symptoms of heatstroke and responding quickly is essential for the best possible outcome.

2 Get into the shade. If you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke, move it into a shaded area and out of direct sunlight. Apply cool water to the inner thighs and stomach of the dog, where there's a higher concentration of relatively superficial, large blood vessels. Apply cool water to the foot pads, as well.

3 Use running water. A faucet or hose is the best way to wet down your dog's body. Never submerge your dog in water, such as in a pool or tub - this could cool the dog too rapidly, leading to further complications, including cardiac arrest and bloating.

4 Use cool - not cold - water. Many people make the mistake of using cold water or ice to cool the dog. When faced with a dog suffering from heatstroke, remember that the goal is to cool the dog. Using ice or extremely cold water is actually counterproductive to this process because ice and cold water cause the blood vessels to constrict, which slows blood flow, thus slowing the cooling process.

5 Don't cover the dog. One of the keys to successfully cooling your dog is ensuring the water being placed on the dog can evaporate. Never cover an overheated dog with a wet

towel or blanket. This inhibits evaporation and creates a sauna effect around your dog's body. Likewise, don't wet the dog down and put it into an enclosed area, such as a kennel. Any air flow during the cooling process is helpful in reducing the dog's body temperature. Sitting with the wet dog in a running car with the air conditioner blowing is an ideal cooling situation.

6 Keep the dog moving. It's important to try to encourage your dog to stand or walk slowly as it cools down. This is because the circulating blood tends to pool in certain areas if the dog is lying down, thus preventing the cooled blood from circulating back to the core.

7 Allow the dog to drink small amounts of water. Cooling the dog is the first priority. Hydration is the next. Don't allow the dog to gulp water. Instead, offer small amounts of water that's cool, but not cold. If the dog drinks too much water too rapidly, it could lead to vomiting or bloat.

8 Avoid giving human performance drinks. Performance beverages designed for humans are not recommended because they are not formulated with the canine's physiology in mind. If you can't get an overheated dog to drink water, try offering chicken- or beef-based broths.

See a veterinarian

Once your dog's temperature begins to drop, cease the cooling efforts and bring the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your dog's temperature should be allowed to slowly return to normal once cooling has begun. A dog that's cooled too quickly may become hypothermic.

Even if your dog appears to be fully recovered, the veterinarian needs to check to determine if the heatstroke caused any damage to your dog's kidneys and liver. The effects of heatstroke can continue for 48 to 72 hours longer, even if your dog appears normal.

William Grant, DVM, a veterinarian for 20 years and former president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, has treated hundreds of cases of heatstroke, ranging from mild to fatal.

According to Grant, the most common cause of death following heatstroke is disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (blood coagulating throughout the body), or DIC, which can occur hours or days after the heatstroke episode.

DIC can also be caused by pyometra or septicemia, but Grant says heatstroke is the most common cause. "Once a dog develops DIC, it may bleed in the thorax, abdomen, nose and intestine," Grant says. "Once the blood-clotting factors are consumed, there is an inability of the blood vessels to prevent leaking; the condition is almost always fatal." For this reason, follow-up veterinary care is essential following a heatstroke episode, even if your dog seems to be completely fine.





Prevention is the best medicine

The best treatment for heatstroke is prevention. Especially during the summer months, it's essential to be aware of the potential for heatstroke. Knowing the signs of heatstroke, and taking the necessary steps to prevent it, will ensure your dog can have a safe and active life year-round.

Good idea this Sam, I think a lot of people dont realise how easily this can happen.

Also death is not the only problem when dogs get overheated.
We had one in that had a temp of 109!!! It was a rough Collie and he was brain damaged after that, and he was only out for a walk with his elderly owner.

For those who dont know, the brain is composed of protein and if it gets hot enough the protein denatures (just like an egg goes hard).

Darker coloured dogs will absorb heat and get overheated quicker than light ones. White or pale dogs with pink skins can burn and white cats should have sun block on their ears as they are prone to Squamous Cell Carcinoma, the amount of ears we have had to cut off due to this cancer is quite mind boggling.


Heed the above advice it can happen suddenly and not just in hot cars.

[yorkie_chris]

My black lab has seemed to be getting pretty warm, his natural tendancy to chuck himself in any bit of nearby water seems to help matters though!

Cheers for this Sammy, very helpful.

[gruntygiggles]

Great thread Sam!

For anyone with any animals, try to give them the freedom to find their own place of comfort in th hot weather and with dogs, take the toys away so that they do not ignore their body in favour of play. One of my dogs would get up and play with 3 broken legs if you showed her a toy! If you're home, keep the doors and windows open to allow good airflow and let the dogs find their own shade with bowls of water dotted around inside and outside. As the article above says, don't give dogs water that's too cold. It's the same with humans, cold cold water is not easily absorbed and so does little to re-hydrate the body. Instead water at or just below room temperature can be absorbed and used by the body very quickly and easily so this is the best option.

Walk your dogs early in the morning and late in the evening when the temperature has dropped.

Brush dogs regularly to keep removing the dead hair and aid cooling.

Keep an eye on their heart rate if you feel they seem to be acting a little too lethargicaly. In healthy adult dogs, the heart rate should be anywhere between 70 and 120 beats per minute. Puppies can have heart rates up to 180bpm but if you check your dogs heart rate when it is healthy and resting, you'll get a good idea of where it should be. Generally speaking though, if the heart rate is outside the 70-120bpm range, call your vet and try to take it's temperature if you can.

To check heart rate, you should lie the dog on its right hand side, move the left leg back until the elbow touches the ribs and it's at that point that you should get the best reading. I personally find though that I sometimes get an easier feel for it if I slide my hand under the ribcage between the dog and the floor, but as in humans, tweak the position until you get the best read. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4.

Don't leave dogs in cars, conservatories, greenhouses or rooms that have little or no shade from the sun. If you have a shaded room with a hard floor (not carpet) this would be fab!

A dog in a car/conservatory/greenhouse etc that has no means of escape can die of heatstroke in as little as 5-6 minutes in really hot temperatures where there is also high humidity. The humidity enhances the heat as the process of losing heat through respiration is effectively lost as the evaporation of the fluids on the tongue is limited and so over heating occurs in less time.

Leaving windows open and providing water will do little to help a dog being left in such circumstances. Overdrinking causes further problems and open windows do not guarantee airflow or cooler conditions.

I've seen dog trainers and so called professionals have dogs in cages in vans and leave the side and back doors open but this is still not going to prevent heatstroke. It will slow it, but not stop it as the dogs are still in a metal cage where heat is allowed the build to way over the outside temperature.

Last thing.....check for pink pigmented skin on your dog. Where you see it, apply sunblock, not missing the rectal area, especially in dogs that carry their tails high.

Love your dogs people xxx