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HEATSTROKE
Most dogs do not enjoy being exposed to hot sun. Their body temperature is higher than ours between 38.3 and 38.7 centigrade and as such they feel the heat more than we do. Add to that the addition of a thick fur coat and the very limited ability to dissipate heat - by panting and through the pads under the feet- and you can see how dogs suffer in hot weather. During the summer months, it is best to restrict the dog to light exercise during the heat of the day, leaving strenuous exercise either for early morning or evening. Make sure they always have access to both shade and water. If your dog is unfortunate enough to suffer from heatstroke, there are some immediate first-aid procedures you can perform. Signs of heatstroke are panting, profuse salivation, vomiting and general weakness. 1.Remove the dog to an area of shade, preferably where there is a breeze and apply ice packs and/or cold water to the head,neck and shoulder area. 2.If the dog is able to drink, offer him small quantities of water at regular intervals. 3.Continue the treatment and seek veterinary help immediately. Never leave a dog unattended in a car during the warm weather. Every year there are reports of dogs dying in cars-the owners may have only left them for a few minutes but even with the windows open,cars become ovens in minutes,causing dogs extreme stress,which can lead very quickly to collapse and death. I did an experiment with my own car to see what the temp was inside on a hot sunny day. The car an estate was parked on the roadside with a small amount of shade.. the outside temp was 80 Fahrenheit. With all the windows fully open, the temp after 10 mins was the same as outside..When the windows were half open and leaving the car to pop into a shop within 10 mins the temp inside the car was 98. With all windows shut the temp inside the car reached 122 within 10 mins. Remember that it is not just the heat that kills but the lack of air circulation as well. |
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