Hot Dog

In over 15 years of working in the veterinary field, I've seen my share of sad events. This isn't one though, so don't go anywhere. As I was saying, I've seen some tragic situations. And, although, as a result, I have become an incorrigable worry wart, I was thankful for the extra sense this past weekend.

The drama began when my husband and our Golden, Joe (mug shot above), were casually returning from Joe's daily dose of tennis ball chasing. Well, hubby was returning casually, I should say. But Joe was not at all casual. One glance and the worry wart emerged in me full throttle. Joe was over heated!

We often think of heat stroke happening as a result of being left in a car. But dogs can reach dangerously high body temperatures just doing what they love to do, and not always giving you a warning that something is terribly wrong. For my husband, the thought that Joe was overheating was difficult to understand at first. Joe had been well hydrated, the day was not terribly hot, Joe was eager to fetch more and more, and he had exercised more than this many times in the past.

So, this Dog Blog is a two parter, with the first addressing the signs and treatment of heat stroke. Part two will cover prevention.

For starters, let’s face it, if you live in Florida, you really should wear an extra set of heat detecting antennae on your head. No, not really, that would look ridiculous. What I’m mean, is, learn to have a high degree of suspicion when it comes to whether or not the climate can harm your pet.

OK, so now we get serious….The most common signs of heat stroke are brick red tongue and gums, excessive panting, excessive salivation early; then dry gums as the condition escalates, roaring breathing sounds, weakness, loss of balance, decrease in mental awareness and collapse. A pet might also experience vomiting and/or diarrhea and sometimes with blood.

If heat stroke is suspected, get an immediate rectal temperature. A normal dog’s temperature is anywhere between 100 F to 102 F. If you do not have access to a thermometer and you suspect heat stroke, get your dog to a veterinarian immediately. No ifs, ands, or buts about it…. Time is of the essence and you can’t waste time scratching your head wondering “hmmm, I don’t know, maybe he just needs a drink of water…..”

If the rectal temperature is above 103-104, stop all activity and bring indoors. That is, indoors to a cool environment, not indoors to a stifling hot barn. Apply water to the inside flaps of your dog’s ears and keep his mouth wet. It is important to continue to monitor your dog’s temperature to make sure it is not going any higher.

If the rectal temperature is above 104 administer a quick immediate treatment (see below), then take to your veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic immediately. It is important to know that a temperature of 106 may be able to be treated at home, however temperatures of 107F and over are considered a critical emergency because organ damage can occur at these levels. Additionally, if you have managed to get your dog’s temperature down to a normal, comfortable level, I strongly advise you to follow up with a visit to your vet. Dogs who have suffered heat stroke can develop delayed complications that are very serious.

So, the treatment is this. Rinse your dog down with tepid (not cool or chilled) water. Rinsing with water that is too cold can actually slow down the cooling process by decreasing skin circulation. If ice packs are available, place them in areas of high circulation such as the armpits, throat and inguinal (groin) region. When I worked at the emergency hospital, we would spray alcohol on the pads of the feet and inner ear flaps as the evaporation is a strong assistant. Probably the best thing you can do after this is introduce air flow so natural evaporation off the skin and mucous membranes occur. For Joe, we happened to be in the garage when this all happened, so the garage fan was easily accessible. Otherwise, find anything to fan your dog with. Just for the record, Joe’s temperature slammed the mercury to the end of thermometer at 108F in less then 1 ½ seconds. That’s how hot he was…. and can you believe? He still wanted to go for another round with the tennis ball. So folks, you’re probably getting the picture that this is nothing to mess around with. Trust me.

Warning! water activities are not an exception.
Unfortunately, it is true. Some dogs can work so hard when playing water sports that their bodies can really crank up the heat. Please don’t be fooled that the water removes the risk of heat stroke. It does not.

So our dear Joe is safe now and I am happy that I knew the signs. I hope that this info helps some of you keep your good dog safe also.