Heat Exhaustion

As temperatures soar, one of the most important pet care tips is to ensure that your furry friend stays hydrated. Unfortunately, most pet parents do not realize that the rising temperatures could pose a serious threat to their four-legged buddy, resulting in an overheated body. Heatstroke or hyperthermia is a common heat-related issue in pets when their core body temperature rises above the normal. In this condition, the body is unable to release the excess heat generated, which poses a serious risk of heat injury to tissues. As a pet owner, you may want to make sure that your furry buddy stays hydrated all the time. It is a good idea to carry bottled water along whenever you step out with your furry pal.

Heatstroke: Factors, Causes, Signs

Factors

• Overheated conditions and inadequate drinking water
• A hot, humid environment without proper ventilation
• Excessive exercise and without enough cold water
• Inadequate shade

Heatstroke in pets could quickly become a life-threatening condition that could damage your pet’s internal organs and even turn fatal. This condition requires urgent medical attention.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

Some of the common signs of heatstroke in pets include:

• A sudden state of weakness
• Sudden increase in salivation
• Deep breathing
• Heavy panting
• Dry gums

Severe heat stress in pets could aggravate things and result in:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Bleeding
• Difficult or absent breathing efforts
• Seizures
• Coma
• Temperatures above 105
• Death

How To Prevent Heat Exhaustion in Pets

Make water accessible at all times

The best way to prevent the incidence of heat exhaustion in your furry friend is to ensure adequate and easy access to water. If your pet is with you while driving in the summertime, there is a high risk of heat stress. In that case, the best approach is to freeze water in a bottle and carry along. Make sure the frozen water is easy to access for your four-legged friend.

Better still to give it in small amounts as the ice melts. Remember, in a condition of heatstroke, your pooch or feline may not be able to stand up on their own, so it is equally important to keep the bottle in a holder so your pet can reach out to the water easily. Don’t forget to replace the top after each use.

Acclimatization

It is a good idea to create familiar conditions that could help them acclimatize to exercise on hot days slowly. This should help you identify signs of overheating in pets. It would also help to retreat to a ventilated spot if you start to spot the initial signs of heat stress.

Ice pack therapy

If ice packs are handy, it should help ease the symptoms of heatstroke in pets. Apply ice to areas where there is good circulation, such as neck, armpits, and inguinal region. This would help provide your furry buddy with some relief as first aid.

Comforting (if you see signs of over-heating)

Heat exhaustion in pets could overstress them. Blow air over them while trying to cool them off with ice and water. Immediately proceed to the vet as soon as you see her in a slightly better condition.

Ventilation

When it comes to finding a spot for your pet, always choose a cool, well-ventilated space. Avoid areas with hot sand and asphalt that reflect heat and could result in overheated conditions. Make sure there is easy access to shade. Many animals lose heat due to evaporative cooling. So it would help to pick a spot with good airflow for them.

Avoid overheated conditions

Do not leave your pet in a vehicle on a hot summer day.  A car could heat up quickly with the rise in temperatures and result in suffocating conditions for pets. This could cause heat stress in pets.

Avoid exercise

When temperatures soar, it is best to avoid exercising your furry buddy to prevent the risk of heat exhaustion!