How do you know if your dog is hot?
It's summertime!
In case you hadn't noticed, it's summertime! While the weather this time of year allows for lots of outdoor events, camping, etc., it comes with a few downsides. One of these, high temperatures, can affect your dog pretty severely if you're not ready for it. The heat of summer can present a risk of heatstroke to your dog.
Heatstroke can be a life-threatening situation. The good news is that it doesn't just happen. You have plenty of warning for when the conditions are going to be dangerously hot for your dog. In addition, should your dog start to overheat, many signs will alert you to take some action if you're paying attention. Do you know what to look for?
Signs your dog is too hot
If you've been around dogs much, you're probably aware of at least some of these. Just in case, let's review.
Panting is often the first thing you might notice when your dog is overheated. Chances are that you've seen your dog do it from time to time. Panting is one of the ways your dog can try to cool off since evaporation of fluids from the mouth helps decrease the temperature by a few degrees.
As your dog gets more overheated, you could see them drool more than usual. They could also become a bit short of breath. Extreme thirst will show up as your dog pants and drools, so offering plenty of water is important. If you catch your dog in these early stages, you have an excellent chance of preventing injury from heatstroke by getting them cooled down.
Progressing from overheating to heatstroke
As your dog gets into more dangerous territory, you'll see additional signs and symptoms appear. These are the ones that mean you have an emergency developing. Watch out for
- Gums that are bright or dark red, if your dog normally has pink gums. If they have dark gums, you can still see a change, but it might not be as obvious.
- Elevated body temperature. You might not be able to feel it with your hand, but a rectal thermometer can show you if your dog's temp is too high. For a normal dog, that range is 101 to 102.5 degrees.
- As your dog's body tries to bring things back into balance, you'll see an increased pulse and heart rate. Normal for a small dog is 100-140, while a large dog might be 60-100.
- As things get worse, you'll see disorientation, stumbling, or weakness since your dog's body is having a harder time trying to maintain normal.
- Vomiting starts as your dog gets into big trouble. Systems start shutting down, and organ damage can happen when your dog is experiencing heatstroke.
The further down this list your dog goes, the more serious is their condition. You need to get your dog to an emergency vet as soon as possible.
What you can do to prevent your dog from overheating or experiencing heatstroke.
There are several steps you can take to keep your dog safe. First, be aware of expected weather conditions. If it's going to be hot, plan accordingly by staying inside during the hottest part of the day. Offering plenty of drinking water can help keep your dog cooled off and out of danger too.
Just knowing what to watch for can make a difference. If you know what's normal for your dog, you're more likely to notice when something that's not normal shows up. If you see the signs of your dog overheating, you can get them cooled off before they get into trouble.
If you will need to be outside during the heat of the day, plan ways to keep your dog cool, such as a kiddie pool to splash in or a cool coat to help keep them cool. I can help with the cool coat; if you're interested. Made by De has custom dog cool coats made of synthetic chamois. To cool your dog, just soak it in water, wring out the extra, and put it on your dog. Whatever you use to keep your dog safe, just do it. Heatstroke is preventable.
For more about your dog overheating or suffering from heatstroke, read this post.
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