Heat Stroke Isn’t Cool

Your dog can't tell you when he's too hot, but if you see him panting heavily, drooling or unable to walk, he may very well be suffering from heat stroke.

Many senior dogs, large dogs, and flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds have compromised airways, making them prime candidates for heat stroke. People cool off by sweating. Dogs cool off by panting, and any deformity in the airway, such as the foreshortened muzzle or a weakening of the opening of the trachea (laryngeal paralysis) seen in many breeds, can hinder this process.

What to do: A common misconception is that you should drench the dog in cold water right away. This is exactly what NOT to do. A rapid decrease in body temperature can potentially cause life-threatening shock. Instead, your mission is to mimic evaporative cooling or “sweating.” Using a towel soaked in warm water, douse your dog’s body parts that have the least amount of fur: the belly, the inside of the ear flaps, the paw pads and the “armpits.” Afterwards, you can place him in front of a fan. However, even if he seems to be bouncing back, head straight to the vet for a complete examination. He may have suffered internal damage, which can be fatal if not detected. (To find a veterinary hospital in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, use the AAHA Hospital Locator at aaha.org. Simply key in your zip or postal code and a list of accredited hospitals will pop up.)

To avoid heat stroke, exercise your dog in the cooler parts of the day and for short periods of time. And never leave your dog alone in a car. The temperature inside can be 40 degrees hotter than it is outside!

I was having so much fun… ‘til the heat got the best of me.