Keep pets out of the heat | Pet Peeves
In the last few weeks, I have seen more than one pet owner walking his dog at lunchtime on a sunny day! Lunchtime is a terrible time to walk a dog in the summer. It is way too hot. Their feet will burn on the pavement or sand, and their fur will absorb the radiant heat of the sun.
Dogs do not sweat. They rely on panting to move air over the tongue, rapidly pulling air in and cooling the moist tissues of the mouth. The dog’s respiratory system — including the mouth, tongue, trachea and lungs — are its only air conditioner. When that air conditioner is battling midday temperatures, it just can’t keep up. But a dog cannot — and will not — tell you this. It will just keep going until it can’t go anymore.
Pet owners also should consider risk factors that are particular to their pet. Anything that impedes airflow will cause a dog to be prone to heat stroke. For instance, having a short, flat nose and face will reduce air flow, making breeds such as English bulldogs and pugs susceptible. Airway disease makes a dog more susceptible. Little dogs with collapsing trachea that cough and wheeze have a compromised airway. Older labrador retrievers can develop a condition called laryngeal paralysis that blocks air movement in the larynx, causing them to wheeze.
Very old dogs and arthritic dogs are at risk simply because they may walk out in the sunshine to enjoy the warmth and forget to move back into the shade. It only takes a few minutes for the hot sun to cause dangerous rises in a pet’s body temperature.
And then there is the tragedy of overheating in the car. Too often people leave their dog in the car, either by accident or pure ignorance. A chart originally published in the Journal of Pediatrics and reposted on the American Veterinary Medical Association website shows that when the temperature outside is 70 degrees it will take just 30 minutes for the interior temperature of a car to reach more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When outside temperatures are 85 degrees, the time required to reach more than 100 degrees inside a car drops to 10 minutes. We are seeing 85 degree and higher temperatures every day now that it is summer.
When a dog’s body overheats, the lining of the intestines is damaged, allowing bad bacteria to pass into the bloodstream and cause sepsis. High temperatures for any length of time cause brain damage. Even after the temperature of the body is returned to normal, the brain damage caused by the high temperatures is usually permanent. There is nothing sadder than getting a pet’s temperature back to normal but watching as the pet exhibits signs of irreversible brain damage such as seizures or coma.
If you do notice your dog panting very heavily, check his gums. If they are pale or purplish, if they feel dry or tacky, it could be heatstroke. If your dog lies down and won’t get up, he may be giving out from heatstroke. In this condition, dogs become unresponsive and won’t walk.
Wet his body down immediately with cool water and get a fan on his face if at all possible. Wet his tongue and paws. Put ice packs on his belly and forehead. Quickly transport him to your veterinarian. Time is of the essence. In the car on the way, blast your air conditioning and hold his face to the vent. Every little thing can help in the effort to cool him down. But the best thing you can do is not let your pet be a victim. Keep your pets out of this heat!
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Keep pets out of the heat | Pet Peeves
