If you think you get hot in the summer, think how it must feel to go through the hotter months wearing a fur coat. Heat stroke is a major concern in the spring and summer. Here are a few recommendations to prevent heat stroke:

1. Make sure your pet always has access to shade.
2. Make sure your pet always has access to plenty of cool drinking water.
3. Exercise in the early morning or evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
4. Never leave your unattended pet in the car.
5. Dogs are more susceptible to heat than humans. Therefore, if you are feeling parched and tired, your dog is even worse off.

The signs of heat stroke are excessive panting and lethargy in both dogs and cats.

At our hospital the most common causes of heat stroke we see are going for a run in the middle of the day, and leaving a pet in the car. However, a pet left in the yard without any shade on a hot day is also quite susceptible.

If you think your pet has heat stroke, use cool water (NOT ice water) to hose him down completely, and get your pet into the shade. Then call your vet.

If you are able to take your pet’s rectal temperature, do so. Any body temperature over 102.6 is considered a fever. Any body temperature over 105.0 can cause metabolic and brain damage. Being able to relay your pet’s temperature to the veterinarian will help him decide if your pet needs medical attention. If your veterinarian decides that going into the hospital is not necessary, it is a good idea to take your pet’s temperature every half hour to make sure it is remains in the normal range, 99.8 to 102.6.

Excessive heat can cause metabolic changes in your pet that can lead to death if not caught early enough. As is usual, we advocate that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Authored by: The VIN emergency medicine folder staff

Body temperature may be elevated because of an infection (fever), but it may also increase because of hot and/or humid conditions outside.  An increased body temperature caused by environmental conditions is commonly referred to as hyperthermia, heatstroke, and heat prostration. 

Hyperthermia may be a life-threatening condition, and does require immediate treatment.  A dog’s normal body temperature is 101.5°F plus or minus 1 degree Fahrenheit, and any time the body temperature is higher than 105°F, a true emergency exists.  Heatstroke generally occurs in hot summer weather when dogs are left with inadequate ventilation in hot vehicles.  However, heatstroke may also occur in other conditions, including:

1. When an animal is left outdoors in hot/humid conditions without adequate shade.
2. When exercised in hot/humid weather.  
3. When left in a car on a relatively cool (70°F) day; a recent study from Stanford University Medical Center found the temperature within a vehicle may increase by an average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit within one (!) hour regardless of outside temperature. 

Other predisposing factors may be obesity and/or diseases affecting a pet’s airway.  Keep in mind that prolonged seizures, eclampsia (milk fever), poisonings, and many other conditions may cause hyperthermia.  Also, brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds (Pekingese, Pug, Lhasa apso, Boston terrier, etc.) may suffer from ineffectual panter syndrome that results in an increased body temperature that may be fatal.

Initially the pet appears distressed, and will pant excessively and become restless.  As the hyperthermia progresses, the pet may drool large amounts of saliva from the nose and/or mouth.  The pet may become unsteady on his feet.  You may notice the gums turning blue/purple or bright red in color, which is due to inadequate oxygen.

What to Do

• Remove your pet from the environment where the hyperthermia occurred. 
• Move your pet to shaded and cool environment, and direct a fan on her. 
• If possible, determine rectal temperature and record it.
• Begin to cool the body by placing cool, wet towels over the back of the neck, in the armpits, and in the groin region.  You may also wet the ear flaps and paws with cool water.  Directing a fan on these wetted areas will help to speed evaporative cooling.  Transport to the closest veterinary facility immediately.

What NOT to Do

• Do not use cold water or ice for cooling. 
• Do not overcool the pet.
• Most pets with hyperthermia have body temperatures greater than 105°F, and a reasonable goal of cooling is to reduce your pet’s body temperature to 102.5-103°F while transporting her to the closest veterinary facility. 
• Do not attempt to force water into your pet’s mouth, but you may have fresh cool water ready to offer should your pet be alert and show an interest in drinking.
• Do not leave your pet unattended for any length of time.

Rapidly cooling the pet is extremely important. While ice or cold water may seem logical, its use is not advised. Cooling the innermost structures of the body will actually be delayed, as ice or cold water will cause superficial blood vessels to shrink, effectively forming an insulating layer of tissue to hold the heat inside. Tap water is more suitable for effective cooling.

Severe hyperthermia is a disease that affects nearly every system in the body. Simply lowering the body temperature fails to address the potentially catastrophic events that often accompany this disorder. A pet suffering from hyperthermia should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Date Published: 12/31/1994
Date Reviewed/Revised: 08/17/2009

Prevent Heat Stroke in Dogs

Spring and Summer are great times for pets to enjoy the outdoors. Taking a few precautions will help ensure your pet does not become overheated.

We are all familiar with not leaving a dog in the car due to heat exposure, but there are other considerations to prevent your pet from succumbing to heat stroke too. Make sure your pet always has ready access to shade. Your pet will drink more in hot weather, so it may be time to put out two water bowls, or one larger one.

On hot days, refrain from taking your dog on long hikes or runs in the middle of the day. Try to get your run in early, and keep an eye on your pet. If he is panting so hard that his tongue is hanging out of his mouth, he may be over-heated. Put your pet in the shade and offer small, frequent sips of cool water. Wet-down your pet in cool, not cold, water to cool him down.

If you are really concerned that your pet is overheated,  or he has not stopped panting within ten minutes of getting him in the shade and bathing him, you should take his temperature (rectally). If the temperature is over 103.5 you should give us a call. If you can’t take the temperature or you don’t want to take it, we can take the temperature for you. Just give us a call and let us know you are on your way.