Heat stroke is very serious. So much so that this excessive rise in body temperature can cause irreparable damage to the body and even death . It is dangerous for both people and dogs and cats. In fact, it can be even more deadly for these pets because, unlike us, they don’t sweat . Understanding the seriousness of the matter, let’s see what the symptoms of heat stroke are, how we should act so that it does not go to more and what we will do to prevent it.
Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs
To know if our dog is suffering from heat stroke, these are the symptoms that we must take into account:
- His body temperature is above 40 degrees and he is neither sick nor has a fever.
- He is panting very fast and intensely.
- You are weak , to the point of not being able to move or even pass out.
- His gums are blue . This is due to a lack of oxygen.
- You have spasms or tremors.
What to do if the dog gets heatstroke?
If this situation occurs, the priority is to act quickly. These are the emergency measures:
- We will take you to the coolest place we have access to.
- We will pour water all over the body , especially on the head, belly and armpits. We can apply ice cubes, but without leaving them in the same area for a long time.
- We will give you fresh water to drink , but not ice cold. If the dog cannot move, give it with your hands or with a syringe. It is important to give him water, but not a large amount.
- Take him to the vet to have him examined to make sure he has no internal damage.
How to prevent your dog from suffering from heat stroke
- The animal must always have fresh water at its disposal. Therefore, make sure that the trough is in the shade.
- Avoid walks in the middle of the day. If you have to go out to relieve yourself, take him out, but only for that and back home. The long walk should not be done at that time.
- Do not let him be in the sun for a long time. It is possible that it goes out to sunbathe to synthesize vitamin D, but we must be vigilant and move it soon.
- Wet it , with a hose, dog pool …
- Do not leave the dog in the car , neither for a quick brief or with the air on, it does not cool them as much as we do. A car in the sun can heat up to 80 degrees …
- Do not leave the dog out of the house. Midday hours are very dangerous and if humidity is added to the heat, the risks of heat stroke increase.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Cats
- His body temperature exceeds 42 degrees .
- Gasp.
- Your tongue or gums turn blue . Again, this is a sign of a lack of oxygen.
- He is weak and does not move .
- It trembles and staggers.
- It generates a lot of saliva and you may vomit.
- Your heart rate is high.
- You have trouble breathing .
What to do if the cat gets heatstroke?
In the same way that we would do if a dog suffers a heat stroke, with the cat we will act with haste. It is important to put your nerves aside and execute.
- Take the cat to a cool place . You can even put the air conditioning or a fan on low power. It is important that the change is not abrupt, that you do not drop your temperature suddenly but gradually to avoid hypothermia.
- Refresh it with a cloth dipped in cool water. Wipe it over your head, neck, chest, legs, and belly. Do not use a whole towel, but cloths, rags or gauze.
- Dampen his mouth with water , but don’t force him to drink.
- Put it under running water . Of course, this should not be very cold and the water should come out at low power, never full.
- Take him to the vet clinic to rule out possible internal damage.
How to prevent your cat from suffering from heat stroke
- In summer, the cat must be able to access a cool and shady area .
- Of course, you should always have fresh water available . You can have several drinking fountains at home or even a cat water fountain.
- Feed him in the coolest hours of the day.
- Never leave it in the car , no matter how shortly it is.
- If the cat is long-haired, a haircut may be useful.
- Don’t let it be in the sun.
