Heat Stroke in Pets

Be watchful for the following Heat Stroke Symptoms in Dogs:

If your dog develops any of these symptoms, cool your dog down immediately and contact your local Vet:

• Excessive panting or drooling.
• 'Spaced out' look
• Loss of balance or drunken appearance

Remember:

• Brachycephalic dogs (ones with smushy faces) are more prone to getting heat stroke
• These breeds include Boxers/French Bulldogs/English bulldogs etc.

Avoid:

• Leaving your pet in the car as temperatures can rise rapidly even on cloudy days
• Exercising your dog in the sunshine. Walk them early in the morning or later in the evening
• Bring water with you and a towel for cooling them down

If you see signs:

• Cool your dog down immediately if you see any signs that they may have heatstroke
• Put your dog in the shower or bath with cool water or cover with a soaked towel
• A dog can die within 15 minutes of developing symptoms of heatstroke
• Please contact us if you think your dog has heatstroke or contact the Pet Emergency Hospital

Top Tips in Hot Weather

Caring for animals in hot weather is important. Please read the following important points to ensure that your pet is not in danger from the heat.

• All animals need a constant supply of fresh drinking water.

• Dogs have no sweat glands and can only lose heat by panting. Make sure they have plenty of water to help them cool down. Check and fill their water bowl regularly

• Don't exercise dogs in the heat of the day. First thing in the morning, late afternoon or evenings are the best times.

• Watch for warning signs. If your dog pants quickly, looks very tired or collapses, it could be suffering from heat stroke. Put it in a cool, shady spot and spray the back of its neck with cold water immediately. Contact a vet for further advice.

• Please remember never leave an animal alone in a car in warm or sunny weather, even in the shade or with the window partly opened, temperatures soon soar.

• If you have a rabbit or other small mammals in the garden, keep their living quarters in the shade. You could also cover the front of their living quarters with newspaper as they can heat up very quickly.

• All caged animals, even if they are indoors, should be kept out of direct sunlight. Keep an eye on aviaries or birdcages, which are close to a window.