DOGS - HOT WEATHER AND HEAT STRESS
Heat stress can be fatal to dogs. Days with high humidity will make the dog
pant, if heavy panting should last for an hour their throat will become swollen
and his air intake will be restricted.
If he gets to the point where the dog is making peculiar noises in their
throat: tongue off-colour; convulsions; refuses to drink water or lick ice, the
dog is in trouble and needs your immediate attention. Prolonged panting will produce thick froth or
foam. In this the dog does not have the
ability to vomit thus clearing their throat for better air intake. To clear the dog’s throat you can reach in
and pull out the thick mucus, or use lemon juice this cuts phlegm loose,
causing the dog to vomit. The number one priority is to cool the dog
down fairly rapidly. The head and
neck should be cooled down firstly, so that blood going to the brain is cooled,
in turn preventing brain damage and settling down respiration rate. Heat loss comes through places with minimal
hair such as the dog’s belly, anus, and paws.
The best way to cool all three areas at once, is to stand the dog in a
small belly-deep wading pool, try to make the dog to sit down in the water to
cool the anus or place their behind underneath a running tap. Some dogs prefer to lie down in the water;
this is why we suggest a small wading pool.
*Puppies are susceptible
to heat stress, as they like to run around and keep up with family members.*
PREVENTION
OF HEAT STRESS
Prevention as they say is better than a cure
- Always ensure that your dog has adequate shade
and fresh water. If the dog for some
reason has to be left in a confined area ensure that:
- Ventilation is more than adequate.
- Shade is available.
- When the weather is hot always leave a wet towel
or newspaper over part of the area where they are kept. Also if you freeze some water (in a large
dish) it can be left out for the dog to lick and it will gradually melt (You
can also put the ice block onto the towel for it to melt).
- Electrolyte salts can be help to prevent heat
stress. Bicarbonate of soda is the main
salt lost during heat stress. Half a
teaspoon of bicarb can be added to food to replace salts lost.
- If traveling in a car, always travel with plenty
of ice water. An esky with a towel in it
and a bag of ice. Ice for cooling water
and the towel is wet and cold for wiping over your dog.
- Never place the towel over the dogs back, when
suffering from heat stress, as heat rises and the towel will trap in the heat.
- Never allow puppies or dogs to run and play in
the heat of the day. When exercising in
summer, walks should be taken early in the morning or dusk as it starts to cool
down.
- It is a good practice to have ice cubes in the
freezer at all times in case of an emergency.
Once a dog has
suffered from heat stress, they are much more susceptible to heat.
- Ventilation is more than adequate.
- Shade is available.
