Dear Miss Paws: The weather has turned warm quickly. Can you give pet owners some advice on keeping their pets safe from heat stroke in high temperatures? A. Yes, hot weather has arrived before warm weather even had a chance. As always, the biggest danger to pets in hot weather is being left alone in a vehicle. It only takes a few minutes for the internal heat to increase 40 degrees above the outside air temperature – especially in direct sunlight. Even a dog’s own body heat will act like a heater inside of an enclosed space. The exhaled air in the dog’s breath is 102 degrees and has 100% humidity. Pets left in cars are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to being able to dissipate heat from their bodies. Dogs need to inhale air cooler than their normal body temperature of 102 degrees. Even 80 degree air can be dangerous. Heat stroke is a dire emergency and one from which many pets do not recover. If you ever find your pet distressed from overheating in a vehicle, get to the nearest animal hospital immediately! Don’t even call first --- just GO! If you are at home when this happens, take the pet’s temperature rectally if possible. A body temperature of about 105 degrees or higher is probable evidence for heat stroke. Put your pet in a tub of cool running water or spray with a hose being sure the cool water contacts the skin and doesn’t just run off the coat. Thoroughly wet the belly and inside the legs. Run the cool water over the tongue and mouth. A rectal temperature will also let you know when to stop cooling. A safe temperature is about 103 degrees with a small dog cooling down much faster than a large dog. Once at 103 degrees, do not cool the pet any further because the cooling effects will continue to lower the temperature even further. Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible. Factors that increase an animal’s risk of developing heat stroke include: | water deprivation | exercise | | enclosed space | age | | excessive humidity | cardiovascular disease | | obesity | lack of acclimatization |
Short faced dogs such as boxers, Pekingese, pugs and dogs with heavy coats are also at greater risk than some other breeds. Also age, heart trouble and physical condition all contribute to a lesser efficiency in dissipating heat buildup in the body. The safest place for your pet in hot weather is at home in air conditioning or outside in the shade with plenty of cool water to drink. Taking your pet out and about in hot weather is not a recipe for his comfort. Leave him home for his comfort and your peace of mind.
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