Dear Miss Paws: I have a long-haired calico cat, and she is about 4 years old. Her name is Pumpkin and she is an outdoor cat. What are some of the signs of heat stroke/exhaustion in a cat? How can I tell when to bring her to the vet? We have had such hot and humid weather late, and I noticed that Pumpkin has been acting very quiet and sluggish. One day last week she cam over to me and cried, and then she vomited.
Pumpkin’s Mom A. A cat suffering from heatstroke will display several signs: rapid panting, bright red tongue, red or pale gums, thick sticky saliva, depression, weakness, dizziness, vomiting – sometimes with blood, diarrhea, shock, coma. A cat with moderate heatstroke (body temperature from 104º to 106º F) can recover within an hour if given prompt first aid and veterinary care. A temperature over that (up to 106º F) can be deadly and immediate veterinary assistance is needed. With moderate heatstroke, remove the cat from the hot area immediately and, prior to taking him to your vet, lower his temperature by wetting him thoroughly with lukewarm water and increasing air movement around him with a fan. CAUTION: Using very cold water and allowing his body temperature to become low can cause other life threatening medical conditions. The rectal temperature should be checked every 5 minutes. Once the body temperature is 103º F, the cooling measures should be stopped and the cat should be dried thoroughly so he does not continue to cool. Even if the cat appears to have recovered before you reach the veterinarian, he should still be examined. He may be dehydrated or have other complications. Allow free access to water or a rehydrating solution such as PediaLyte if the cat can drink on his own. Do not force feed cold water as the cat may inhale it or choke. A long haired cat should be allowed into a cool area, preferably in air conditioning, during the hottest part of the day. Even my “mostly” outdoor cats want in the house during the day and prefer to do their meandering after dark – or when the temperature gets down to about 75º.
|
