Another New York Hot Dog Alert: The temp is climbing again and now the humidity is also a factor. And so I'm writing again to caution everyone to be extremely cautious with their pets.
Please see my earlier post here about the Dog Days Of Summer.
Under no circumstances should we leave a pet (or baby) unattended in a car--even with the motor and air conditioning running--for any period of time. PERIOD. This is tantamount to putting a single bullet in a revolver, pointing it at your dog, and playing Russian roulette with his life. Just don't do it. I won't alarm you with all the horror stories--they're out there. This is fact, not fiction.
Remember: dogs cannot cool themselves down. They pant to try to cool off, but, when the air is hot and humid too, no amount of panting will help because they are pulling deadly hot air in, not cooling breezes evaporating across their tongues. Do not put your dog in this circumstance. Keep him cool and keep him from over-exerting in the heat. (I'm still seeing idiots running on the bridal path with dogs about to trip over their own tongues.)
If your dog experiences over-heating, you must cool him (soak him wet and let the water evaporate in cool breezes) and transport him to a veterinarian for further treatment. Sometimes, just cooling off isn't enough to save the pet's life.
The following article is from this website. It explains what further steps may be taken by a veterinarian to save your pet's life and why you may be better off rushing to a full-service veterinary emergency hospital.
...I would like to re-emphasize a couple points. Keep in mind, working in an emergency practice, this is one of the summer things we see very frequently. There are common mistakes we see over and again, mistakes that cost dogs their lives.
First, keep in mind that panting very heavily is not the only sign. If you notice your dog becomes wobbly, or lies down and will not get back up along with the panting, chances are there is a problem with internal temperature.
If you have a way to rapidly check the temperature (digital thermometer), it can be extremely important information. If not, that is not something to fuss over.
Definitely begin cooling the dog, if you have the means. Wet down the coat thoroughly. Indeed you do not want to over cool the dog........that is just as detrimental as the high temperature.
When a dog overheats, the circulatory system goes into shock. Circulation changes to preserve the most vital organs, in an attempt to cool and save them. Circulation is rapidly compromised to the stomach and intestines, even with a milder case of heat stroke. When there is a lack of circulation to the GI tract, it begins to die. The first thing to die is the intestinal lining.......heat stroke dogs develop bloody diarrhea due to this (we see intestinal lining in the diarrhea, literally). When the lining is compromised or lost, bacteria and toxins are rapidly absorbed, causing sepsis.
Also, clotting factors are destroyed with heat stroke, if severe enough or prolonged. This results in bleeding problems, and you will begin to see bruising on the skin or mucous membranes.....eventually, if bad enough, it leads to DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation (we also term that DIC = Dead In Cage.....there is little that can be done for these dogs).
So, after you start to cool the dog, drive quickly to the nearest vet.
IV fluids should be POURED into the dog (we generally use both crystalloid and colloid to prevent the fluids from seeping out of the circulation and resulting in edema in the tissues), rapidly at first to restore circulation. Broad spectrum antibiotics and GI protectants should be started, and bloodwork should also be started once IVs and meds are on board. Clotting factors should be analyzed.
I would suggest if the veterinarian you are working with does not have all the equipment to do in house labs, and does not have fluids other than Lactated Ringers, or similar, and has not dealt with alot of heat stroke, AFTER initial stabilization (improving circulation, stabilizing the temperature without overcooling, initial meds, etc), it may be good to consider referral to a facility that can continue stabilization.
I would always emphasize that if you notice possible signs, seek medical attention for your dog!!!!! Waiting, thinking all is okay can complicate things.......the dog may get beyond the point of help. And yes, I have seen this far too many times. One very good example was a springer spaniel. Outside playing, came in and seemed wobbly and tired to the owner. They let it lie down, gave him water, etc. HOURS later, he was not moving, had vomited. They brought him in 5-6 hours after they first noticed he was wobbly. We treated very aggressively, but he developed bloody diarrhea, and was having clotting problems. He was euthanized at the daytime clinic later the next day. Keep in mind, his symptoms were not that bad initially.......
All in all, be very careful!!!
And keep in mind that 75 degrees can sometimes be too hot for a dog to be playing (that seems especially true of Labs, who are more susceptible to heat stroke...but that is a different story).
First, keep in mind that panting very heavily is not the only sign. If you notice your dog becomes wobbly, or lies down and will not get back up along with the panting, chances are there is a problem with internal temperature.
If you have a way to rapidly check the temperature (digital thermometer), it can be extremely important information. If not, that is not something to fuss over.
Definitely begin cooling the dog, if you have the means. Wet down the coat thoroughly. Indeed you do not want to over cool the dog........that is just as detrimental as the high temperature.
When a dog overheats, the circulatory system goes into shock. Circulation changes to preserve the most vital organs, in an attempt to cool and save them. Circulation is rapidly compromised to the stomach and intestines, even with a milder case of heat stroke. When there is a lack of circulation to the GI tract, it begins to die. The first thing to die is the intestinal lining.......heat stroke dogs develop bloody diarrhea due to this (we see intestinal lining in the diarrhea, literally). When the lining is compromised or lost, bacteria and toxins are rapidly absorbed, causing sepsis.
Also, clotting factors are destroyed with heat stroke, if severe enough or prolonged. This results in bleeding problems, and you will begin to see bruising on the skin or mucous membranes.....eventually, if bad enough, it leads to DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation (we also term that DIC = Dead In Cage.....there is little that can be done for these dogs).
So, after you start to cool the dog, drive quickly to the nearest vet.
IV fluids should be POURED into the dog (we generally use both crystalloid and colloid to prevent the fluids from seeping out of the circulation and resulting in edema in the tissues), rapidly at first to restore circulation. Broad spectrum antibiotics and GI protectants should be started, and bloodwork should also be started once IVs and meds are on board. Clotting factors should be analyzed.
I would suggest if the veterinarian you are working with does not have all the equipment to do in house labs, and does not have fluids other than Lactated Ringers, or similar, and has not dealt with alot of heat stroke, AFTER initial stabilization (improving circulation, stabilizing the temperature without overcooling, initial meds, etc), it may be good to consider referral to a facility that can continue stabilization.
I would always emphasize that if you notice possible signs, seek medical attention for your dog!!!!! Waiting, thinking all is okay can complicate things.......the dog may get beyond the point of help. And yes, I have seen this far too many times. One very good example was a springer spaniel. Outside playing, came in and seemed wobbly and tired to the owner. They let it lie down, gave him water, etc. HOURS later, he was not moving, had vomited. They brought him in 5-6 hours after they first noticed he was wobbly. We treated very aggressively, but he developed bloody diarrhea, and was having clotting problems. He was euthanized at the daytime clinic later the next day. Keep in mind, his symptoms were not that bad initially.......
All in all, be very careful!!!
And keep in mind that 75 degrees can sometimes be too hot for a dog to be playing (that seems especially true of Labs, who are more susceptible to heat stroke...but that is a different story).
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