Summertime Tips – Pet Overheating
June 1st, 2009 — adminWith the summer upon us, we want to provide you with information on how to prevent certain problems.
All pets, especially dogs and rabbits, are susceptible to overheating. Several dog breeds, which include flat-faced dogs like bulldogs and pugs, heavily pigmented dogs, overweight, older, and thickly hair coated dogs are especially susceptible to the effects of heat.
Be especially careful when your pet is in your car. On a hot summer day, the inside of a car in direct sun can heat up very quickly! On an average 85 degrees Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside your car, with the window slightly rolled down, can reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit in approximately 10 minutes. In less than 30 minutes, the temperature can rise to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. On warmer days it will go even higher.
A dog’s normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. A dog can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 for only a very short period of time before suffering irreparable brain damage, or even death. The closed car interferes with the dog’s normal cooling process, that is, evaporation through panting, and sweating through the pads on their feet.
If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, you can give immediate first aid by placing the pet in cool water until the body temperature is lowered, along with immediate veterinary attention.
One of the ways to prevent your dog from overheating is to take your dog for its walk early and late in the day when it is cool. Keep fresh water available at all times. Keep your dog indoors during the hottest part of the day. If it needs to be outside, provide shade and plenty of water. Apply sunscreen to the nose of dogs with light pigmentation.
