Protect Your Furry Friend from a Dog Heat Stroke

Usually, a dog heat stroke happens very fast and sometimes unexpectedly. Spending quality time with your dog on a hot summer day is loads of fun but potentially dangerous if it gets really hot. You have to keep your dog cool at all times.

I will help you quickly recognize dog heat stroke symptoms followed by some simple immediate cooling techniques that may save your dog’s life. There’s no reason you can’t have lotsa fun with your furry friend this summer while staying on the chill side.

What is a Dog Heat Stroke?

Like I mentioned a dog heat stroke can happen very suddenly, depending on your dog’s breed, age and physical condition. Generally speaking, puppies, older dogs, dogs with heavy long coats like German Shepherds, darker colored coats, dogs with special needs like lung or heart problems, certain breeds with short flat noses like pugs and Boston Terriers, overweight pooches and dogs that aren’t physically active are predisposed and at higher risk.

However, a perfectly fit adult dog may also be hit with sudden temperature stress.

Halle was born in late August. Being a “fall-winter baby” her 1st spring heat was rough on her little body. I remember taking her for a 20 minute walk in late April in 19 degrees Celsius and I honestly didn’t think we were gonna make it back home. She got so excited about the smells, greenery, buzzing insects and feeling the warmth of the sun that she sort of overdid it. Our walk was filled with a gazillion shade breaks and some very heavy panting and breathing. When we arrived home she managed to get to her water bowl and then just collapsed for the rest of the day. We covered her body in a wet blanket and her breathing returned to normal within just a couple of minutes. Few! What a scare! What a silly little girl! Luckily Halle’s condition wasn’t so severe that it demanded any serious emergency intervention, but that isn’t the case with all dogs.

Some suffer a whole lot before they receive any medical attention. Others don’t make it at all.

“Sometimes, Mom & Dad suddenly end my fun in the sun. For the record – I CAN play for hours if they let me. I’m kinda tough like that!” } Halle

If your dog is exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time and he can’t expel the heat fast enough, his body will go into heat stress and potentially develop a dog heat stroke. Dogs generally pant to release heat. However in the event of overheating, panting simply becomes insufficient and the dog then requires immediate external cooling interventions. As soon as your dog’s body temperature reaches over 104°F (40°C), brain damage and organ failure may become irreversible and your dog may go into a coma or a seizure. At 106°F (41°C) degrees Celsius his life may be in danger and the condition can be fatal.

Keys Signs of a Dog Heat Stroke

If you notice any of the following dog heat stroke symptoms, your dog may be experiencing a canine heat stroke. In that event, you must take rapid measures to reduce his body temperature very fast or it could become potentially lethal.

Here are the first common signs:

- Very Rapid Breathing and Panting.
- Excessive Salivation and/or Drooling.
- Confusion.
- Panic.
- Dehydration.
- Anxiety.
- Whining.
- Blank stares.
- Foaming at the mouth.
- Noisy Breathing.
- Hot Body especially the Nose, Belly and Feet Pads.
- Disorientation.
- Increased Heart Rate.
- Fever.

If your dog is experiencing any or all of the above symptoms plus any or all of the following you must be extra quick and vigilant because his life may be at risk:

- Exhaustion.
- Immobility.
- Non Responsive when called.
- Very Dark Red Tongue.
- Unconscious.
- Shock.
- Uncontrolled Tremors.
- Vomiting.
- Lethargic.
- Unable to Stand up.
- Diarrhea and/or Bloody Diarrhea.
- Dizziness.
- Physical Weakness.
- Wanting to Collapse.

Keep in mind that your dog may not exhibit all of the above symptoms at once and still suffer a dog heat stroke. Your job as a loving-compassionate owner is to be on top of your game and be aware of your dog’s condition at all times. Monitor your dog very closely, especially after any running and playing in hot weather.

Remember some dogs are more heat sensitive than others and they can physically exert themselves faster. Even something as simple as 2 or 3 fetch games can easily elevate their body temperatures. Be smart!

17 Cool Solutions & Summer Tips

The best solution to protect your furry friend from a dog heat stroke is through prevention. I’ve gathered up a nice list of summer tips that I want you to consider whenever you’re out and about playing with your dog on a fun hot day. Like I said earlier – be aware and present. If you feel that the sun is getting a little too hot and uncomfortable for yourself, than your pup is probably be feeling it too. Always be mindful of your dog on any hot day and keep him safe and chilly. Here are my 17 Solutions to keep your dog cool and happy:

Above is one of my previous dogs Kouba. A ‘goofy’ Golden Pup trying to sink his ball!

1. Dog walks and dog runs are best at dawn and dusk where the temperatures are a little cooler.

2. Become familiar with your dog’s regular breathing pattern on a typical day so that you can quickly recognize your dog breathing abnormally fast on a hot day. That way you can quickly give your dog some immediate cooling measures.

3. Always have a cold bottle of water handy with you at all times. A good trick we do is to have a few water bottles in the freezer so you can grab and go. By the time you arrive at your destination and pup wants a chiller you’re guaranteed to have some extra cold water. A travel dog bowl is also recommended.

4. Never, Never, Never leave your dog unattended in the car on any day, especially not on a HOT summer day. Whether you leave your windows a bit open or plan to return in just a couple of minutes, your dog might suffer some serious brain damage and even death. The temperatures in a car skyrocket to 113°F (45 °C) and up to 140°F (60 °C). Consider how extremely hot it gets inside your car whenever you park outside in hot weather. So hot that you immediately have to open windows and turn on the AC. Now, imagine your poor dog stuck inside that burning bubble!

5. Purchase one of those sturdy plastic kiddy pools. While you’re filling it up talk to your dog and entice him about how fun and exciting it’s going to be. Then maybe with some toys and treats invite him in the pool and make sure you have your video and picture cameras ready cause it’s going to be a super fun ‘Doggy Pool Party’!

6. On a HOT day, hose down your dog with the garden hose. Make sure you take baby steps with the hose so you don’t frighten your dog. Make it fun.

7. Always keep a stainless steel bowl or bucket filled with fresh water in the back yard.

8. Keep your dog indoors (bonus if you have an air conditioned space) on super hot days.

9. High heat is very dangerous but high heat coupled with high humidity is pure torture. You have to tune into the weather man and reserve fun outdoor activities for when the temperatures and humidity index drop to more comfortable summer conditions.

10. If you’re outside and you start to feel hot and sweaty chances are your dog is feeling it too. Take the appropriate measures and protect yourselves from the heat.

11. The shade is your best friend. If you plan on spending the day outdoors with your dog, find a nice spot that has a good-size shaded area and a nice refreshing breeze. The sun is the strongest midday anywhere between 10 am and 4 pm. Keep your pooch camouflaged during those hot times.

12. I highly recommend you do not let your dog drink from those public decorative fountains, except on rare occasions, as they probably contain chemicals to keep the water looking clean and crisp.

13. If you’re at a lake or a pond that allows people and dogs to bathe then give your dog a green light to jump in the water. If there’s no bathing permitted don’t let your dog go into the water for safety measures.

14. Slow down your pace on warmer days when taking your cutie for a walk. Better yet take small ‘pit stops’ for a few minutes to enjoy the air and to give everyone a breather. Stop walking for a longer period if you notice your dog purposely dragging you into the shade and then collapsing under it.

15. Do not play high-energy games like Chase, Flyball, Fetch or Frisbee out in the hot sun, under any circumstances. It’s way too physically draining and your dog will be exhausted and quite possibly suffer a dog heat stroke.

16. Another great idea is to offer your dog a frozen water bottle to snuggle with for an instant cool down. Not all dogs enjoy this technique so be patient with your pooch. Think of it as a cooling ice pack. Adjust the size of the frozen water bottle with the average length of your dog.

17.- There are plenty of cooling vests, hats, outfits, neck straps and such, that you can purchase, that help keep your dog chilled during the summer. We’ve never personally tried any of them but I know that they exist. You might want to give them a try.

Dog Heat Stroke 911

Depending on the length of high heat exposure your dog’s heat stroke can cause some serious harm, which ranges from brain damage to death.

Before we get into solutions and ways to prevent your dog overheating, here’s an overview of what to do in the event you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stress.

1. Don’t panic! Be calm and composed so that you don’t get your dog overly stressed out. Do the following in a very fast and confident manner and verbally communicate with your dog by giving him lot of praise, guidance and telling him nice things such as: “oh you’re such a champion!”, “you’re making me very proud!” or “you’re gonna get so much treats after all this!” Positive statements like that.

2. Immediately take your precious dog out of the scorching sun and into an openly shaded area. Preferably a cooler place that is well ventilated, better yet one, that has some air conditioning.

3. Locate a source of water; an outdoor hose, water fountain, pond, river, even a pool will do. Take a container and fill it up with water or wet a large towel or blanket. You can also bring your dog to the water source if you have no other options. Do not simply throw your dog into a pool or pond because he might go into shock which will further increase his internal body temperature – very counter productive. You must gently immerse him into the water source, very calmly.

4. The next step is to get your dog as wet as possible so his body temperature comes down as fast as possible all in a very calm fashion. You want your dog’s heat stroke to slowly dissipate. Do not forcefully give your dog any water down his throat. Place the wet towel over your dog’s body or run the cool water hose starting at the head all the way to the tail. Pay particular attention in getting the following areas super wet; head, neck, belly, under the front armpits, groin and legs. If you dog tries to move or get up you will have to hold him gently in place so that you can perform these emergency-cooling techniques. Keep watering your dog and massaging his body lightly until you feel his temperature has come down to normal. This may take a few minutes to even up to several hours and sometimes a couple of days depending on your dog’s situation. Do not over-cool your dog because it might cause hypothermia, which is another set of problems. Don’t over do it! Monitor your dog’s body temperature with a rectal thermometer.

5. Once your dog’s body temperature has come down to 102.2°F (39°C) or if you cannot bring down your dog’s body temperature fast, call and rush to your veterinarian’s office or animal hospital immediately. Your dog will require a full medical examination to make sure that he hasn’t suffered any internal permanent damages. He may also require hospitalization if you cannot bring his temperature down with the above cooling techniques. Stay on the safe side and always get your furry baby checked following a dog heat stroke.

Dog heat stress is a very serious condition that can cause severe permanent damage even death. It’s not a joke. It hurts, kills and destroys families.

We’ve personally seen a German Shepherd brought into the animal hospital on a stretcher looking completely dazed and confused with his owners walking behind him in complete panic. He was obviously suffering from a dog heat stroke. We found out later that evening that he didn’t survive. The family was torn to pieces. We were informed that their dog was just playing in the park on a hot sunny day before he collapsed.

This summer make sure you keep your pup from overheating with the cooling techniques you’ve just read. Prevention is your best bet when it comes to protecting your summer-happy dog. Remember the dog heat stroke symptoms so you can act quickly if they appear.

Have you ever had to deal with this? What caused it? Do you have any advice to share with us? The more we discuss the potential dangers of heat stroke the more dog lives we can save together.

Summer is an excellent time to enjoy the great outdoors with your best buddy. By staying hydrated and chilled you will guard your dog from the potential lethal heat stress that causes dog heat stroke.

Tagged as: Canine Heat Stroke, Dog Heat Stroke, Dog Heat Stroke Symptoms, Dog Overheating, Dogs Heat Stroke