The dangers of dog heat stress

The onset of dog heat stress can be quite subtle and difficult to detect. Your dog may slowly progress from heat stress to heat exhaustion and finally heat stroke.

Dogs lose their body heat primarily through breathing, by the vaporisation of moisture in expired air. The common response in the dog to rising body temperatures is an increase in the rate of respiration.

Heatstroke can develop rapidly with exposure to high temperatures, humidity and poor ventilation. Symptoms include excessive panting. Panting involves rapid shallow breathing that causes evaporation of fluid on the tongue. Dogs have a rich blood supply in their tongues. Commonly observed signs of heat stress are profuse sweating, rapid breathing rate and rapid heart rate.

Other heat related problems are, staring or anxious expression, laboured breathing, failure to respond to commands, bright red gums, warm dry skin, extremely high temperature, dehydration, rapid heartbeat, fatigue leading to collapse and even unconsciousness.

In the pug nosed breeds the air passages that cool the air in the nose are too short to allow for proper temperature changes, resulting in breathing problems and extra stress on the body in extreme heat conditions. In the larger, active breeds the dogs simply don't realize that they are overheating until it is too late and they have begun to have problems in functioning.

Signs to watch for early heat stress include stopping to sit or lie down during exercise sessions, excessive heavy panting, and inability to catch his breath for more than 5 minutes after stopping and cooling. If your dog tries to stop, it's usually best to let him as he is probably being pushed beyond his capacity. Your dog cannot cool itself off if it is constantly breathing in hot air; likewise, drinking warm water may do it more danger than good.

As the heat stroke progresses, the panting becomes excessive and laboured with the dog showing an inability to breathe properly. The dog usually drools excessively and may vomit.

Death will follow soon without immediate medical care. There is no time to waste when you find your dog in this position. If his temperature reaches 106 F, he is in danger of brain damage, vital organ failure and death. At this temperature, the dog can no longer cope with reducing his body heat and the oxygen demand goes up to where the dog can not keep up, and his temperature continues to rise. Reducing body temp quickly is imperative.

If your pet does become overheated, you need to immediately lower his body temperature. It is important to get your dog out of the heat as soon as possible, move your pet into the shade or air-conditioned area and apply cool (not cold) water over his body, apply cool towels to its head, neck and chest; and let it drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes, to gradually lower his core body temperature. If available, apply ice to your dog's head and, if there are no improvements, contact your veterinarian.

An animal with heat stroke must have its body temperature reduced quickly. It only takes five minutes for heat stroke to happen. If a dog's brain heats up to about 108 degrees, you only have a few precious minutes to lower the temperature and restore oxygen to the brain.

Vet treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage. Even with emergency treatment, heat stroke can be fatal.

If housed in a kennel insure that there is adequate ventilation, or air movement. Avoid exercise in hot weather. If your dog tries to stop, allow the dog to have little breaks. It's usually best to let him stop as he is probably being pushed beyond his capacity. Leave plenty of water around for dogs to drink from. One big bowl of water may not be enough, especially for large dogs who have a tendency to put their paws in the water or flip it over. Leave a fan over the dog to stir the air. If using a fan with puppies make sure the fan is pointing over them and not on them.

Never go running with your dog after it has been fed and restrict their outdoor activities to the cool hours of early morning or late evening. Avoid excessive exercise of your dog during hot days or warm, humid nights.The best time to exercise your dog is either early in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening after the sun goes down. Avoid exercising your dog in unusually hot or humid conditions especially at the start of summer. Most heat stroke cases are seen at the start of summer.

There is a special kind of breed, not found just anywhere, for sure not in a pet store, nor a puppy mill's dark lair.

At shows, this breed is legion. Its gait is quite a strut. Its locks are full of chalk and spray, great withers, flanks and butt.

For one exception, it would, always win the class, its confirmation has a flaw, a heart too big, yet as
the competitions finish, it's left standing at the end. This breed's the Lord's protector of His creation, man's best friend.

This is the night before Christmas and all through the town, every shelter is full, we are lost but not found. Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare, we hope every minute that someone will care. They'll come to adopt us and give us the call, "come here, Max and Sparkie ~ come fetch your new ball!" But now we sit here and think of the days.....we were treated so fondly, we had baby ways.

Once we were little, then we grew and we grew, now we're no longer young, and
we're no longer new. So out the back door we were thrown like trash, they reacted so quickly, why were they so rash? We "jump on the children", "don't come when they call", we "bark when they leave us", "climb over the wall". We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed, now we suffer the consequence of the error they made. If only they'd trained us, if only we knew..... we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too.

We were left in the back yard, or worse, left to roam....now we're tired and lonely and out of a home. They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye....
"Maybe someone else will give you a try". So now here we are, all confused and alone........in a shelter with others who long for a home. The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat, with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat.

They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer....we know that they wonder how long we'll be here. We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads....
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds. Then we wake to see sad eyes,
brimming with tears ~our friends filled with emptiness, worry and fear. If you can't adopt us and there's no room at your inn, could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?

We count on your kindness each day of the year, can you give more than hope to
everyone here? Please make a donation to pay for the heat......and help us get
something special to eat. The shelter that cares for us wants us to live, and more or all will, if more people give.

He's with me 24 hours a day and never a word is able to say. But he can say more with a look or two, such as I Love You, My Whole World Is You! As I do my chores thoughout the day, he's by my side, every step of the way. When I stop to eat, you can bet he's there, sitting of course, in his favorite chair.

And if some night I decide to go out, he'll hang his head, and kinda pout. He sits by the window, until I come home. Sits there and waits so patiently, hoping to catch a glimpse of me, he can't wait till I put the key in the door. He's barking and jumping, and barking some more. Then as I lay me down to sleep, he's there by my side, his vigil to keep. And I thank the Lord, in the heaven above. For My Best Friend, My Dog and His Love!

They will not go quietly, the dogs who have shared our lives. In subtle ways they let us know their spirit still survives. Old habits still make us think we hear a barking at the door. Or step back when we drop a tasty morsel on the floor.

Our feet still go around the place the food dish used to be, and, sometimes, coming home at night, we miss them terribly.

And although time may bring new friends and a new food dish to fill,that one place in our hearts belongs to them...and always will."