Warm weather, especially in the summer when daylight lasts longer, may seem like the perfect time to enjoy outdoor adventures with your four-legged best friend. But dogs aren’t built to regulate their temperature as efficiently as humans.
So, as we enjoy the dog days of summer, your dog’s risk for heatstroke rises with the temperature — dogs can overheat very rapidly, and the consequences can be deadly.
Our furries have very few sweat glands, which are located in their paw pads, but they not sufficient to cool them down. Instead, dogs’ primary method of self-cooling is by panting. Heavy panting causes the moisture from their tongue, mouth, nasal passages, and the lining of the lungs to evaporate, dispelling heat as water vapor.
Despite this, dogs are still prone to overheating when their cooling mechanism is overwhelmed. The most common cause of heatstroke in dogs is leaving them in an unventilated car or without shade. Other factors include a high environmental temperature, high humidity, lack of water, time spent in the sun, physical exertion, and breed.
Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition. A normal temperature for a dog is between 100.2° and 102.8° fahrenheit. When their temperature rises above 104°, they are in danger. Dogs with temperatures between 104° to 106° F, considered moderate heatstroke, can recover if treated promptly. Temperatures above 106° can be fatal if not treated immediately. When the temperature reaches 109°, the organs begin to shut down.
Unfortunately, even if the temperature doesn’t feel hot to us, it takes only a few minutes for a dog to overheat.
That means you must be able to readily identify the signs of overheating. “Signs of heatstroke start with hard panting,” says veterinarian Tanya Lopez of DC Ranch Animal Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. “Eventually their mucous membranes (gums, tongue and inside of the lips) turn redder and redder. They may even start to salivate excessively. As heatstroke progresses, the pet becomes weak, lethargic and begins to vomit or have diarrhea. With time, the brain becomes affected, leading to seizures.”
These are the signs that indicate your dog is suffering from heatstroke:
- Heavy, often frantic panting
- Red or pale gums
- Excessive drooling
- Bright red tongue
- Thick, sticky saliva
- Lack of coordination
- Glazed eyes
- Muscle tremors
Dogs Most Prone to Heatstroke
Some dogs and dog breeds are more susceptible to heatstroke than others, says Dr. Lopez. These include brachycephalic breeds, which are dogs with short snouts, such as Bulldogs and French Bulldogs.
“Dogs get rid of their body heat through their trachea (windpipe) and mouth when breathing. Brachycephalic breeds have shorter airways, more narrow airways and smaller openings to their airway making their heat releasing capabilities limited,” says Dr. Lopez.
While any dog can develop heat exhaustion and heatstroke, these breeds are most at risk:
Akita: This cold weather breed is high energy and has an extremely thick coat, qualities that make them prone to overheating in warm weather. While not considered brachiocephalic, they do have shorter snouts.
Alaskan Malamute: Bred to handle the arctic cold, they have a thick, double coat that can make heat unbearable and lead to heatstroke.
Boston Terriers: A brachiocephalic dog, they have very small nostrils and narrow tracheas, which makes it harder to breathe in hot conditions.
Boxers: Another brachiocephalic breed with a flat face, these large dogs are high energy and require larger amounts of water to stay hydrated and cool.
Bullmastiff: Super-sized and brachiocephalic spells trouble in high temperatures. Avoid exercise in hot weather.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: A brachiocephalic angel, their short nose and long coat makes them prone to overheating.
Chow Chow: This breed is known for a tremendously thick coat. Coupled with a short nose, they are susceptible to heatstroke. However, do not shave this breed; it will only make them hotter and ruin the quality of their coat.
English Bulldog: This breed is the archetype of the brachiocephalic dog, known for breathing problems in general. (Have you ever heard a bulldog snore?) They are also prone to obesity (and laziness), which adds to their risk factor.
French Bulldog: Another brachiocephalic snorter, they are also high energy, which makes it even harder for them to oxygenate their blood.
French Mastiff: Also known as the Dogues de Bordeaux, their short snouts and heavy bodies make them prone to severe overheating.
Lhasa Apso. With a long, heavy outer coat, insulating undercoat, and shortened snout, this breed is at risk for heatstroke.
Pekingese: Not only is this breed brachiocephalic, but with a very heavy coat and a tendency toward chunkiness, they are less efficient at regulating their body temperature. Keep out of direct sun.
Pug: With their flat, smushy faces and extremely short noses, they have trouble breathing sometimes in the best of circumstances. They are also close to the ground where the heat radiates upward. Pugs with black coats that trap the heat have an even harder time regulating body temperature.
Saint Bernard: Their large frame and dense coat make them prone to heatstroke.
Shih Tzu: With their short noses and long, thick hair, this breed is prone to heatstroke. Don’t shave, but clip shorter in the summer to help them stay cool.
Siberian Husky: The name says it all: huskies are designed for cold weather. A dense double coat makes this breed vulnerable to overheating.
Generally, senior dogs and dogs that are overweight are more also susceptible to overheating. So are dogs with thick, double coats, all brachiocephalic breeds, and any dog with respiratory disease.
Prevention and First Aid for Dog Heatstroke
When the temperature rises above 90 degrees, Dr. Lopez does not recommend any exercise outside during the day, even for breeds that are healthy and not brachiocephalic. “Walks and play should be limited to the time prior to and including sunrise and after sunset,” she says.
However, flat face breeds require extra caution, she says. “I recommend avoiding any outdoor activity in temperatures above 80 degrees.”
If you are spending time outdoors, always provide shade and a water dish. Consider using a cooling dog bed and/or a kiddie pool filled with cool water (remember to always supervise your dog).
If you observe any of the symptoms above, remove your dog from the heat immediately. If you can, take him inside to an air-conditioned room or a room with a fan.
If you’re near a lake or pool, take your dog into the water to cool down. If not, you can run a hose over his body; lay him in a bathtub filled with shallow, cool water; place cool, wet cloths on his neck, in the armpits of his front legs, and between his hind legs; wet his paw pads and ears with cool water and give him a drink of cool water if he’s willing to drink. Some experts state you should not give dogs ice cubes, as they can lower their temperature too rapidly and cause them to go into shock.
It’s important to know when to take your dog to an animal hospital, says Dr. Lopez. “If your pet is panting excessively for longer than a 15- to 20-minute period after being exposed to heat or exercise, or if your pet has red lips, gums, excess salivation, weakness, vomiting or diarrhea in addition to excess panting, please seek veterinary care immediately!”
Wakati wa joto, hasa wakati wa majira ya joto, wakati wa mchana, unaweza kuonekana kama wakati mzuri wa kufurahia adventures nje na rafiki yako wa miguu minne. Lakini mbwa hawajengwa ili kudhibiti halijoto yao kwa ufanisi kama wanadamu. Kwa hivyo, wakati tunapofurahia siku za mbwa za majira ya joto, hatari ya mbwa wako ya kupata kiharusi cha joto huongezeka na joto - mbwa wanaweza kupasha joto haraka sana, na matokeo yanaweza kuwa ya kuua. Nyigu wana tezi chache za jasho kwenye vifuniko vya miguu yao, lakini hazitoshi kuizungusha. Badala yake, mbinu ya msingi ya mbwa ya kujipunguza baridi ni kwa kupiga pumzi. Kwa sababu ya kupiga makofi sana, unyevu unaotoka kwenye ulimi, mdomo, pua, na mapafu yao huyeyuka na kutokeza mvuke wa maji. Licha ya hayo, mbwa bado huwa na mwelekeo wa kupasha joto kupita kiasi wakati mfumo wao wa kupoza unapozidiwa. Sababu ya kawaida ya kiharusi cha joto kwa mbwa ni kuwaacha katika gari lisilo na hewa au bila kivuli. Mambo mengine yanatia ndani joto la juu la mazingira, unyevu wa juu, ukosefu wa maji, muda unaotumiwa jua, jitihada za kimwili, na uzazi. Ishara za Mshtuko wa Joto Katika Mbwa Mshtuko wa Joto ni hali inayohatarisha uhai. Kwa kawaida, joto la mwili la mbwa ni kati ya 100.2 ° F na 102.8 ° F. Wakati joto la mwili linapozidi 40 ° C, ni hatari. Mbwa mwenye joto la kati ya 104 ° F na 106 ° F, huchukuliwa kuwa joto la wastani, inaweza kupona ikiwa itashughulikiwa haraka. Joto la juu ya 40 ° C linaweza kuwa hatari ikiwa halitibiwa mara moja. Wakati joto la mwili linapofikia 109 ° C, mwili huanza kuzima. Kwa kusikitisha, hata ikiwa joto halionekani kuwa kali kwetu, inahitaji dakika chache tu kwa mbwa kupasha joto kupita kiasi. Hilo lamaanisha kwamba ni lazima uwe na uwezo wa kutambua kwa urahisi ishara za kupasha joto kupita kiasi. "Ugonjwa wa joto la joto huanza na kupumua kwa nguvu, "" anasema daktari wa mifugo Tanya Lopez wa Hospitali ya Wanyama ya DC Ranch huko Scottsdale, Arizona. "" Hatimaye utando wao wa utando (kibofu, ulimi na ndani ya midomo) huwa mwekundu zaidi na zaidi." Huenda hata wakaanza kutapika sana. Kadiri kiharusi cha joto kinavyoendelea, mnyama huyo anakuwa dhaifu, anaanza kulala usingizi na kutapika au kuhara. "Kama vile, ""Mbwa wako ana dalili za kupumua kwa haraka, mara nyingi kwa haraka, mdomo mwekundu au mweupe, matumbo mengi, ulimi mwekundu, mate mengi, matone ya kunata, kutoweza kuratibu, macho ya glasi, na kutetemeka kwa misuli.""" Mbwa wa aina ya Brachycephalic ni aina ya mbwa wenye pua fupi, kama vile Bulldog na Bulldog wa Ufaransa. <unk>Mbwa hutupa joto la mwili wao kupitia trachea (mfupa wa hewa) na kinywa wakati wa kupumua. Brachycephalic jamii kuwa na njia fupi ya hewa, njia nyembamba zaidi ya hewa na kufungua ndogo kwa njia yao ya hewa kufanya uwezo wao joto releasing mdogo, <unk> anasema Dk Lopez. Akita ni mbwa wa hali ya hewa baridi na ana manyoya mengi, na kwa sababu hiyo huwa na joto kali. Ingawa hawachukuiwi kuwa na kichwa cha mkono, wao huwa na pua fupi. Alaskan Malamute: Wakiwa wamezaliwa ili kukabiliana na baridi kali ya Aktiki, wana manyoya mengi ambayo yanaweza kufanya joto liwe gumu kuvumilia na kusababisha kiharusi. Boston Terrier ni mbwa wa brachiosephalic mwenye pua ndogo na tracheas nyembamba, ambayo hufanya iwe ngumu kupumua katika hali ya joto. Mbwa wa Boxer ni aina ya mbwa wa brachiosephalic, ambaye ana uso wa gorofa, na anahitaji maji mengi ili kukaa baridi na hydrated. Bullmastiff: Mkubwa sana na mwenye kichwa cha mkono hufanya iwe vigumu kukabiliana na joto la juu. Epuka kufanya mazoezi wakati wa joto. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: Malaika wa brachiocephalic, pua yao fupi na manyoya yao marefu huwafanya wawe na mwelekeo wa kupasha joto kupita kiasi. Chow Chow: Mbwa huyu anajulikana kwa manyoya yake mazito sana. Pamoja na pua fupi, wao huathiriwa na joto kali. Hata hivyo, usikate manyoya ya jamii hii; itawafanya wawe na joto zaidi na kuharibu ubora wa manyoya yao. Mbwa wa Kiingereza Bulldog ni aina ya mbwa wa Brachiocephalic, anayejulikana kwa matatizo ya kupumua kwa ujumla. (Je, umewahi kusikia mbwa-mwitu akiruka?) Pia wao huwa na mwelekeo wa kuwa wanene kupita kiasi (na uvivu), jambo ambalo huongeza hatari yao. Bulldog ya Kifaransa ni mbwa wa kawaida wa brachiocephalic, na kwa sababu ya nguvu zake, ni rahisi sana kupata oksijeni katika damu. Mastiff wa Ufaransa: Pia anajulikana kama Dogues de Bordeaux, pua zao fupi na miili mizito hufanya wawe na mwelekeo wa kupasha joto sana. Lhasa Apso. Kwa sababu ya manyoya yake marefu na mazito, manyoya yake ya chini yenye kutenganisha, na pua yake iliyofupishwa, jamii hiyo iko katika hatari ya kupatwa na joto kali. Pekingese ni aina ya ndege wa asili wa Amerika, na kwa sababu ya manyoya yake nzito na mwelekeo wa kuwa na manyoya mengi, hawawezi kudhibiti joto la mwili wao. Weka mbali na jua moja kwa moja. Kwa sababu ya nyuso zao tambarare, nyembamba, na pua zao fupi sana, nyakati nyingine huwa na matatizo ya kupumua hata katika hali nzuri zaidi. Pia ziko karibu na ardhi ambapo joto huenea juu. Pugs wenye manyoya meusi ambayo huficha joto huwa na ugumu zaidi wa kudhibiti halijoto ya mwili. Mtakatifu Bernard: Mwili wao mkubwa na manyoya yao mengi huwafanya wawe na mwelekeo wa kupatwa na joto kali. Shih Tzu: Kwa sababu ya pua zao fupi na nywele zao ndefu, nzito, jamii hii ya wanyama huathiriwa sana na joto. Usipake, lakini futa fupi wakati wa kiangazi ili kuwasaidia wawe baridi. Husky wa Siberia: Jina lake linasema yote: Huskies zimetengenezwa kwa ajili ya hali ya hewa baridi. Manyoya yake yenye unene mwingi hufanya jamii hiyo iwe rahisi kupaswa na joto kupita kiasi. Kwa ujumla, mbwa wazee na mbwa wenye uzito kupita kiasi pia huathiriwa zaidi na joto kupita kiasi. Vivyo hivyo mbwa wenye manyoya mazito, mawili, jamii zote za brachiocephalic, na mbwa yeyote aliye na ugonjwa wa mfumo wa kupumua. Wakati joto la joto linapozidi digrii 90, Dk Lopez hapendekezi mazoezi yoyote nje wakati wa mchana, hata kwa jamii ambazo zina afya na sio brachiocephalic. "Kutembea na kucheza kunapaswa kupunguzwa kwa wakati kabla na ikiwa ni pamoja na jua kuchomoza na baada ya jua kutua", anasema. Hata hivyo, yeye asema kwamba wanyama wenye uso tambarare huhitaji kuwa waangalifu zaidi. Ninakupendekeza kuepuka shughuli yoyote ya nje katika joto juu ya digrii 80. Kama wewe ni kutumia muda nje, daima kutoa kivuli na sahani ya maji. Kwa mfano, unaweza kutumia kitanda cha mbwa cha baridi na au dimbwi la watoto lenye maji baridi (kumbuka daima kumwangalia mbwa wako). Ikiwa una dalili yoyote ya juu, ondoa mbwa wako kwenye joto mara moja. Ikiwa unaweza, mwendee ndani ya chumba chenye kiyoyozi au chumba chenye kipepeo. Ikiwa uko karibu na ziwa au dimbwi, mtie mbwa wako ndani ya maji ili apumzike. Ikiwa haifanyi hivyo, unaweza kutumia mfereji wa maji juu ya mwili wake; weka ndani ya beseni la kuogelea lililojaa maji baridi; weka nguo baridi, za unyevu kwenye shingo yake, kwenye vifungo vya miguu yake ya mbele, na kati ya miguu yake ya nyuma; nyunyizia vidole vyake na masikio yake maji baridi na umpe kinywaji cha maji baridi ikiwa anataka kunywa. Wataalamu wanasema kwamba si lazima kuwapa mbwa barafu kwa sababu inaweza kupunguza joto la mwili haraka sana na kusababisha mshtuko. Ni muhimu kujua ni lini unapaswa kumpeleka mbwa wako kwenye hospitali ya wanyama, asema Dakt. Lopez. Ikiwa mnyama wako anaugua kwa muda mrefu kuliko dakika 15 hadi 20 baada ya kuathiriwa na joto au mazoezi, au ikiwa mnyama wako ana midomo nyekundu, gum, mate ya ziada, udhaifu, kutapika au kuhara pamoja na kugua kwa ziada, tafadhali tafuta huduma ya mifugo mara moja!