Dogs get overheated more easily than people and this can quickly lead to physical distress known as heat stroke (hyperthermia). Humans are quite good at managing our body temperature as we can wear thick clothes when it is cold, thin clothes when hot and we can sweat all over our bodies. When the water in sweat evaporates from the skin it is a very effective way of cooling the body.
In contrast, many dogs have thick coats even in summer and they can only sweat from a small area of skin on their paws, so for dogs sweating is not very effective for total body cooling. Panting is the main way for a dog to keep cool, but this is less efficient than sweating as the area of the tongue and face where water can evaporate for cooling is quite small. The blood inside the tongue circulates this cooler temperature through the body. When panting, a dog also loses much moisture directly through breathing out of its open mouth, so excessive panting will quickly make a dog thirsty. Panting is also limited in terms of how much it is able to cool the dog for more any than a short period of time at high ambient temperatures.
The normal temperature of individual dogs varies, but a body temperature above 39oC is seen as abnormally high. Heat stroke happens with a body temperature of 41oC or higher in the absence of any disease. Heat stroke leads to the stopping of their normal function by multiple organs and is potentially fatal unless swift actions are taken to cool the dog.
Factors increasing heatstroke risk in dogs
- Direct sunshine
- Being in a hot, enclosed area such as a car or small outside building. The temperature inside a car in the sun can quickly increase to dangerously high levels for dogs. Take a look of the special guide for travelling by car with dogs
- A thick coat
- A short face seen in some breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, as they pant and breathe less well
- Old dogs
- Young dogs and puppies
- Some diseases
- Some medications
- Excessive exercise except in cold environments
- Dehydration
- Obesity
Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs
- Heavy panting
- The dog drools excessively around the mouth
- Dark red gums
- The dog becomes lethargic, sleepy or uncoordinated
- The dog collapses
- Vomiting
- Unconsciousness
Emergency Actions
- Move to a shaded, cool area
- Seek help from a veterinarian
- Immediately spray or pour cool water over the dog, or apply wet towels or use a cooling fan. Using ice should be avoided as this constricts the blood vessel under the skin surface
- Continue to pour over cool water or apply a new wet towel until the dog breathes better or begins to shiver
- Let the dog drink small amounts of water
Recovery
Some dogs will recover quite quickly from heat stroke of a short duration once their body temperature has returned to normal values. Other individuals may need continued veterinary care to aid their recovery. There is a significant risk that the high body temperature has damaged one or more internal organs, so any dog that has suffered heat stroke should be checked by a veterinarian.
Dr Peter Messent 11/5/17