| As the days become warmer with spring and | | | | triple the problems with heat is due to their air |
| summer approaching, we hear about dogs being | | | | passages being so short. Instead of the hot air |
| left in hot cars. Dogs quickly overheat as they | | | | being cooled through the nasal passages it is |
| only have limited cooling options for their body. | | | | brought directly into the bodies core. |
| Panting and sweating from the feet are the only | | | | Another group of dog breeds that are more |
| options dogs have in hot weather. This makes | | | | prone to problems from heat stroke are ones |
| leaving them vehicles or confined to yards where | | | | that have deep, thick, and double coats. These |
| there is little or no shade from the direct sun | | | | are often your larger breed of dogs. A few of |
| miserable for them as well as potentially deadly. It | | | | these are the Newfoundlands, St. Bernard's, and |
| only takes a few minutes for the dogs core body | | | | Great Pyrenees. Due to their coats, they have an |
| temperature to rise 5 to 6 degrees above the | | | | extra difficult time with cooling and removing heat |
| normal body temperature which results in | | | | from their body. |
| permanent neurological problems, comas, and | | | | Signs of heat stroke come on quickly but there |
| even death. | | | | are a few early signs to watch for. Dogs that are |
| Heat stroke and dehydration are totally | | | | panting and drooling excessively, staggering, and |
| preventable if the dog's owner simply understood | | | | are disoriented, could be the first signs of heat |
| the tremendous risk they are putting their dog in. | | | | stroke. Even more serious signs quickly show up |
| The largest and most concerning problem are | | | | with a dog going into heat stroke are vomiting, |
| dogs left in hot vehicles. Even a short amount of | | | | bleeding from the nasal passages, seizures, |
| time is unacceptable. If the outdoor temperature | | | | tremors, frantic behavior, and very quickly, death. |
| is in the 80's, a parked vehicle in direct sunlight | | | | The first course of action you must take is to |
| with the window rolled down slightly can easily get | | | | get the dog out of the sun and to a place where |
| to 100 plus degrees within a matter of a couple | | | | it is cooler. Get as much cool water all over their |
| minutes. The vehicle becomes an insulated capsule | | | | body but do not use ice cold water since this can |
| of heat. With the dog having no ability to get out | | | | put the dog into shock. Pay special attention to |
| of the car it quickly becomes a life threatening | | | | their legs and chest area. If there is not a hose |
| situation. Dogs should never be left alone in any | | | | available, you can use wet towels or even place |
| vehicle. If you must take your dog with you and | | | | the dog in the bathtub or swimming pool. If the |
| you will be running in and out of places, take | | | | dog is disorientated do not leave them alone in |
| someone else with you so they can take the dog | | | | the water. |
| out of the car until you return. If this is not | | | | You can offer the dog water but he or she will |
| possible then have the person you take with you | | | | probably not drink it until the body temperature is |
| remain with the dog in the car with the air | | | | closer to being normal. Never force water to the |
| conditioner running. | | | | dog to drink since this can cause anxiety as well |
| There are some breeds of dogs that are more | | | | as the possibility of forcing water into the lungs. |
| prone to heat stroke. These breeds are the | | | | Call your vet immediately and go to the nearest |
| brachycephalic dogs or those breeds with very | | | | emergency animal clinic. Even if your dog appears |
| short muzzles. A few of these include Pugs, Shih | | | | to have recovered there are imbalances in their |
| Tzus, Maltese, Pomeranians, Boxers, and Boston | | | | blood which the event caused and may need to |
| Terriers. | | | | be corrected to prevent permanent damage. |
| The reason the short muzzled dogs can have | | | | |