Whether you’re a seasoned pet owner or new to caring for your companion, you need to be on the lookout for signs of heat stroke in your companion. Whether they spend most of their time inside or not, there’s always a chance they may overheat, and they rely on you for quick, life-saving intervention.
In this article, we explain the main causes of heat stroke, how you should respond, and how your veterinarian will approach the issue.
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke is a type of hyperthermia caused by external forces. This occurs when an animal’s body temperature increases beyond their normal range. This starts at 99°F for cats and 99.5°F for dogs and ends at 102.5°F for both.
Pyrogenic hyperthermia refers to overheating caused by underlying issues, while non pyrogenic hyperthermia is caused by environmental conditions and factors. While we’re talking about heat stroke here, the responses can apply to pyrogenic hyperthermia until your veterinarian can take over.
Exertional heat stroke is caused by exercise or physical activity, usually if dogs are not properly acclimated to their environment or if their care doesn’t adequately compensate for the conditions of their environment and activity.
Non-exertional heat stroke is caused by environmental conditions alone. Because their fur would nullify any sweat glands on their body, animals like cats and dogs only sweat through their paw pads. Their main method of regulating body temperature is panting, but this cannot keep up with a pet whose temperature is rapidly increasing.
Heat Stroke Causes
While warmer weather facilitates heat stroke, it doesn’t need to be noticeable hot for your pet’s temperature to hit dangerous levels. Details like humidity and air flow, activity, and health play a part as well.
Some of the main causes of heat stroke include:
- Pets left outside without proper shade, water, and/or ventilation
- Too much time in a heat dryer
- Excessive or vigorous exercise or play
- Pets left in cars without proper AC and/or ventilation
- Pets left inside without proper AC and/or ventilation
Elderly animals, animals with pre-existing health conditions (particularly heart and lung disease), and overweight pets are more likely to experience heat stroke. Some pets, such as brachycephalic dog breeds, are ill-equipped to regulate their body temperature even in warm conditions. Their flat faces inhibit their evaporative ability, so panting is not as effective.
Main Symptoms of Heat Stroke
The first signs of heat stroke include:
- Elevated breathing rate/ panting
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (with or without blood_
- Dry, sticky gums
- Bruised gums
These are a major sign that your dog needs to cool down before more serious issues occur.
More serious symptoms include:
- Lethargy and weakness
- Disorientation
- Seizures
Regardless of the severity of your pet’s symptoms, we recommend following up with your vet to ensure there are no secondary issues. Mild symptoms may give you time to set an appointment, while the more serious symptoms merit an emergency visit.
First Response to Heat Stroke
Getting your pets temperature down is key, but rapid cooling can be counterproductive by restricting blood flow. Offer them room temperature or slightly cool water, and then take their temperature (if possible) to see how severe the problem is.
If their temperature is above 102.5°F, you should use cool water to reduce the temperature.
Pour the water over their head, stomach, armpits, and feet to help the body evaporate the heat. If pouring water is not feasible, you may cover their body in cloths soaked in cool water. These cloths should be replaced continually to prevent the retention of heat.
Keep air flow over their body, taking care to target them with cold air. Monitor body temperature until it reaches 103°F (or close to 102.5°F). At this point, cease your cooling methods so you do not cause their body temperature to drop too low.
Body temperature should decrease to normal range within 10 minutes. While any suspicion of heat stroke should have a professional follow up, you should contact your veterinarian immediately if there is no improvement after 10 minutes.
How Veterinarians Treat Heat Stroke
Veterinarians also focus on cooling the body first, but they have a greater access to tools like:
- IV fluids
- Mild sedation
- Low-concentration oxygen therapy
They can prescribe antibiotics or other medication to protect against secondary issues and handle pain. Your veterinarian will also be able to determine how severe your pet’s prognosis is, from a simple recovery to a greater worry of permanent organ damage.
Heat Stroke Prevention is Key
Even if you handle heat stroke quickly, it can have lasting effects. An animal who has had heat stroke once is more likely to develop it in the future, thus increasing their risk of greater issues like organ damage or death.
To prevent heat stroke, it’s important you never leave your pet unsupervised outside, especially on noticeably hot days. Even warm days can be enough to cause an issue, and a pet trapped in a low-airflow space may develop heat stroke even on a cool day.
When outside, make sure they have access to fresh water and shade away from direct sunlight. Any structures should have adequate air flow, and pets should not have to pile up in one area to cool down.
If you’re taking a daily walk or jog, try to schedule it for the morning before temperatures reach their maximum. Evening strolls are another good idea, but keep in mind it can take a while for temperatures to cool down. In some areas, the heat persists well after sunset.
Never leave your pet alone in a parked car, regardless of how quickly you think you will return. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the temperature inside your car can rise by about 20°F in just 10 minutes. This can turn a cool 60°F into a threatening 80°F before you can check out.
