Recognizing the Signs of Heat Stroke

“I’ll just be a minute” you tell your dog as you hop out of the car and rush into the store. “He’ll be OK,” you reassure yourself. “It’s not that hot out.”

Sadly, it takes you more than just a minute in the store and upon arriving at your car, you find your dog panting rapidly, his tongue bright red, thick saliva hanging from his mouth, he seems unsteady and has vomited. Your dog is suffering from severe heat stroke and if you don’t get help soon, he could slip into a coma or die.

Hundreds of dogs suffer from heat stroke every year. Many do not survive. Never leave your dog in a parked car - even if the windows are cracked (this is inadequate ventilation) - even if you park in the shade (shade can shift during the day) – even if you’ll “just be a minute”.

The temperature inside a parked car quickly rises above 100 degrees. In 1-3 minutes, your dog may be suffering. In 5-10 minutes your dog may be dead. As a general rule of thumb, don’t leave your dog in a parked car if the temperature is above 70 degrees.

Heat stroke may also be caused by leaving your pet outside without shade on a hot day, or by over-exertion. Pug-nosed breeds, overweight pets, elderly or young animals, and dogs with heart or lung disease are especially prone to heat stroke.

If you believe your dog may be suffering from heat stroke (i.e., he is exhibiting one or more of the symptoms listed above, or his rectal temperature is above 104 degrees), perform the following first aid, then rush him to a veterinarian.

First spray or sponge him with cold water making certain you saturate him to the skin. Pay special attention to his armpits, abdomen, groin, neck, and bottoms of his feet. Offer him cold water, but do not force him to drink if he does not want to. If you have them available, place ice packs all around him. Keep the windows open and the air conditioning on in the car on the way to your veterinarian.

Richelle Smith, DVM