How to know if a dog suffers a heat stroke?
Heat stroke is dangerous for dogs. It appears as a sudden rise in body temperature that can cause a collapse and even the death of the animal.
Why are dogs so vulnerable to heat stroke?
According to a Clinician's Brief publication, between 36% and 50% of animals that suffer a sudden rise in body temperature die, according to an extensive study coordinated by veterinarian Lisa Powell of the University of Minnesota (USA). ). The high temperatures and the difficulty of the dogs to sweat and lose excess temperature explain why it is so important to know when the animal suffers heat stroke, how to help and how to protect it.
Dogs do not have sweat glands spread throughout the body, like humans. They are less and, in addition, they are concentrated mainly in the pads of their legs. What happens when the body temperature of the animal exceeds 39 ºC? Well, the tongue, through panting, is your best way to cool down.
How to recognize heat stroke?
Gasps:
The panting can be the first warning of a heat stroke, since the excessive breathing of the dogs can anticipate it. "A healthy dog inhales air at a rate of between 10 and 30 inhalations per minute," concludes an investigation in the scientific publication WebMD. But, sometimes, the rhythm of his breathing accelerates, a symptom that warns that he is in trouble. This is what happens during heat stroke. The danger grows for dogs that stay in cars, so you never have to leave an animal alone in a vehicle.
Suffocation and drooling:
In addition to excessive panting, you must be aware of other guidelines to detect early heat stroke in the animal: the suffocation accompanied by drool. When the panting is added an excess of drool is a bad sign.
Other symptoms:
Heat stroke in dogs manifests itself with other symptoms that help to recognize it: dizziness, feeling that the animal is sick, breathing with difficulty and panting loudly and strikingly. In addition, a dog in danger due to heat can not walk, loses balance, suffers from tachycardia and will have congested mucous membranes. Vomiting and diarrhea are other signs and, in some cases, will have a collapse or loss of consciousness.
What to do?
If you suspect that a dog has a heat stroke, it should be cooled immediately. It is then convenient to take the dog to a cool and airy place, offer water, cover it with a cold, wet towel and go immediately to the vet.
Reference:
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