People and our animal friends are both in danger during a heat wave. The heat is horrible for our furry friends. So, how do you keep them safe? Are there ways to stop this from happening? How to tell if a dog is suffering from heat stroke?
When you own a dog, you need to ask yourself many questions to keep it from getting a terrible heat stroke.
The right actions to adopt
- Hydration . The dog needs to drink clean water every day. When it’s hot out, this is twice as true. Make sure to change its water often, but don’t freeze it. Your pet won’t get enough water from water that is too cold.
- Breathable air . The heat is hard on both people and animals. A cool, shaded room will make the dog feel better. If air conditioning is still a good way to cool a room, you can also play with the fans and turn off the steering wheels. Dogs love water. The best thing for him is a little mist or a (not too cold) shower to cool him off.
- Do not go for a walk during very hot weather . Instead of the famous “12 to 4,” people should be able to walk in the park in the morning or evening. The ground is cooler and the air is easier to breathe. Keep in mind that your furry friend’s pads are touching the hot ground. He could be the one to burn them. Be careful!
- Do not leave your dog in his vehicle . Does your dog go everywhere with you? Even for a few minutes, you shouldn’t leave it in your car during the summer. Your pet could quickly lose too much water and die. You are responsible for your dog, just like you are responsible for your dear darlings.
If you live by the ocean or have a pool at home, your dog will always be able to cool off. A hydrocele, on the other hand, can happen to a dog. Wet it before letting it run around in the water.
Recommended Reading
- Which dog fits me best? Tips on choosing the right breed
- Diet for pets – fitness tips against winter fat
- Health prophylaxis: this is how your dog stays healthy
Recognize a heat stroke
Even if you do everything you can for your dog when it’s hot, he can still get heat stroke.
Here are some symptoms to detect a heat stroke:
- Vomiting and loose stools.
- Rapid and irregular breathing (the animal sticks out its tongue, the mouth remains open…).
- Tremors, in which the animal’s muscles shake as if it were cold.
- Lazy and unmotivated behaviour (the animal seems to comat).
- Various disorders (malaise, loss of consciousness…).
- The body’s temperature to go up.
If you touch the dog’s ears or paws, you can tell if the temperature is going up. When the fever goes up, these two parts get hotter. The thermometer is still the best way to tell. For information, the temperature should be between 38 and 39 degrees.
You need to act quickly if your pet shows any of the signs. To get the dog back on its feet, you must first put it somewhere cool and well ventilated. Cool wet towels were used to wipe her down. If your pet’s condition gets worse over the course of the day, don’t wait to call a vet.
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