It can take some time to get used to the heat of the summer months, it is very easy to get involved in outside activities and become overexerted in the heat and humidity. Heatstroke can easily be encountered not only by us… but it definitely can happen to our pets as well. This life-threatening emergency is characterized by an increase in body temperatures that lead to direct thermal injury to organs that can lead to a compromise in function.

         Over the past 25 years as a veterinary technician in practice, I have aided pets in these situations firsthand. Encountering the pet as soon as they enter the treatment room….gathering vitals and starting urgent veterinary medical treatment. Assessments are quickly made regarding levels of shock and decreased tissue perfusion/oxygenation levels.. Direct cooling methods are put in place…carefully so that we do not put the animal in further danger. Intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, and baseline laboratory values are commonly started by the veterinary technician as directed by the clinician. The clinician creates a comprehensive detailed diagnostic and treatment plan that could change multiple times throughout a pet crisis such as this. The veterinary team works together during the progression of treatment and continued supportive care.  Heatstroke occurs secondary to heat exposure (classic heat stroke) or strenuous exercise (exertional heat stroke). This is seen with many dogs, however, cats too can have their own scenarios such as becoming trapped in a clothes dryer or an outdoor cat getting trapped in a hot shed.

     Many secondary complications can happen with this emergency such as heart arrhythmias, gastro-intestinal issues, liver or kidney failure, clotting disorder, seizures, coma, and death. This is an acute yet progressive type of situation that can change at any time.

     Dogs that have a dark and dense hair coat or that have a pre-existing condition such as laryngeal paralysis, obesity, or heart disease make them more prone to this issue. Older and brachycephalic breeds are candidates as well. It can take up to 2 months for animals to fully acclimate to warmer temperatures. Partial acclimation to the heat is completed in 10 to 20 days.

During this acclimation period, especially in hot or humid weather dogs, it is best not to have your dogs running or playing outside. Pets should never be left alone in cars on hot days for any amount of time.

   The early signs of heatstroke may include increased panting with breaks in between/ and or drooling. If you are noticing that you may be having difficulty be sure to get your pet into a cool area and provide fresh clean water. Monitor your pet closely for worsening symptoms. Heatstroke occurs when the body temperature elevates above 104 degrees. At this point, advanced symptoms are noticed such as dark red gums, a glazed look in the pet’s eyes, weakness, staggering, vomiting or diarrhea (which may contain blood), dry sticky gums, and altered mental response. 

       IF you are seeing these signs at home there are some things to start at home to aid in combating heatstroke. You or someone else should be contacting the veterinary clinic and prepping your car with air conditioning for pet transport promptly. Listed below are tasks that can be completed to aid your pet in this type of situation.

• Get the pet into a cool environment (shaded area or AC).

• Take your pet’s temperature and start cooling measures. Be sure to record this, it will be valuable information for your pet’s clinician and staff. Use a digital thermometer and lubricant (such as vaseline).

• Place a wet towel underneath the pet to lay on. Do not use ice or ice packs directly on the skin. Do not place your pet directly in an ice bath.

• If they are alert and conscious, offer small amounts of water every few minutes. Do not force a pet that is not alert or awake. Use room temperature water not cool or ice cold water, this can lower the body temperature too quickly and worsen the situation.

• If the temperature is above 104, start cooling your pet by gently spraying cool (not cold)

Water over the body. Areas such as the paws, back, and abdomen. You can place wet towels over these areas as well, however, they will need to be removed and replaced as they can retain heat against the pet’s body. 

• If you have a fan, use it.  It will aid with evaporative cooling.

• Take the pet’s body temperature every 30 to 60 seconds- once at 103 degrees the cooling process should be stopped, further cooling can actually drop it too low. 

     There can be times however when first aid measures are not possible, or it can actually delay life-saving treatment for your pet. Some conditions that may prevent you from being able to give first aid before seeking ER care are:

• No cool water or shade is available.
• No access to a thermometer.
• The pet is vomiting or having diarrhea with blood.
• There are purple areas of bruising on your pet’s skin or gums, these are called “petechiae”. They are small pinpoint bruises that can also be visible inside the ears or the underside of the belly.
• Your pet is collapsed, unresponsive, or having seizures.

    Survival depends on how high the temperature was, how long it was elevated, and what your pet’s condition was before the heat illness. Older and overweight pets have a lower chance of survival, as well as young animals or ones with underlying illnesses. The key to preventing this unfortunate tragic issue is to be prepared, know the symptoms to look for, and intervene quickly.

Enjoy the summer and stay cool!