How to prevent heat stroke in your dogs
With climate change slowly creating issues for our pups, we need to be more cognizant of how our dogs are handling warmer weather. And in the summer, it is especially important to pay attention to things such as heat stroke.
While we often think of heat stroke as being something that is more of a human health issue, it really does impact our animals as well. And we should know how to prevent it from becoming a problem. This is especially true when you consider the fact that in nearly 78 dogs died between 2018 and 2019 because of overheating. Although this may not seem like a lot, it really is when you think of how preventable it can be.
As we approach the hottest time of the year, we turn to the Canine Journal to get some tips and tricks to prevent our pups from suffering in the heat.
Tips to prevent heat stroke
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- Never leave your pup in the car when it’s hot – While this tip might seem obvious, it is something we see way too often. Heat builds up in an enclosed space and our pups cannot handle those temperatures.
- Cool baths can help lower their temperature – Running a cool bath is a great way to help lower your pup’s temperature. Be mindful that the water is not too cold, as this will actually shock their system and cause its own problem. If a bath is not an option, you can also use a garden hose and spray them down that way.
- Make sure you give them fresh water and add a small pinch of salt – Obviously giving your dog water to drink is a key aspect of preventing heat stroke. But did you know that by adding salt to the water, it will help to replenish the minerals they lose when they are panting? (If your dog is stubborn and tries to avoid drinking, you can always try adding a treat to their water or even adding some water to their food.)
- A cold pack on their head can help lower their temperature – Although our dogs may not sit still long enough to have a cold pack on their head for a long period time, even placing that cold pack their for a short period of time can be beneficial. And honestly, you don’t want the pack their for longer than a few minutes anyway. So, if you can get your pup to sit still with the ice pack on their head for at least one to two minutes, that will be enough to help bring their temp down.
Make sure you are paying attention to your dogs when it is hot, because that is truly the first step to preventing a problem. After all, if you notice them acting lethargic, vomiting, or even panting profusely, you will know that there is a problem.
We love our dogs and the last thing we want is for them to suffer from heat stroke when we could prevent it.
Have you had to deal with heat stroke in a dog before? Do you have any tips or tricks to help stop your pup from suffering in the heat? Tell us in the comments.