Heat Stroke and Overheating in Dogs: Treatment
and Prevention.
by: Nate Baxter, DVM
 Guidelines
and overview
for dogs that overheat.
. . . The first thing that needs to be understood is
that dogs and people are different enough that most of the info cannot cross
lines. I do not profess to know what the appropriate procedures for people
other than what I learned in first aid.
Electrolyte replacement:
Dogs do not lose enough electrolytes thru exercise
to make a difference, but if the dog gets truly into heat stroke the
physiology changes will make them necessary. BUT oral replacement at that
point is futile, they need IV and lots of it.
Cooling:
The point of evaporative cooling being the most efficient is
correct. However, in a muggy environment, that will not help as much, so I
do cool with the coldest water I can find and will use ice depending on the
situation. The best way is to run water over the dog, so there is always
fresh water in contact. When you immerse a dog in a tub, the water trapped
in the hair coat will get warm next to the dog, and act as an insulator
against the cool water and cooling stops. If you can run water over the dog
and place it in front of a fan that is the best. Misting the dog with water
will only help if you are in a dry environment or in front of a fan.
Just getting the dog wet is not the point, you want the
water to be cool itself, or to evaporate.
For MOST situation all you will need to do is get the dog
in a cooler environment, ie shade, or in the cab of the truck with the air
conditioning on (driving around so the truck does not overheat and the AC is
more efficient).
When I had one dog I just pulled the wire crate out of the
car and put it in some shade and hopefully a breeze. But having 2 dogs and
running from one stake to another, that was not feasible. So I built a
platform to put the wire crates on, this raises the dog up in the truck box
where air flow better. Then I placed a 3 speed box fan in front blowing on
the dogs with a foot of space to allow better airflow.
I purchased a power inverter that connects to the battery
and allows the 3 speed fan to run from the truck power. It has an automatic
feature that prevents it from draining the battery. When I turned that fan
on medium I would find that the dogs where asleep, breathing slowly and
appeared very relaxed and comfortable in a matter of 20 minutes or less,
even on very hot muggy days.
Alcohol: {Rubbing Alcohol]
I did not carry it but probably will next year. It
is very effective at cooling due to the rapid evaporation. It should be used
when other methods are not working, but do not hesitate to use it.
Due to the thicker skin and rapid evaporation I do not worry about it being
absorbed. Plus we recommend using rubbing alcohol, which is propylene
alcohol, not ethyl, for those of you not aware. So do not try to drink it!
I purchased those cooling pads, but found that the dogs
would not lay on them. I would hold them on the back of a dog that just
worked to get a quick cool, but probably will not mess with them next
summer. I also bought a pair of battery operated fans but found them pretty
useless. Spend your money on the power inverter and get a real fan.
Watching temp: If you
feel your dog is in danger of heat injury, check its temp and write it down.
Keep checking the temp every 3 minutes. Don't forget to shake it down
completely each time, sounds silly, but when are worried about your
companion, things tend to get mixed up. Your dog's normal rectal temperature
is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The normal ear temperature in dogs is
between 100.0 degrees and 103.0 degrees Fahrenheit
Instructions on how to take your dog's temperature with both a rectal or ear
thermometer.
| This is VERY IMPORTANT:
Once the temp STARTS to drop, STOP ALL COOLING
EFFORTS. The cooling process will continue even though you have
stopped. If the temp starts at 106.5, and then next time it drops to
105.8, stop cooling the dog, dry it off, and continue monitoring. You
will be amazed how it continues to go down. If you do not stop until
the temp is 102, the temp will drop on down to 99 or even lower. I
cannot emphasis that point enough. |
Limit water:
When the dog is so heated that it is panting
severely, only let it have a few laps of water. Water in the stomach does
not cool the dog, you just need to keep the mouth wet so the panting is more
effective. Do not worry about hydration until the temp has started down. A
dog panting heavily taking in large amounts of water is a risk of
bloat. Due
to the heavy panting they will swallow air mix in a large amount of water
they can bloat. Once the temp is going down and panting has slowed to more
normal panting then allow water. The dog will rehydrate it self after temp
is normal.
If the dog has a serious problem and even though you have
gotten the temp normal, get the dog to a vet, as it can still need IV fluids
and some medication. Also, a case of heat stroke can induce a case of
hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (not parvo), with a ton of very bloody diarrhea
and a lot of fluid and electrolyte loss. These cases need aggressive
treatment.
Neka enjoys splashing in a kiddy pool to
stay cool on those hot days.
Prevention:
The best method of treatment is prevention. Learn to watch
your dog, and see the changes in the size of the tongue, and how quickly it
goes down. Learn your dogs response to the different environments, and be
careful when you head south for an early season hunt test or trial. I have
been to Nashville at the end of May the last 2 years, only 5 hours away, but
the difference in temp and humidity did effect the dogs as they were used to
more spring weather in Ohio. Try different things in training to help the
dog cool and learn what works better.
| Another very important point:
Do not swim your hot dog to cool it then put in put
in a box/tight crate. Remember, evaporation can not take place in a
tight space, and the box will turn into a sauna. Carry a stake out
chain, and let the dog cool and dry before putting it up. |
Whew!! Did not think this would get so long. I hope this
is easy to understand & helps provide some info that will be useful.
Remember: Prevention- learn your dog. It is
worth the time and effort.
Click here for a
printable copy of this in Word.
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