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Sunstroke and heatstroke pose a danger to animals and people alike. Heatstroke is dangerous to anyone's health, therefore there are some basic things that every pet owner should know – what the signs of heatstroke are, and what to do if you suspect that a dog, a cat or any other pet is suffering from it.
What is heatstroke and a sunstroke?
Heatstroke is a state of hyperthermia, i.e., when the body temperature has increased beyond the norm, which results in the tissue obtaining a thermal injury. Heatstroke occurs when the amount of heat absorbed by the body exceeds the body’s ability to lose heat. Heatstroke is a very serious condition: it can cause multiple organ failure and the animal can die quickly, if left untreated. All animals are susceptible to heatstroke, therefore you should make sure that you are doing everything to prevent this from happening. Heatstroke and sunstroke are mostly similar; the main difference is that overheating of an animal in the case of sunstroke is caused by being directly in the sun.
What signs of heatstroke do animals exhibit?
The signs of heatstroke and sunstroke may vary between individuals and species, but for the most part they are:
- Rapid breathing (unceasing panting) that increases as heatstroke progresses
- Drooling
- Distress, unrest
- Very red or pale gums
- Bright red tongue
- Increased heartbeat
- Uneven, troubled breathing
- Vomiting, diarrhoea (possibly containing blood)
- Signs of psychological confusion, delirium
- Dizziness
- Lethargy, weakness
- Muscle tremors
- Cramps
- Fainting
- Decreased or non-existent amount of urine
- Coma
What are the main factors that contribute to the development of heatstroke?
An animal can get sunstroke by overheating in the sun, which is not a rare occurrence, if the animal has no shade to hide from the direct sunlight. Imagine yourself in a fur coat and in the sun. The animal’s fur, especially when darker, heats up quickly. Aside from direct sunlight there are also other factors that contribute to the development of heatstroke:
- Warm or hot and humid environment
- Insufficient ventilation, air flow
- Insufficient amount of drinking water
- Excessive physical load
Factors that aggravate heatstroke and sunstroke
Many factors may add to the possible development of heatstroke:
- The animal is obese
- Breeds with short necks, flat faces and noses, for example, a pug, English bulldog, French bulldog, Pekingese, as well as Persian and Himalayan cats
- The pet has a thick and long coat
- The pet is very young or very old
- Excessive physical load
- The animal suffers from respiratory tract illnesses, cardiovascular sickness or neurological disorders.
- Dehydration
How do you avoid your pets developing heatstroke?
It is possible to avoid heatstroke by ensuring that the pet is kept in adequate environmental conditions and by being aware of the symptoms in order to act quickly, if necessary.
Provide a cool, shaded spot for your pet with constant good ventilation – adequate ventilation and air flow is crucial because many animals cool down via evaporation.
Make sure that in the case of heat the animal has plenty of clean drinking water.
Take your pet indoors on hot and humid days, if the indoor environment is cooler for the animal; for example, if there is air conditioning in the room, a ventilator, open windows and shade.
On hot days try to walk your dog very early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cooler; it is best to avoid walks during the hottest times of the day.
Avoid taking walks on hot sand, concrete, asphalt or any other hard surfaces that reflect heat and that have no access to shade.
Don't leave your dog in the car, even if the windows are down, because dogs may still overheat and die. The high temperature in combination with insufficient ventilation or air flow in the car mean that the dog's body can't adequately thermoregulate itself, thus leaving the dog unprotected against overheating. Animals suffer terribly in these conditions!
Small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, polecats, birds, rats and mice are extremely susceptible to heatstroke. These animals are often kept in cages and crates and can't move away to a cooler location, therefore, during hot weather they must be moved to a cool, shaded and well-aired place. They need constant access to clean, fresh drinking water. On particularly hot days they need to be transported to cool premises.
What do you do, if you suspect that a pet has sustained heatstroke?
By providing emergency first aid to help normalise the pet's body temperature, you can save its life.
- It is necessary to wet the animal's whole body with cool water in the shower, starting from head to tail. The water can't be cold! During this procedure lift up the dog's head.
- If you can't provide a cool shower for your pet, you can use a garden hose or other accessible water sources.
- Putting a cold compress on the pet's head will help decrease the body temperature.
- To avoid a state of shock, rub the dog's feet energetically.
- It is mandatory that the animal drinks enough water.
- Take your pet to the nearest vet immediately.
How do veterinarians help pets with heatstroke?
Veterinarians are taught to assess the severity of the heatstroke and then to provide emergency medical care as needed. They check the pet's body temperature and vital signs, after which they begin emergency treatment that may entail:
- IV drip containing intravenous medications
- Cooling procedures, for example, cooling enemas
- Supply of additional oxygen
- Medicated treatment as needed
- Blood tests to check organ functions
Suns - māhdzīvnieks saulē, Photo by Blue Bird from Pexels