You have taken your dog on a long hike in the Santa Barbara foothills many times before.
Today you left early in the morning when it was cool, but it is heading toward noon and is heating up.
So, you decide to head back to your car. It is a long way to hike to get back to your car.
How do you know if your dog is getting too hot?
Dogs do not sweat to control their body temperature as we do. Dogs only have a limited number of sweat glands in their footpads.
They regulate their body temperature by panting. So, if your pal is panting, he is hot. When the dog pants excessively, he hyperventilates, and dehydration becomes more severe.
When a dog’s internal body temperature goes above its normal temperature of 102 degrees, it is a fever and is called hyperthermia.
When its body temperature goes above 105 degrees, the dog may be suffering from heat stroke.
If untreated, hyperthermia leads to potentially fatal heat stroke. Symptoms of hyperthermia include excessive panting and rapid breathing, excessive drooling, skin that is hot to the touch, dry or sticky gums, and possibly having trouble balancing and standing.
Emergency Cooling Techniques
If you see any of these symptoms or if your dog is just excessively panting or wants to stop and lay down, move your pal into shade. You should do this at a slow pace or carry him.
Hyperthermia is a medical emergency. Lowering your pals’ body temperature is crucial. Cool water (not ice cold) should be poured over his head, stomach, armpits and feet, or wet, cool cloths may be applied to these areas.
If using cool, wet cloths, they should be continually replaced, or they will start to retain heat.
If you are near a creek, you can use that water to dampen cloths or use some of your potable water. You can also use your water bottle as a spray to cool down your dog.
Do not immerse your dog abruptly in a cold creek, as this may shock his body. The goal is to lower his body temperature slowly and constantly.
A constant flow of air across your pal will help increase evaporative heat loss. You should not put ice packs on your dog’s feet as this may decrease blood flow to the skin where heat exchange takes place.
Science of Canine Cooling
If you have rubbing alcohol, you can apply it to the bottom of your pal’s feet, on the foot pads, which can help dilate his pores and help increase perspiration.
Getting your pal to the emergency room or urgent care is essential, even if you feel he is better. Turn on the air conditioner in your car.
Dogs have only a couple of ways to cool off: blood vessel expansion and panting. When dogs pant, they evaporate moisture from their tongues, nasal passages and the lining of their lungs, and this cools them down as air passes over the moist tissue.
They also cool off when blood vessels, especially in the ears and face, expand, bringing overheated blood closer to the surface to cool down.
Early signs of heat stroke will follow untreated hyperthermia with additional signs that may include abnormal gum color such as bright red gums and tongue, bruising of the gums, lethargy or even hyperactivity.
Effects of Heat Exposure
As heat stroke progresses, further symptoms include gums change to become pale and look white or blue, pupils may get bigger (dilate), possible muscle tremors, unable to stand at all, urinate or defecate uncontrollably, have seizures, collapse, and become comatose and possibly die.
Flat-faced dogs (as brachycephalic breeds) — such as a French bulldog, pug, American bulldog and boxer — are more prone to hyperthermia and heat stroke because of their anatomy.
They have small nostrils, and their conformation restricts their airway and their ability to pant sufficiently enough to dissipate heat.
Even a moderately humid or warm day can lead to symptoms of heat stroke. Overweight dogs of all breeds are more likely to suffer from heat stroke.
Puppies have a hard time maintaining their body temperature, as do geriatric dogs, and both are more susceptible to heat stroke.
Certain medical problems such as heart disease, laryngeal paralysis and even untreated hypothyroidism can make a dog more susceptible to heat stroke.
“The prognosis of heat stroke depends on how high the body temperature elevated, how long the hyperthermia persisted and what the physical condition of the pet was prior to the heat stroke,” according to Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club.
“If the body temperature did not become extremely high, most healthy pets will recover quickly if they are treated immediately. Some pets may experience permanent organ damage or may die later from complications that developed secondarily to hyperthermia.
“Pets that experience hyperthermia are at greater risk for subsequent heat stroke due to damage to the thermoregulatory center.”
So, check the weather prior to taking a long hike, bring plenty of water for you and your pal, throw in a few wash cloths into your backpack, and stay cool and have fun.