How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overheating
A Brief Overview
Heatstroke Normally Happens When A Dog Loses His Innate Ability To Regulate His Body Temperature. Dogs Do Not Sweat All Over Their Bodies The Way Humans Do. Their Body Temperature Is Chiefly Regulated By Respiration Such As Panting. If A Pooch’S Respiratory Tract Fails To Clear Heat Quickly Enough, Heatstroke May Take Place.
If An Animal Experiences Heatstroke, You May Notice Hyperventilation, Excessive Panting, Dry Gums That Become Pale, Increased Salivation, Erratic Or Rapid Pulse, Confusion, Weakness, Diarrhea, Vomiting, And Possibly Rectal Bleeding. If The Dog Continues Overheating, His Breathing Efforts Will Become Slow, Or Worse, Absent. This In Turn Can Lead To Seizure Or Coma.
Signs Your Dog Is Overheating
There Are A Few Tell-Tale Signs Of Overheating In Dogs. These Can Include:
- Heavy, Continuous Panting
- Glazed Eyes
- Weakness And/Or Collapse
- Increase Pulse
- Vomiting
- Dark Red Tongue Or Gums
- Excessive Drooling
- Seizures
What Should You Do If You Think Your Dog Is Overheating? First, Move Him To A Cooler Area As Soon As Possible. If You’Re Outside, Move Him Into The Shade Or Even A Car With Air Conditioning. Offer Him Small Amounts Of Water To Drink – Too Much And He Might Vomit, Exacerbating Dehydration. Use A Cool Towel Or Water Source To Wet His Back, Neck, And Underneath His Arms. Allow A Fan To Blow Cool Air On Him If Possible.
Even If Your Dog Seems To Have Recovered, Check In With Your Vet After A Particularly Severe Instance Of Overheating. It’S Important To Do All That You Can To Prevent Overheating In The First Place: Walk Your Dog During The Coolest Parts Of The Day, Give Him A “Summer” Haircut, And Most Importantly, Never, Ever Leave A Dog In A Car For Any Length Of Time.
