Preventing Heatstroke in Your Dog

Dogs do not cope very well when it comes to hot temperatures. And since they do not have sweat glands, they cannot lose heat by sweating. To keep your pet from getting heatstroke, never leave him in a car in very warm and sunny weather. Even when you are parked in a shaded spot with the windows partly open, your dog is still likely to get heatstroke. In addition, never leave a dog unsupervised in your car with the heater on during cold weather. In both cases, a dog could overheat and will not be able to cool himself down.

What to do when your dog suffers from heatstroke

The first sign of heatstroke is rapid and heavy panting along with salivation. The dog gradually becomes weak after a few minutes and then collapses while still panting.

Immediately remove the dog from the warm environment. Clear the mouth of saliva to help him breath with ease and sponge his face with cool water. Contact a vet for further treatment.

If you can, immerse the dog’s body in cool water. Do not use ice-cold water. Another effective treatment is to wrap him in towels soaked in cold water. Pour the water over the towels to prevent them from getting warm. In addition, make sure that your dog has plenty of drinking water.