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.

Ear Wounds in Dogs

The most common injuries that happen to our dogs involve the head area. And it is the ears that are most frequently torn in dogfights. The ears also tend to bleed profusely. So if your dog comes back injured with an ear wound, then take the following three simple steps to bandaging the area:

1. First make sure that your dog is calm from whatever fight he got into. Then clean the wound with warm water and a light disinfectant. Be sure not to get any hair or other small particles inside the wounded area.

2. Next, wrap the ear with a bandage. You should have plenty of bandage material from your pet emergency first aid kit but a cloth or shirt will do just fine. Wind the bandage around the head to keep it secure and to prevent the ear from bleeding when the dog shakes his head.

3. Continue with bandaging his ear by wrapping it around his head over and over until it is secure. Avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on the windpipe. If need be, you want to use what is called an “Elizabethan Collar”. Now get your dog to the vet immediately for further medical attention.