Keeping your pet cool

Heat exhaustion, also often referred to as heat stress or heat stroke, is a life-threatening condition that occurs in animals of all kinds. In our hospital we frequently see this in dogs over the hot summer period. When dogs and cats are not able to dissipate heat adequately, their body temperature soars well above the normal range of 37.5 to 39.0 degrees Celsius. If their body temperature ever rises beyond 40.5 degrees Celsius then there is a high risk that internal organs may start to get damaged.  Kidney failure, liver disease, clotting problems, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, gastric ulceration, seizures and coma are a few of the conditions that may occur. Even with aggressive treatment, prognosis can often be quite poor.

Heat stroke occurs most often when animals with problems cooling themselves are exposed to excessive heat and/or humidity. A few health factors associated with heat exhaustion include:

1. Obesity
2. Short-nosed breeds (brachycephalic); their short and broad head is often associated with narrowed nostrils, elongated soft pallets and narrowed windpipes – a combination which can make it difficult to breathe.
3. Heavy or thick coated breeds

Environmental factors obviously play a huge role in causing heat exhaustion. Sadly, every summer you will often hear of children or pets that have died after being left in a hot car.

If you have a pet prone to heat stroke, please keep them out of the heat whenever possible. Heat stroke can develop in as little as five to ten minutes. A common story we hear is a geriatric pet that goes outside and then can’t get back through the doggy door or struggles to position themselves out of the sun. Symptoms to watch for include rapid breathing, a depressed or sad attitude and dark red gums. They may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea. If the pet is not cooled off quickly, their condition continues to rapidly deteriorate into bloody vomiting or diarrhoea, collapse, seizures and problems breathing. 

The RSPCA have provided 10 useful tips to help your pet avoid heat exhaustion in hot weather:

1. Provide extra bowls of water in case one is accidentally tipped over.
2. Freeze takeaway containers filled with beef/chicken stock and give to outdoor animals to cool them off.
3. Ice cubes in water bowls. Another good alternative is to freeze half a water bowl the night before and top the remainder up with cool water when putting it out.
4. Provide extra shaded areas in your backyard using shade cloths and umbrellas.
5. Paddling pools ('clam’' pools are especially popular) filled with shallow water.
6. NEVER leave dogs in cars, even with the windows down – heat stress and death can occur within six minutes!
7. Always walk your dog in the early morning or late evening to avoid the heat of the day.
8. Ensure pets always have easy access to shade and water throughout the day.
9. Cool a ceramic tile or oven pan in the fridge or freezer and put it out for small dogs and cats to lie on.
10. Allow your outdoor animals to come inside the house and share the air conditioning or electric fan.

We all like to have our pets with us when we’re out enjoying the sun, but whether it’s the beach or a football game, sometimes the safest and most loving thing to do is leave them home!