So it is Summer, and you and your pup are going to go hiking, walking, running and having all sorts of fun adventures. Just be sure to keep your furry friend cool and avoid over heating as that can have very serious results. If your pups temperature hits 103 or higher you may have an emergency situation on your hands.
Heat stroke is an emergency and requires immediate treatment. Because dogs do not sweat (except to a minor degree through their foot pads), they do not tolerate high environmental temperatures as well as humans do. Dogs depend upon panting to exchange warm air for cool air. But when air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by panting is not an efficient process.
- Common situations that can set the stage for heat stroke in dogs include:
- Being left in a car in hot weather
- Exercising strenuously in hot, humid weather
- Being a brachycephalic breed, especially a Bulldog, Pug, or Pekingese
- Suffering from a heart or lung disease that interferes with efficient breathing
- Being confined on concrete or asphalt surfaces
- Being confined without shade and fresh water in hot weather
- Having a history of heat stroke
To avoid this be sure to pay close attention to your dog, watch for excessive panting and pay close attention to the color of your dogs tongue. If your dogs tongue is bright red slow down and cool him off ASAP. Always be sure to have lots of water on hand to make sure you and your pup are well hydrated
Here is a list of dogs breeds that are more susceptible to heat stroke based on structure, coat and breeding.
Brachycephalic breeds:
These dogs have the “pushed in faces” on relatively-broader heads. They have an elongated soft palate in the throat along with narrowed nostrils. Breeds include:
1. Boston Terriers
2. Boxers
3. Bulldogs, especially the English Bulldogs
4. Pekinese
5. Pugs
6. Shih Tzu
Double-Coated Breeds include:
1. Akitas
2. Chow Chows
3. Collies
4. Huskies
5. Poms
6. Samoyeds
7. Shelties
Dogs Bred for Cold Climates (with some overlap with double-coated dogs):
1. Akitas
2. American Eskimo Dogs
3. Anatolian Shepherds
4. Bearded Collies
5. Bernese Mountain Dogs
6. Bouvier des Flandres
7. Golden Retrievers
8. Great Pyrenees
9. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs
10. Huskies
11. Irish Wolfhounds
12. Malamutes
13. Newfoundlands
14. Norwegian Elkhounds
15. Old English Sheepdogs
16. Samoyeds
17. Shibu Inus
also if your pup is obese that can also make them more susceptible so exercise them in the early morning or after it cools down in the evening if it is hot outside..
If heat stroke does occur cool your pup down as much as possible and get him or her to the Vet ASAP
Click on the link for additional tips and cautions. Stay cool out there….
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/heat-stroke-dehydration-dogs
Here are a few points to keep your pet cool…. or use on the way to the vet in case your pup overheats
GB 20 Right behind the skull or occipital bone one finger off the cervical spine on either side in the divots. Pulls the energy down from the head. Cools heat
GV 17 Right behind the skull in between the GB 20 points. Little divot under the bump. Great point to disperse energy and create calm.
LI4 is on the medial side where the dew claw would be just hold on to it lightly for a bit or lightly move your fingers in a circular motion clears heat master for face and mouth
TH4 Find the wrist and it is on the carpal bones it feels a little mushy towards the outside of the wrist or carpus. Balances regulates heat in the body
LI11 in the outside or lateral crease of the elbow. opens surfaces clears heat
On the way to the vet points
Th1 lateral side of 4th digit front paws at the nail bed clears heat can also revive if collapses
LI1 On the medial or inside of the 2nd digit of the front paw at the nail bed. Clears lung heat revives consciousness
PE9 lateral side of 3rd digit front paws at the nail bed clears heat can also revive if collapses
