by Nancy Houser

Created on: July 20, 2009   Last Updated: July 23, 2009

Weather complications and sudden changes in outside temperature are dangerous for all dogs, whether it causes "hypothermia", a condition when their body temperature drops to 95 degrees and below, or "heatstroke", a condition when their body rises to 104-to-110 degrees. An adult dog's normal temperature is approximately 101.3 degrees, within a range of 100-to-102.5 degrees. Anything outside this will cause death or health problems for a dog that is exposed to prolonged cold or heat.

Unfortunately, heat stroke is worse on a dog during hot weather because of their heavy fur coats and inability to sweat, causing high death rates to occur in dogs during hot weather because of the lack of proper care by dog owners. Common situations during hot summers can become a death sentence to dogs:

(1) When dogs are left inside vehicles during hot weather where the air is 20+ degrees than the outside temperature
(2) When dogs are given strenuous exercise in hot, humid weather leaving them gasping and heaving for cool air
(3) When dogs belong to a breed that is referred to as "brachycephalic" with breathing issues (Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, etc. with short snouts)
(4) When a dog has a previous history of heat stroke (if you don't know, assume they have for prevention)
(5) When a dog is confined without shade during the hottest part of the day
(6) When a dog is confined to hot asphalt or concrete surface kennel surfaces with insufficient water and shade
(7) When a dog has a high fever or seizure issues
(8) When a dog is muzzled during grooming and placed under hot hair dryers

Clinical Signs And Symptoms Of Heatstroke

Heat stroke in a dog requires immediate treatment or death can occur within 10 to 15 minutes after their body reaches 104 degrees. The only way heatstroke can be prevented is if the dog is able to pant enough cool air into its body to keep the body temperature within a normal range. If the dog is developing heatstroke, it will show definite clinical signs before becoming unconscious:

*Heavy panting
*Difficulty in breathing
*Tongue and mucous membranes will be bright red in color
*Thickened and sticky saliva
*Vomiting may occur
*Rectal temperature is between 104 and 110 degrees
*Unsteady movements
*Bloody blackened diarrhea with an odd smell
*The lips and mucous membranes will turn gray when the dog goes into shock
*Collapsing, seizures, coma and death occur very rapidly at the end


Emergency Treatment Of Heatstroke In A Dog

Emergency treatment for a dog with heatstroke has a time

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