Heat exhaustion or heat stoke in dogs

What to look for, how to treat and suggestions for alternative physical and mental exercise

No question, it’s hot. Oh … and it’s the middle of summer too which means heat, humidity (especially in NW Florida) and rain. Quickly passing rain showers then create a fabulous outdoor sauna. If sweating is your thing you, my friend, are in luck.

Now, imagine wearing a fur coat as you are out for a mid-afternoon walk. My guess is that your body would be working overtime to keep your core temp down. Go ahead … stick your tongue out and pant and see if that helps. Toss off your shoes too because the only other method of cooling your body is through the pores of your feet. What? You are walking on really hot pavement and now your feet are burning instead of sweating? Sounds like the perfect storm for an overheated body that can’t cool itself … heat exhaustion and heat stroke, here we come.

We have either done it or see people who do: walking dogs in the middle of the afternoon on a hot day thinking it was ok. Nope. Before you take that walk, take off your shoes and place your bare foot (or your hand) on a sunny part of the pavement/sidewalk/dirt/sand for TEN seconds. If that ain’t happenin’, that walk shouldn’t either.

Ever see those videos where people fry eggs on a hot summer sidewalk? The skin on your dog’s pads might be thicker than our skin but will burn just the same.

The sign with the asphalt temps should be posted everywhere. If nothing else to remind us humans what our shoes won’t reveal – hot pavement can literally BURN the skin.

But Lisa, you say, my dogs are driving me crazy, you say. What should we do? My first suggestion is to walk earlier and later in the day than you normally do. Our morning walk usually starts between 7:30-8:00am. Our summer mornings are already heating up around then, so we head for local parks, find as much shade as possible and lucky for us, many people run their sprinklers around that time.

If your dog doesn’t know about sprinklers, teach them. Cassidy used to be afraid of them. I had to practically pick her up and place her near the sprinkler head and gently direct some water her way. If her face got wet, she would quickly pull away. Now? She is the first one in and doesn’t mind the spray. Pippin circles around to make sure all of her gets wet and Darcy will get her belly wet and then will do a stopdropandroll on the wet grass. If we time it right within our hour-long walk, they cool off at least 2-3 times in different yards. Even if there is no visible human within earshot, I always offer a “thank you!” as we are walking away.

If you know that sprinklers won’t be available, take along a bottle of water. When we are hiking at a state park, I always have water and offer it a couple times during our walk. We also hunt for shade. The temperature difference between full sun and shade can be remarkable. Perhaps your dog can wear a cool coat that reflect the sun’s rays. You will probably have to answer some questions as you are walking, but my guess is that most people will tell you how smart and thoughtful you are.

Another option would be to take a shorter walk and then play a fun outdoor game at home. You don’t have to go far, you can control how much they play, monitor how hot they get and a hose or a fresh bowl of water is always available. My dogs love to retrieve, so they are always happy when I toss a few balls for them in the front yard. I stop the game before they get overheated but after they have had a chance to get in a few good runs. Because a daily walk is so important for both the dog and the human (see links below to articles about walking), I would not recommend substituting a round of retrieving for a walk. Even a short one (15-20 minutes) is better than too many repetitions of retrieving a ball.

If it’s really hot, after a short walk close to home, you can get creative with some indoor games. My dogs, especially Pippin, love doing tricks. AKC offers several levels of trick titles, so take a few minutes to train some new, fun behaviors. Tricks not your thing? Stuff some treats into a KONG toy, hide it in your house and play a find it game. A new favorite at my house is taking turns having each dog back up the full length of our hallway (around 30’) to a foot target. Big fat bonus for each of these games (in addition to AC) is physical AND mental stimulation.

Looking for more indoor suggestions? Susan Garrett has a great video where she offers 20 different games/activities that you and your dog can do if you’re stuck inside. Check the resource links at the bottom of the page.

And then there’s this … according to the AKC website, the most common cause of heatstroke in dogs is confinement in a closed vehicle. Check out the graph – it’s surprising to see how hot a car becomes in just a few minutes. If you do take your dog in the car with you and if you do need to leave them, be prepared to leave the car running with the AC on. And even then, make it quick. Better yet, just leave them at home. If the car stops, the AC stops and the temperature inside a closed car can become dangerously high in a matter of minutes, and the results can be fatal.

No matter what you are doing with your dogs, whether it’s a long walk or working in the heat or too many chuck-it retrievals in your back yard, you need to be aware of the signs of over exertion. Following are tips for avoiding heat exhaustion as well as what to do if your dog gets overheated.

Which animals are more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heatstroke?

Animals that are overweight
Flat faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs, or Persian cats
Pets with thick coats
Old or very young animals
Animals with pre-existing conditions, particularly airway, lung or heart problems

Common sense ways to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke:

Limit exercise on warm and humid days
Don’t leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day, even if the windows are open and it’s “just for a minute”
When outside, opt for shady areas
Keep fresh cool water available at all times
Not sure? Leave your dog at home

Signs your dog might be suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke

Rapid panting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, long, fat curled tongue
Tongue/gum color change: look for bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums
Lethargy, difficulty walking straight or maintaining balance
Different behavior: hyperactive, restless, agitated, pacing or confusion
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Unresponsive – if your dog is here, head for your emergency vet now

What to do if your dog overheats :

Stop the activity immediately and find shade
Offer water to drink and hose/wet down your dog’s body, especially armpits and belly
Interestingly, do not use ice or really cold water but rather cool or room temperature water
If your dog is lethargic, vomiting or unresponsive, head to your emergency vet for additional support and observation

Like anything, a little common sense goes a long way in keeping you and your dog safe and happy. If you are getting overheated on a walk or during an activity, it’s a good chance your dog is already there. However, it’s Summertime and the living is easy! If you are mindful and prepared, the hot temps and those scary “feels like” readings should not keep you and your dog from the great outdoors where you both can enjoy the sun, fresh air and lots of great summer activities.