In recent years, in midsummer, there have been news reports of pet dogs dying of heatstroke from time to time. The editor feels very sad about this. Since many owners lack relevant knowledge and don’t know how to avoid dog heatstroke and how to give first aid after dog heatstroke, let’s take stock of dog heatstroke events and knowledge on how to prevent dog heatstroke.

The 19th Asian Pet Expo in 2016 was held in Shanghai. On the first public opening day on August 20, tens of thousands of people poured into the exhibition hall. There were long lines at the venue, and the scene was chaotic. In the high temperature weather above 35 degrees Celsius, more than 10 dogs suffered from heat stroke, and at least two of them died.

In July 2017, Mr. Liu, a citizen, took his dog to go hiking. When he was about to go down the mountain, he found that the dog was breathing rapidly and foaming at the mouth. So he immediately carried the dog down the mountain and drove it to a pet hospital for treatment. The pet doctor who treated the dog recalled that the dog was already in a coma when he was brought in. His pupils were dilated unconsciously, and the thermometer had exploded, at least 43 degrees Celsius or above, which was an obvious symptom of heat stroke. Coincidentally, the French bulldog of Ms. Liu, a citizen, recently suffered from heat stroke after being stopped for several hours due to a malfunction in the air conditioner.

The weather is too hot, and the dogs wearing "fur coats" are so hot that they stick out their tongues. Many pets suffer from heatstroke on hot days, and some dogs get burned when being walked. Since dogs have no sweat glands, no capillaries, and are covered in fur, they cannot adjust their body temperature as the temperature changes. They can only dissipate heat through their tongues and foot pads, so they are more susceptible to heatstroke. In hot weather, pets are not only at risk of heat stroke, but some citizens also fail to pay attention to the time when walking their dogs and end up walking their puppies "lame". Ms. Zhu, a citizen of Nanchang, took her pet dog to the pet hospital for treatment yesterday. "It was fine when I went out, but the puppy stopped moving after walking for more than 10 minutes." It turned out that Ms. Zhu saw that the sun was not too strong, so she took her with her My puppy goes for a walk on the road. Unexpectedly, the road temperature reached 60°C, and the puppy’s paws were burned.

Under what circumstances will a dog suffer from heatstroke?

First, the ambient temperature is too high and overheated. Poor ventilation at home, thick dog hair, and closed and stuffy cars are common causes of heat stroke in summer. Secondly, high temperature weather and strong direct sunlight. Dogs that are exposed to high temperatures or direct sunlight for a long time can cause heat stroke. Finally, when dogs engage in high-intensity activities or training in the summer, heatstroke may occur due to lack of water and the inability to dissipate accumulated heat in the body. In addition, long-term indwelling of tracheal intubation during anesthesia, cardiovascular and genitourinary system diseases, and excessive obesity can also hinder the dissipation of heat and cause heat stroke.

How to tell if your dog has heatstroke

The body temperature rises sharply to 41 degrees Celsius, and breathing becomes rapid and causes breathing problems.It is difficult to breathe, the heartbeat continues to increase, and symptoms of nausea and vomiting may also occur. The mucosa initially appears bright red, and gradually becomes cyanotic, causing the pupils to continue to dilate. If the condition is effectively improved, they will shrink. When a dog's kidneys fail, he or she will usually have little or no urine. If not treated in time, failure will soon occur, manifesting as spasms, convulsions or lethargy.

What to do if your dog has heat stroke

What should you do if your dog unfortunately suffers from heat stroke? First of all, the dog with heat stroke should be placed in a ventilated and cool place to keep quiet. You can pour cold water on the head or enema, and feed an appropriate amount of Huoxiang Zhengqi liquid. If the dog's symptoms are not significantly relieved, please send it to the pet hospital in time and let the pet doctor handle it.

The editor would like to remind all dog lovers that when walking your dog, try to walk in the morning or evening, and do not go out for a walk when the weather is hot to avoid burning the dog's paws. Pay attention to ventilating pets at ordinary times, reduce strenuous exercise, and do not keep pets in confined spaces, especially do not leave them in the car. Once you find that your pet has heatstroke, you should immediately cool down its head. You can apply cold water to it and move it to a place where the temperature is not high. In severe cases, you should take your pet to a pet hospital for medical treatment immediately. Pet dogs with short nasal cavities such as French bulldogs, pugs, and Pekingese should pay special attention to preventing heatstroke. Ventilation should be maintained, water should be replenished in time, and a larger space for activities should be provided. If possible, the air conditioner should be turned on 24 hours a day. Exposure to the sun on the balcony must not be allowed.

Every furry kid will be happy because of one of your actions, and one of your actions can determine life or death. Please read this article carefully and learn to take precautions before it happens. Maybe you will encounter a stray child suffering from heatstroke. Please give it a glass of water and take it to a cool place. An act of kindness every day makes life better.