On sauna days, people like to drink mung bean soup to relieve the heat. If they feel any discomfort, they first think it is heatstroke. Is the same true for pets? Most dogs emit sweat mainly through sweat glands on their tongue, paws, and nose. The thick hair of dogs makes it difficult for them to resist the invasion of heat. If your dog suffers from heatstroke, mung bean soup won’t work.

The "trigger" of heat stroke

The most important thing is of course that the ambient temperature is too high. This includes two aspects. First, the temperature is too high, which usually occurs indoors and in cars. Any time, any time! Don’t lock your dog in the car! There is no such thing as “it’ll be fine in the car for a while.” I have personally seen dogs being locked in a car and suffocated to death - it only takes 15 minutes, or maybe less, for the dog to die of heatstroke. The second is being exposed to direct sunlight for too long. Think back to when you saw someone faint during military training. No one can stand being exposed to the sun.

Insufficient drinking water is also an important cause of heat stroke. Your dog's water basin should be filled with fresh, clean water. The four-character mantra "drink more hot water" is not suitable for dogs - forget about the word "hot" and just drink water at room temperature.

In addition, different breeds have different heat tolerances. Some dogs from cold areas, such as Samoyeds, Huskies, Saint Bernards, and Bulldogs, are all breeds that are cold tolerant but not heat resistant. If you keep these dogs indoors, don’t skimp on air conditioning. Hairless or short-haired dogs such as Chinese Crested Dogs, Deer Dogs, and Chihuahuas have relatively strong heat resistance. That is to say, in the same environment that can cause heatstroke, Huskies can survive for 10 minutes and Crested dogs can survive for 20 minutes.

No matter how short a dog’s coat is, the risk of heatstroke cannot be ruled out in hot summer weather.

What should I do if I have heatstroke?

1. First, keep the dog away from hot environments. If you are indoors, open windows for ventilation or turn on the air conditioner. If you are outdoors, find a shaded place for your dog to rest and don’t let him sweat from exercising anymore.

2. If the dog can still move, give it some water. Be careful not to feed Twolegs sports drinks. If it doesn't want to drink, don't force it to drink water. In addition to drinking water, you can also use a shower to cool down. If spraying with a hose, make sure to reduce the water pressure. This is not a game, so the water spray must be gentle. The water temperature should not be too low. There is no need to deliberately find ice water. Clean water at normal temperature is enough.

3. You can use alcohol cotton to wipe the dog's paws to cool down and ensure that the dog's paws are not wrapped. Do not wipe with too much alcohol to avoidThe dog licks it into his mouth.

4. You can wipe the dog's coat with a cool, damp towel, but don't be lazy and wrap the dog in a towel directly, and don't lock it in a cage.

5. Regardless of whether the situation has improved, it is recommended to take the dog to the hospital for further examination.

What are the symptoms of heatstroke?

Before taking cooling measures, you need to know whether your dog is really suffering from heat stroke when he is "uncomfortable". Dogs suffering from heatstroke may have the following symptoms:

1. Body temperature rises (generally above 40°C, you can use a thermometer clamped on the dog’s thigh to measure it or measure the anal temperature after disinfection)

2. Out of breath

3. Extreme thirst

4. The tongue is bright red

5. Red or pale gums

6. Saliva increases and becomes sticky

7. Listlessness and fatigue

8. Vomiting and diarrhea

How to prevent heatstroke

1. Pay attention to the ambient temperature

If the outdoor temperature is too high during the day, stay indoors and turn on the air conditioner, and go out for a walk before the sun rises above your head or until the sun goes down.

2. Avoid leaving your dog alone in the car

If you are traveling by car, keep the car cool or open the windows for ventilation.

3. Groom your dog regularly

This includes grooming and haircuts. Coat that is too long or too thick is not conducive to heat dissipation, so owners can take their dogs to the beauty salon regularly to trim their pet's hair to the appropriate length.

4. Provide sufficient drinking water

This can help the dog dissipate heat. When at home, please always check whether there is enough water in your dog's water basin. If you go out, be sure to bring water for your dog to drink with you.

5. Take your dog swimming

Most dogs like swimming, which not only allows them to cool down in the hot summer, but also makes them feel happier. Please make sure that the creeks, rivers, and pools where your dog swims are not too deep. Although dogs love to swim, they may make mistakes or become exhausted while swimming, causing them to drown.

6. Avoid extensive exercise in hot weather

This not only exposes the dog to the sun for a long time, but also causes the dog to sweat rapidly.

7. Avoid walking on surfaces exposed to direct sunlight

Direct sunlightThe temperature of beaches, asphalt, and concrete roads will be very high, which may damage the dog's paws and cause heat stroke.