Why do dogs get heatstroke? Dogs don’t actually have sweat glands, did you know?

Sep 12,2024
5Min

Causes of heatstroke in dogs

When we were in school, we already knew in biology class that dogs are different from people. Their skin does not have sweat glands, and they can only absorb most of their sweat through rapid breathing. Heat is discharged through the mouth, which is why dogs will always "stick out their tongues and pant" in summer.
Since there are no sweat glands to dissipate heat, dogs produce more heat and dissipate less heat in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. When too much heat is stored in the body, it will cause meningeal congestion and central nervous system dysfunction. This is what dogs do. Heat stroke.

How to tell if a dog has heat stroke

When it is found that the dog's body temperature is too high, the tongue is stretched out and the mouth is panting, and the tongue turns purple due to lack of oxygen, and the dog shows weakness in the limbs, difficulty breathing, and confusion. If the condition is unclear, or even serious conditions such as convulsions, coma and shock occur, the dog may have heat stroke.

Solutions for dog heatstroke

Dog heatstroke is an acute reaction caused by excessive heat accumulation in the body in a short period of time. Therefore, when you find that your dog has heatstroke, you should first go through some simple Carry out self-rescue according to the emergency measures and then send them to the hospital, so as not to miss the best opportunity for treatment.
1. Quickly move the dog from a high temperature environment to a cool and ventilated place to rest or lie down. For example, you can turn on a fan or air conditioner indoors to cool down, and raise the dog's feet to increase brain function. Blood supply;
2. Feed the dog an appropriate amount of water, which can be mixed with a few ice cubes, but it should not be too cold;
3. When the dog’s condition still does not improve after one or two o’clock, It is recommended to wet the whole body with cold water or cover the body with a wet towel. However, do not use ice water or ice cubes to directly contact the dog, because too low a temperature will cause the blood vessels around the dog's body to contract violently, making it impossible to dissipate heat. This aggravates the reaction to heatstroke, which can even lead to death in severe cases!
4. After the dog’s body temperature begins to drop to the normal value (remember to observe the dog’s body temperature at any time during the cooling process. When the body temperature drops to 38 degrees, the cooling measures should be removed to avoid hypothermia), and then Send to the hospital for a comprehensive examination;
5. During the process of sending the dog to the hospital, try to keep the dog's neck straight so that they can move smoothly. If the dog is accompanied by vomiting, the vomit in the mouth needs to be cleaned in time. , to avoid being inhaled into the trachea and causing pneumonia.

Methods to prevent heatstroke in dogs

1. Do not leave your dog in a high-temperature, closed environment for a long time, especially if you have a car. Do not put your dog (the same goes for children) when you get out of the car. !) Locked alone in the car, the dog may die of heat in less than half an hour;
2. Try not to take the dog out at noon. If you need to go out, try to avoid strenuous exercise;
br />3. Keep plenty of drinking water;
4. Dogs with long or double-coated hair can consider cutting their hair short, but it is not recommended to shave all the hair;
5. It is okay in summer. Take your dog swimming more often and enjoy itHave fun, avoid heatstroke, and effectively exercise your dog’s body.

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