Is Your Pet at Risk of Heat Stroke in San Diego?
San Diego is known for being warm and sunny. But the heat and sun aren’t always harmless, and while we may slather ourselves with sunscreen and retreat to the air conditioning if it is too warm, we may forget that our pets can be affected too.
That could lead to trouble for your pets, including heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If your dog or cat is experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke, there will be some warning signs. You’ll also want to know what to do next—read on.
Heat stroke in pets: What to watch for
First of all, it’s good to know what heat stroke actually is. It’s life-threatening, for one, so you need to take it seriously. But in effect, it’s when a person or animal’s body temperature rises above a certain threshold, and can cause a myriad of problems.
So, in other words, it means that you’ve become overheated and need to find a way to cool down, quickly. If you (or your pet) ignore the signs and continue to overheat, organs could shut down, you could lose consciousness, and you could even die. Yeah—heat is serious business.
If the heat is getting to your pet, there are some signs to look out for:
Panting or rapid breathing
Drooling (excessively!)
Dry nose or membranes
Skin that’s hot to the touch
Disorientation
There are some other factors that come into play as well. Certain dog breeds, for one, may be more susceptible to heat stroke than others (short-nosed dogs are a good example). Puppies and senior dogs may be at a higher risk as well. Your dog's weight and overall level of fitness or health can exacerbate or help them sidestep heat-related problems.
If you’ve lived in San Diego or another warm environment for some time with your pet, though, that can help. Just like people, dogs can get acclimated to certain climates. But if your dog is used to living in Fairbanks and suddenly finds themselves in a tropical environment, they could get overheated more easily.
How to treat pets experiencing heat stroke
If your dog or pet is experiencing heat stroke or other heat-related issues, your first move should be to get them out of the heat—take them somewhere shady, cool, and ventilated. Make sure they have access to water as well. You may also want to spray them with water, or hose them down.
If you have a thermometer, you can take your dog’s temperature to see if it’s at acceptable or otherwise normal levels. If not, see what you can do to cool them down. If you’re unsuccessful, don’t be afraid to give your veterinarian a call to see what they recommend.
Again, heat stroke isn’t something to mess around with, as it can kill your pet if you’re not careful. As we’ve discussed before, if it’s too hot for you, it’s probably too hot for your pet. Do what you can to avoid problems related to heat, and if you’ve been out on the beach and your dog looks tired or thirsty, make sure they have access to shade and water.
As always, if you have questions or aren’t sure if your dog is experiencing heat-related problems, give us a call!
Contact us to make an appointment today!
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