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The dog days of summer

Local vet: Prevention key to pets surviving

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Maggie, who lives with her humans, the Recker family, in Fort Dodge, enjoys a cool treat Friday afternoon while chilling out in the shade.

Humans aren’t the only ones suffering from the heat this summer — man’s best friend is particularly susceptible to heat stroke, too.

While humans can sweat to get some relief from the heat via evaporative cooling, their furry friends can’t.

“Dogs don’t sweat, they pant,” said Dr. Mike Bottorff, veterinarian at East Lawn Animal Hospital. “Panting only goes so far.”

Last year, Bottorff saw about two dogs die of heat stroke, and another two brought in for it. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals reported 78 instances of animals, mostly dogs, that died from heatstroke or heat exhaustion in 2018 and 2019.

The best way to prevent it is to be proactive.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Dr. Mike Bottorff demonstrates with Kelly how to cool down your dog if they overheat. Wrapping in a wet towel is a good way to cool down quickly.

“A lot of issues can be prevented by a watchful owner,” Bottorff said.

Even if not immediately fatal, health issues from the heat can be lasting. Tissues, the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys are the first to start shutting down when a dog sustains a continued fever of 103 degrees or higher.

“Heat stroke is an emergency that needs to be handled by a vet,” Bottorff said.

Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting or diarrhea, staggering (being unable to walk or stumbling) and gums in the mouth that are dark and red rather than their normal pink color.

Short-nosed breeds in particular, such as pugs and English Bulldogs, have even less of an ability to cool themselves via panting and should never be exposed to heat, even for short periods, he said.

Often, he said some of those signs can mean your dog is well into heatstroke, “late in the game.” If you notice these signs, take your animal to a veterinarian immediately or call them, if after hours.

Cats are comparatively less susceptible to the heat, he noted.

“Cats are pretty slow and they go into inactivity when it’s hot,” the vet said. “They will find the coolest place and hang there

Tips for keeping your dog cool

  Dr. Mike Bottorff offers a few tips to prevent heat stroke and cool your dog down.

To prevent heat stroke:

∫Don’t leave them in the car. Car temperatures, even when outside temperatures seem comfortable to us, can quickly escalate to deadly levels — even with the windows cracked. Five-minute stops for an errand can easily become longer.

“It makes me cringe, when I go by a car with a dog in it,” said Bottorff. “Dogs just can’t deal with that kind of temperature change.”

• Always make sure they have plenty of cool, fresh water throughout the day. For dogs without gastrointestinal issues, they can generally have as much as they like, the vet said. If your dog has a history of GI issues, try spreading out the water over a bit of time or starting with a hand full of ice cubes.

• Take shorter walks during periods of warm weather, and take the walks early in the morning or later in the evening, when it’s cooler out. Bring water for them on your walks.

“They certainly need exercise,” said Bottorff. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t walk them.”

• Make sure your dog has access to shade outside to mitigate some heat. Shade and water will prevent a lot of overheating in dogs.

• Keep the proper thermometer on hand for your dog. Use it if you suspect your pet is under stress. A fever for a dog is 103 degrees or higher. If your dog has a fever, attempt to cool them down and contact your vet immediately.

• If you have a short-nosed breed, such as a pug or bulldog, avoid any heat exposure at all, even for short periods.

To cool your dog down:

• Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting or diarrhea, staggering (being unable to walk or stumbling) and gums in the mouth that are dark and red rather than their normal pink color.

• If you notice heat stroke or exhaustion, take them to the vet or call the vet immediately while you attempt the following to lower their body temperature.

• Make sure they have immediate and plentiful access to cool, fresh water. Cold treats such as popsicles or ice cream can help, too, assuming your dog’s stomach isn’t sensitive to them, but cold treats alone are not enough once your dog has reached a fever.

• Soak towels in cold water and wrap your dog in them. While doing that, put them in front of a fan for added help.

• If you have access to a bathtub, fill it with cold water and make sure their body (except for the head) stays submerged until cool.

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