Preventing Heat Illness

Okay, much of this is "common sense" but it's important. So, even if you think you know all the reasons why, keep reading to learn how to prevent heat injuries...

Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day (about 12 noon to 3 p.m.).
Excercise/play for short periods of time and take lots of breaks.

Acclimate your dog to the heat. --Don't just rush outdoors and spend a full day practicing agility if your dog is not accustomed to such work. Starting in cooler weather, slowly build up to longer play periods.

Have lots of cool (not ice-cold, however) water available. Stop frequently and give your dog (and you) a chance to get a drink.

When possible, work/play in a shady area.

Know your dog! He's your best friend, after all, so keep an eye on him. Slow down the activity when he wants to slow down. --More importantly, slow down when he doesn't want to! Some animals are so keen to please that they'll keep work well past the time they should have stopped.

It's up to you to know when it's time to stop!

NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR IN A PARKED CAR! I know, most of you are saying, "Hey, that's common sense!" Maybe so, but this is still the leading cause of heat stroke in dogs today. It only takes minutes on a hot summer day for your dog's core body temperature to rise to deadly levels. So just don't do it!

Identifying Heat Stroke

How do you know if a dog is suffering from a heat stroke? Here are a few things to look for...

Heavy, excessive panting with a lot of salivation.
Collapsing, still with heavy panting.
Bloody diarrhea or vomiting.
Pull on the skin on the back of the dog's neck. If the dog is healthy it will return in one or two seconds. A delay indicates dehydration, which often accompanies heat stroke.
Check the dog's mucous membranes (either the gums/inner lip of the dog's mouth or, in the case of breeds with black gums, the inner lower eyelid). These should be pink. Any other color indicates an emergency.
Check the dogs capillary refill time (this is a quick way to see if the dog's circulation is normal). Press lightly on the gums/inner lip of the dog's mouth. As you press, the color should go from pink to white. When you release, it goes from white to pink, with color returning in one or two seconds. If it's faster than that (and other symptoms are present) and it's a good bet that your dog is suffering a heat stroke.
The dog's temperature is above 104° Farenheit.
If you see a combination of these, chances are good that your dog is suffering from heat illness and needs to be treated, so start immediately (see below) and get the animal to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Treating Heat Stroke

If your dog is suffering from heat stroke, act quickly and get the animal to your vet! Some of the effects of heat stroke (like kidney failure, swelling of the brain, heart rhythms) may not show up for hours or days and can be fatal if not treated. So, even if you do everything below and your dog appears to be acting normal, play it safe and get to the vet!

Move your dog to a cool, shady spot. Get her out of the direct heat.

Take the dog's temperature (if possible). If it's above 104° F, you want to lower that in 10 to 15 minutes and stop when the dog's temperature reaches 104°.

Spray or immerse the dog in cool water. Note: Use cool, not ice cold water!

Place cool, water-soaked towels on the neck, feet, and belly.

Let the dog drink if it wants.

Get to the nearest veterinarian.

With a little common sense and attention, you and your dog can have a fun, safe summer without any troubles!