Most puppies have a hard time tolerating heat. Did you also know that a dog can suffer from heat stroke due to heat? Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition in dogs that results from an excessive rise in body temperature. In the following, I will present to you how a puppy cools down, what are the symptoms of heatstroke, and how to help a puppy experiencing heatstroke.

Unlike us, dogs regulate their body temperature mainly by emitting heat through panting. In doing so, he inhales cold and dry air through the nostril and exhales warm and moist air through the muzzle.

Most puppies already reduce their physical activity at an outside temperature of 22-25°C and look for a place to rest in the shade or on the cold floor. When the outside temperature reaches 30°C, the cooling mechanisms are no longer sufficient for most puppies and their body temperature starts to rise as a result.

At the same time, I must also warn you about more sensitive breeds - these are those breeds that have short muzzles (pug, English and French bulldog, boxer...). Because of their short muzzles, these breeds have very compressed and reduced nasal "conchas". So their most important cooling part is not working well enough.

What types of heat stroke do we know?

We can distinguish between two types of thermal shocks. Classic heatstroke , caused by high ambient temperature and heatstroke, caused by physical exertion . This is caused by excessive physical activity on a hot day, such as: running next to a bicycle, playing fetch, long walks...

The most common cause of heatstroke with a fatal outcome is leaving a dog in a closed car!

In the table above, you can see how quickly the temperature rises in a closed car in the sun. Therefore, regardless of whether your car is parked in the shade or anywhere else, DO NOT leave your dog in the car! Your errand may be delayed, while the puppy is losing its fight for life in an overheated car.

How can I recognize heatstroke in a puppy?

The first signs that a puppy is overheating are:

• increased salivation,
• persistent heavy wheezing,
• the inside of the ears is red and hot,
• the neck is stretched,
• the tongue hangs far from the muzzle,
• nervousness, restlessness and panic.

Above I have listed the first signs that show when a dog is warming up. The dog is trying to lower its body temperature by panting heavily. It retreats to a cool and shady place.

When the puppy cannot cool down and heatstroke occurs, this is manifested by:

• faster and shallower breathing,
• fast heartbeat, arrhythmias,
• severe redness of the tongue and mucous membranes,
• apathy,
• uncoordinated movement, balance disorders,
• vomiting and (bloody) diarrhea may occur.
• A rise in body temperature above 41°C.

If the puppy does not get veterinary help quickly enough, it will go into shock. Only this manifests itself with convulsions, pale and blue mucous membranes, and ultimately loss of consciousness and death. All this can happen very quickly.

How to help a puppy experiencing heat stroke?

A puppy experiencing the first signs of heat stroke should immediately move to a cool and shady place and start cooling it down. Start cooling at the paws and slowly continue over the trunk ((lower abdomen, lumbar area) to the neck and back of the neck. You can cool the puppy with running water, but be careful not to use ice! Wet cold towels are also suitable, with which you can cover the dog, and you have to change them often so that they don't get warm. If the puppy is conscious, offer him lukewarm water.

It is best to contact the veterinarian immediately, who will give you exact instructions and, if necessary, also visit you (or him).

Prevention

• In the summer, she goes for walks with her puppy early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Avoid the main heat.
• Avoid driving your dog in a car without air conditioning.
• Always have enough water with you!