It’s summertime and the weather is warm, okay hot, in most places. This makes a fantastic opportunity to get outside with your pet, however, it also presents the danger of your dog overheating.
Dogs love to get outside and play and have a drive to continue playing and interacting that will overpower feelings of exhaustion. Because if this, it is important to keep an eye on your pet’s level of activity and recognize any signs of overheating before they present a danger to the dog’s health.
A better strategy yet is to closely manage outdoor summer play by ensuring times of rest in the shade or cool areas and plenty of water to ensure signs of heatstroke never emerge.
Some signs of heatstroke include:
- A fever over 104°F
- Loud, excessive panting
- Difficulty responding to commands
- Staring
- Loss of balance
- Rapid breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Anxiousness
- Collapse
If you observe any of these signs in your dog, he or she is in a very dangerous situation and should be taken to an emergency vet immediately. On the way, attempt to keep them cool by wetting their fur and skin and keeping them in an air-conditioned area of the car.
Of course, never, ever leave your dog unattended in a car – temperatures can soar very quickly and result in the death of your dog.
Now get out there and have some fun in the sun!