How to Stop Your Dog From Overheating

How to stop your dog from overheating. There are quite a number of things that you’ll need to observe if your dog is to stay healthy and comfortable. Your dog’s happiness isn’t something that you can overlook. Dogs are conscious and very observant creatures that require several things in order to be content and to enjoy life. Their guardians need to get out of the mentality that dogs are nothing more than possessions and begin creating caring and responsible relations with them.

For all the loyalty and love that you get from your dog, it deserves consideration in return. When the weather is hot, you need to take the necessary preventive measures so that your precious pet doesn’t become a victim of overheating. When it’s out in the heat, it must always have a shelter and a cool place with a shade.

With that said, you should never make a mistake of leaving your dog in your car, even with the window down. This is due to the fact that temperatures in your car can rise to over 100 degrees. Even if you choose to park your car in the shed, it’s still not advisable to leave your dog inside it.

Dogs with flat faces, categorized as brachycephalic dogs, are more sensitive to high temperatures than those with ordinary faces. Some common examples of brachycephalic dogs include French Bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers and Pugs. If you own any of these breeds, you need to be very careful as hot weather can easily kill it! Even if it doesn’t die immediately, it can still succumb to the effects of the heat.

You should never allow it to sit or lay in the sun for any length of time. It can’t tell that it’s getting overheated, and its rate of panting can soon become extremely fast. If you decide to walk your dog, ensure that you do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon. At any other time, you’ll be risking his life.

How to tell if your dog is overheated

-His temperature will be higher than normal

-His airway is swollen causing its mouth to be filled with white foam (not always)

-He heaves as it pants, and its panting sounds more like a roar

-He appears distressed and has little energy

-His tongue will be extremely red and flop out of its mouth

– Bright red mucous membranes in the gums or eyes and/or bright red tongue

– Lethargy and weakness

-Collapsing and seizures, even coma

What to do if your dog becomes excessively hot:

If you notice any of the above signs, then this can mean that your dog is becoming abnormally hot. It’s time for it to cool off as quickly as possible, or else it’ll die.

1. Use cold water or ice to reduce its temperature. You can do this by rubbing ice around its rectum or pouring cold water over its head.

2. To help clear its airway, use a plastic bottle to force lemon juice into its airway. This will eliminate the foam and enable it to breathe at a faster rate.

3. Provide drinking water, but do not force an animal to drink. You can apply rubbing alcohol on the skin as a cooling agent.

4. After lowering its temperature, ensure that it’s placed in a quiet environment

5. If these techniques don’t bear fruits, then you should take it to the vet as soon as possible. While in the vehicle, keep it as cool as possible.

* This information is not a substitute for veterinary care. Contact your veterinarian or emergency animal hospital immediately for any potentially serious injury, condition or illness.

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