11/07/2025
☀️ The weather is warming up ☀️
Please keep all pets safe in the sun 🐈🐕🐇
Heat stroke is a term commonly used for hyperthermia or elevated body temperature. Generally speaking, if a pet's body temperature exceeds 39.4°C, it is considered abnormal or hyperthermic. Body temperatures above 41°C without previous signs of illness are most commonly associated with exposure to excessive heat and are often referred to as heat stroke. The critical temperature where multiple organ failure and impending death occurs is around 41.2°C to 42.7°C.
Signs of heatstroke-
☀️elevated breathing rates,
☀️dry or sticky gums,
☀️abnormal gum colour,
☀️lethargic or disoriented,
☀️sudden seizures,
☀️Restlessness or agitation, pacing, seeking shade,
☀️Drooling
☀️Vomiting or diarrhoea
☀️Reddening and warmth of the ears (rabbits and small furries)
☀️Wetness around the nose. (Rabbits and small furries)
How to prevent heatstroke -
🐾Make sure your pet always has access to a cool shaded area, both indoors and outside
🐾Restrict exercise on warm days (dogs should be walked early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day)
🐾Pack a water bottle on walks
🐾Never leave pets in a car or a hot room
🐾Ensure your pet always has drinking water available. Adding ice can help keep it cool, or a forzen water bottle for small furries such as rabbits.
🐾 cooling mats (especially in rabbit & ginuea pig hutches)
And always remember, hot pavements can burn paws! If it’s too hot to hold your hand on, it’s too hot for your pet to walk on.
Remember we're always here to help, call the Ferring surgery on 01903 241 022 or East Preston surgery on 01903 785 326. Outside of our opening hours you can call Arthur Lodge on 01403 252964 or Vets Now Worthing on 01903 954322.
