09/08/2022
Always good to know what to look out for and how to help.
With the warmer weather ahead, owners should be mindful of the signs of heatstroke. 🌡️ Heatstroke is a serious illness that develops when a dog gets too hot and is unable to lower its temperature. Left untreated, heatstroke can lead to seizures, organ failure and even death.
Any dog can develop heatstroke, but overweight, young, elderly, flat-faced, giant-breed, and thick-coated dogs are particularly at risk, even from just sitting out in hot weather.
Some of the most common triggers for heatstroke include:
🥵 Overheating during exercise - accounts for 74% of cases
☀️ Being outside in hot weather (even just sitting still) - accounts for 12.9% of cases
🚘♨️ Being trapped in a hot car - accounts for 5.2% of cases
See advice from our vets on what you can do to help prevent or provide first aid for heatstroke: http://pdsa.me/hpSh
🧊 Please note that ice cubes are perfectly safe for dogs to use as a treat to cool down on a hot day. It is when a dog is suffering from heatstroke that the drastic change in temperature from the ice can cause shock, and therefore should be avoided. A dog’s normal body temperature is around 38.6°C (101.5°F).
