Mikhail Blacer
Summer within our doorsteps, and inevitably, cases of heatstroke will once again become a common fixture in newspapers and television. Bear in mind that it is easy to prevent, so if you don't want to be part of an unfortunate statistic, note the following tips:
If your dogs love spending their time in the yard rather than in the living room couch, then ensure that they have ample shade or an entrance to the house when it starts getting hot. However, it can still get extremely hot even if they're not directly hit by sunlight: check the atmospheric temperature and be sure to let them in when it gets hot.
If you're planning of bringing your dog to a shopping trip, you're better off making it stay at home. One of the major reasons why the cases of heatstroke are on the rise is simply because owners leave their dogs inside cars. Even if it's chilly outside, the temperature inside a closed vehicle can be pretty hot. Remember, dogs have no means of chilling themselves other than panting, which is never enough.
Why not open the windows and turn on the air conditioning unit instead?
Well, opening the windows partially won't do your dog any good - it can still cause heatstroke especially if it's hot outside. Although turning on the AC unit seems foolproof, there are cases wherein the unit broke down and expelled hot air instead of cold, thus killing the dogs trapped inside.
Remember, being trapped in a hot, oven-like environment, is a cruel way to die.
Reschedule your dog walks any time before eight in the morning and after five in the afternoon. Doing so will eliminate the chances of your dog getting heatstroke. The same also applies sessions in the play park or dips in the pool.
Other than heatstroke, walking your dog when it's hot outside will expose their paws to the extremely hot sidewalks and asphalt, thus burning their paws. Bear in mind that this is difficult to treat, and may pave the way for other complications like infection.
Try walking barefoot over the sidewalk and you'll know how your dog feels.
The symptoms of heatstroke are noticeable, and once your dog seems to be showing signs of being afflicted during a walk or a play session, carrying a bottle of water around can save its life.
Also remember that if your dog is not accustomed to gorging up water straight from a bottle, it's always handy to carry around a light, plastic water bowl.
Perhaps the most important part of this list, you need to learn how to apply first aid care to a canine companion hit with heatstroke. Certain treatment methods may seem to make sense, including dousing it in cold water to lower its body temperature, but doing so has negative implications. Check the link out for more tips and other aspects to consider.
When your dog is confirmed to be inflicted with heatstroke, apply first aid and immediately go to your local veterinary hospital for further treatment. The condition can leave permanent damage, so it's best to have the pros take care of Fido!
