Where I live, it’s already about ninety degrees a day, and this weekend, we’re supposed to get slammed with a heat wave from the west. Saturday and Sunday, it’s going to be over one hundred! For me, this means I’m going to avoid being outside as much as possible. People can get heatstroke extremely easily. But, you know who gets it even easier? Dogs. They’re built for colder weather– they have fur coats and they don’t sweat. The number one way to prevent heatstroke in dogs is to bring them inside! Make sure they stay hydrated as well– always provide fresh, cool water– and lots of it. If you have an “outside” dog, make sure they have a shady spot to keep cool in, and double up on the water. I’d still recommend bringing them in for the hottest hour or two of the day. If you think your dog has suffered from heatstroke, read this post at Wikihow. Know the symptoms– heavy, rapid breathing, vomiting, high heart rate, and weakness or fatigue are all serious signs! This is how to treat it:
-Immediately bring them into a cool indoor room
-Cool them down: pour cool water over their heads, and cool off their paws with rubbing alcohol. Hose them down or place them in a cool tub.
-Fan the dog and spread open their fur with your fingers
-When they come around, give them a small amount of water to drink
-Contact an emergency vet clinic