Dogs are particularly susceptible to heatstroke. Rises in temperature that can be fatal to them. Fortunately, if one is vigilant, the trap can quite easily be avoided.
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The dog — like the cat for that matter — has very little sweat glands. In fact, he sweats very little, and therefore has difficulty in regulate body temperature. It is essentially the panting that allows him to maintain a correct temperature. L’air that it then exhales is charged with a water vapor which carries the heat outwardly excessive.
Heat stroke: risky situations
In an environment that is too hot, the dog’s breathing speeds up, in order to increase air exchange and maintain thermal balance. What the veterinarians term “heatstroke” (or hyperthermia) can occur when external conditions — and/or the respiratory health of the animal — are such that the dog is no longer able to regulate its temperature.
Risky situations include:
- doing too much exercise;
- the overweight ;
- age;
- and, of course, waiting in a car.
Some veterinarians claim that it can only take 30 minutes in a car — even if the temperature outside does not exceed 25 ° C — for the temperature rise to lead to the dog’s death. And all the more so if your dog is what is called a “brachycephalic”, a dog with a “crushed” mouth (bulldog, boxer, pug, etc.), which prevents it from fully ventilating.
Precautions to take: avoid the sun, wet your dog…
To avoid the worst, here are some precautions, all in all quite simple to take:
- of course, avoid forcing your dog to spend time in places that are too hot: yard in full sun or car, even in the shade and Windows ajar;
- when the temperatures start to get high, do not offer your dog a physical activity too intense;
- even avoid walks that are too long and in sunny places. Prefer the cooler hours of the day and shaded corners;
- make sure your dog always hasfresh water at his disposal. Better yet, offer him a small swimming pool;
- when you travel, remember to wet your dog regularly with fresh water: his paws and belly, in particular;
- be aware that there are also mats and cooling coats which, in certain cases (extreme temperatures and/or fragile dogs), can be life-saving.
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