Summers are becoming hotter with the temperature rising up to 30-35 degrees Celsius.
If you have a dog it is extremely important to prevent the dog from overheating. The animal cannot tell you when their body temperature rises, so it becomes your responsibility to keep your pet away from direct sunlight, provide enough drinking water .
The normal body temperature of a dog is between 101°F and 102°F.
When temperature levels drop, pet owners think that danger has passed. However, a failure to recognise that exercise and confinement in a hot car or kennel is enough to raise your dog’s body temperature to an extremely dangerous level.
Dogs can maintain their body temperature by panting, which expels heat from their body. Moreover, a rise in body temperature by 3 degrees to 105°F is dangerous for your dog. If your dog fails to lower his body temperature, his oxygen need rises.
At 108°F the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and intestinal tracts start to break down at cellular level, and the damage can progress at an alarming rate. At this stage medical treatment may be too late to save your dog.
So leaving your dog in a hot car can result in heat stroke, early signs of which are:
Rapid breathing;
Dry mouth and nose;
Rapid heart rate; and
Gums are dull, greyish-pink, or red.
If you see these symptoms then the situation is critical. Remember earlier stages of heat stroke may lead to death . So before it becomes too late you must get your pet to a vet .
