Heatstroke in Pets

As warmer weather approaches, make sure you’re paying attention to your pets as they enjoy the summer with you. Heatstroke is a very serious and potentially life threatening emergency.  What is heatstroke? Heatstroke is a temperature related illness where the core body temperature is significantly elevated and causes a whole host of side effects.

Who is most at risk? Dogs that are obese, brachycephalic breeds (dogs with short snouts and flat faces; ie Frenchies, Bulldogs, Boxers), and those having corresponding cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions, tend to be the first affected. Cats rarely progress to severe heatstroke, but they can still develop the condition. 

Common clinical signs are incessant panting, tremors, increased heart rate, raised core body temperature over 104F, collapse, staggering, or altered mentation. These are the most commonly seen clinical signs, but additional changes can occur inside the body as well that can include hypercoagulability, GI/ neurological/ cardiovascular/ renal dysfunction, and SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome).  

If you see any of these signs or believe your pet has heatstroke, please seek immediate emergency medical attention. You can also help your pet in the interim by taking them out of the heat, giving them access to tepid water (don’t force them to drink), and using tepid water or ice packs located in their groin and armpit areas to cool their body. Once their core temperature hits 103F stop all cooling measures and allow the veterinary staff to take over supportive measures once arrived. Prognosis is guarded as 25-50% of patients don’t survive heatstroke due to secondary complications. Patients given aggressive treatment for 24 hours tend to survive.

How do you avoid heatstroke? Avoid hot, humid, and poorly ventilated environments. You should always give your pet plenty of access to water, shade, and cool surfaces. If your pet has predisposing factors as previously mentioned, then limit their exposure to heat and make necessary changes if they have to be in that environment.