Texas heat is no joke as we all know, and the dangers of heatstroke in dogs is serious! Severe heat stroke if not treated right away can cause internal bleeding your animal might not be able to recover from. Dogs do not regulate their temperature as efficiently as we do, they primarily use panting and vasodilation of their blood vessels to release heat. If their body reaches a high temperature around 104 degrees Fahrenheit before their body can release the heat they can undergo heat stroke, so it is not uncommon for this to happen. Common situations where dogs undergo heat stroke is being left outside for long periods of time, if the temperature outside is 85 degrees or higher it is recommended to limit your dogs outside time to 5-15 minutes at a time. Other causes include being left in cars, exercising in heat, and even hot surfaces. Walking or standing on hot pavement can increase a dogs body temperature substantially, and can also cause danger to the paw pads, leading them to fall off or have painful cracks. A good way to know if the pavement is to hot for your dogs is placing your hand on the pavement before walks, if its too hot, wait for the sun to go down, or get your pet some dogs shoes! Another way your pet can undergo heatstroke is something not many people realize; dog bowls! If your dogs bowl has a slimy film on the inside that’s bacteria and yeast! It is very important to wash dog bowls due to biofilm buildup which forms bacteria and yeast from dogs saliva mixed with water. Dogs can smell the bacteria and will not drink the water. If the bowl is stainless steel scratching the steel can lead to quicker build up of the bacteria as it gets stuck in the scratches. If your dog is a brachycephalic dog meaning the are flat-faced like bulldogs, overweight, have thick coats, is a puppy or senior, or has health issues your pet is more susceptible to heat stroke. With all of that said you will know if your dog needs medical attention right away if they are heavily panting, rapidly and loudly without easing up, have bright red, blue, pale, or purple gum color, thick excessive drooling, lethargy or restlessness, and warm to touch. The sooner your pet is treated the better chance they have at recovery, prolonged waiting or severe high temperature can lead to loss of coordination, disorientation, gastrointestinal distress, rapid heart rate, collapsing, muscle tumors, seizures, and unconsciousness. If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms get them to a cool shaded area with fans preferably a car that can drive to a clinic if available, use a wet towel with cool water and place it all over their body to cool down their internal temperature, offer water, and take them to your nearest vet that will be able to see them. All of these symptoms, can lead to death, but not too worry because you will be prepared to take the necessary precautious for your fur babies! 

– Kaylie Harrington