THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER ARE HERE

PROTECTING YOUR DOG FROM HEATSTROKE

 

It’s a hot, summer day—even in the shade. You see a dog tied up outside a local shop, or inside of a parked car. He’s tied up in the shade, the car windows are open, but he’s panting a lot. Is he just hot -- or does he have heatstroke? How do you know? 

 
 

HOW EASY IS IT FOR A DOG TO OVERHEAT?

Humans have sweat glands all over their bodies; dogs don’t. Dogs’ sweat glands are limited to their noses and the pads of their feet. Dogs also have higher body temperatures than humans, so not only do they have more trouble cooling off than we do, they also warm up faster. Panting helps normalize temperature, but sometimes it is not enough to compensate, particularly in extreme temperatures. An overheated dog can quickly suffer critical brain, heart, liver, and nervous system damage.

 

ARE WATER AND CRACKED CAR WINDOWS ENOUGH?

Even with the windows partially open, a car’s interior can climb above 100 degrees after only 10 minutes in 85-degree weather. Water is also not always a solution. As a dog’s body temperature rises, he may drink excessively to the point of further illness. 

 

ARE SOME DOGS MORE AT RISK THAN OTHERS?

Dogs with flat faces and short noses—like Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Boxers, and Pekinese—are not able to pant as effectively as other types of dogs, putting them at a higher risk. Puppies and older dogs are also considered to be at a higher risk for heatstroke.

WHAT DOES AN OVERHEATING DOG LOOK LIKE?

It’s normal for a dog to pant in the heat, which can make it difficult to determine whether he’s just warm or in danger. In addition to excessive panting, an overheated dog may look weak or listless and may also have trouble standing. Other symptoms include glazed eyes, staggering, excessive drooling, increased heartrate, excessive thirst, bright red tongue or gums, and loss of consciousness. 

 

HOW CAN WE KEEP DOGS FROM OVERHEATING?

Dogs should never be trapped in the heat -- but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on fun summer outings! DogSpot is a self-cleaning, climate-controlled dog house that can be placed outside of pet-free establishments to provide a safe, comfortable, self-sanitizing space for dogs who might otherwise be left in the car or tied up in the heat. Owners can even check on their dogs using the DogSpot app’s Puppy Cam to make sure their pup remains cool and happy. This way, no one has to ever worry about whether a dog has heatstroke.

 

Interested in making your business more dog friendly? We can help! Please fill out this form below to learn how to reserve a DogSpot for your business.