Dogs, like Cheyenne who is currently available at the Wetzel County?Animal Shelter, cool their bodies by panting.

The Wetzel County Animal Shelter Supporters, Inc. would like to encourage people to keep their dogs safe from the dangers of the summer heat and would like to educate the public about the symptoms and treatment for hyperthermia and heatstroke in dogs.

Dog heat stroke can strike in minutes on hot, humid days, and may prove fatal if it’s not treated promptly.

Heat stroke occurs when your dog is no longer able to maintain its normal body temperature of approximately 101 F and it rises to 105 F and above.

At temperatures above 106 F your dog’s internal organs will start to breakdown and if he is not cooled quickly enough, he will die. Even if you can bring his temperature down, he may well have suffered irreversible internal damage. Dogs regulate their temperature primarily through panting–on hot, humid days they are unable to cool their bodies effectively and as a result their body temperature rises rapidly.

If your dog’s temperature exceeds 106 F, you only have minutes to save their life.

If your dog has heat stroke they will progressively show these signs:

–excessive panting;

–pale gums, bright red tongue;

–disorientation and your dog does not respond to their name;

–increased heart rate;

–thick saliva;

–vomiting;

–breathing difficulties;

–collapse;

–coma;

–death

–anal bleeding

If your dog is overheated, cool them with cool water. Either immerse him in a bath tub, gently hose him, or apply cool towels to his body. Importantly do not leave wet towels on your dog and do not use very cold water; both prevent your dog from being able to cool himself.

Move your dog to an area where there is cool air circulating, such as an air conditioned room or put them in front of a fan. The cool circulating air will help your dog to reduce his temperature.

While you are cooling your dog down, phone your local emergency veterinarian or clinic, explain the situation, and perform any additional treatment they suggest before taking him to the clinic.

Even if you manage to reduce your dog’s temperature at home, take them to your vet for a thorough checkup; internal damage to your dog’s organs might have taken place even though he recovered from heat stroke.

The good news is, heat stroke and hyperthermia are preventable. The WCASS, Inc. suggests that, when it is hot outside, leave your dogs at home. Leaving any breathing being in your vehicle while it is parked, when it is hot, is not acceptable. Taking your dog with you on a sunny day while you run errands is not doing your dog any favors. Even though you think you are not leaving it in the vehicle that long, please know that your vehicle will heat to deadly temperatures while you are spending those “few minutes” running your quick errands. If you see a dog in a car on a hot day please get the license number of the vehicle and report it to the store management and call the police or the sheriff’s department immediately. Do not just shake your head and walk away.

Secondly, If your dog is tied outside and you have an air conditioned home, please consider bringing it indoors with you. If you cannot or do not desire to do this, please make sure the dog has a well ventilated, shaded area to stay. A dog box is not sufficient as a shade source. “As you may have seen our sign by the road ‘A Dog Box in the Sun is like an Oven,'” said Wetzel County Animal Shelter Director Rosy Cozart. “When you are out in the sun and go to a shady are for relief, think about your dog that does not have that option when tied to a box or in a kennel without extra shade.”

It is also very important that your dogs have fresh clean water to drink available at all times. Dogs sweat through their tongue via panting. Panting becomes less effective the hotter it gets. “If your dog knocks his water over, you can dig a hole and put the bowl in the hole so it does not get knocked over,” suggests Cozart. 

“It is nice to fill a child’s small baby pool for them to lay in. Many dog love this and will use it.”

If you have any questions or need help constructing extra shade for your pet feel free to contact the staff at the Wetzel County Animal Shelter, 304-455-5348.