Heat-related illness in dogs

We make sure Takumi has access to water even on a short walk during summer. Here, he is drinking from Thirsty Dog water bottle (https://thirstydogbottle.com/)

The last few days have been incredibly hot in Perth. Yesterday, it was 40°C (104°F) during the day and at night it barely went down below 30°C. Not pleasant for us humans, let alone a double-coated dog like Takumi. In this climate, our canine companions can suffer severe heat-related symptoms. So what is a heat-related illness (HRI) and what can you do to prevent it?

The main triggers for HRI are; i) overexertion or exercise in a hot environment, ii) exposure to high environmental temperature and iii) entrapment inside a confined space, e.g. in a hot car [1]. Early signs of overheating include excessive panting, increased heart rate, and lethargy. Heatstroke is the most serious HRI and is characterised by the dog’s core temperature rising above 41°C (normal range 38.3-39.2 °C) and dysfunction in the central nervous system [2]. Severe heatstroke can cause fatality from cerebral oedema (brain swelling) and a haemorrhage into major organs [3].

Heatstroke can be prevented by making sure your dogs have adequate access to water, shade, and ventilation, and not exercising them on hot days. Hide & seek games (toys or treats) or training reinforcements are perfect for keeping your pooch occupied inside.

References

1.            Hall, E.J., et al., Proposing the VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat-related illness in dogs. Sci Rep, 2021. 11(1): p. 6828.

2.            Bruchim, Y., M. Horowitz, and I. Aroch, Pathophysiology of heatstroke in dogs - revisited. Temperature (Austin, Tex.), 2017. 4(4): p. 356-370.

3.            Romanucci, M. and L.D. Salda, Pathophysiology and pathological findings of heatstroke in dogs. Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2013. 4: p. 1-9.