VET’S VOICE: Be aware of hot weather dangers

There are some things in life that you don’t forget. The day that a large Rottweiler was rushed into the surgery was one of them.
At the time I was working in Liverpool close to Alder Hey Children’s hospital. It was a scorching hot day and the Rottweiler was in a car in the hospital car park.
He was in obvious distress, panting rapidly and salivating profusely.
The police were called and eventually broke into the car to release the dog.
When he arrived at the surgery his temperature was 108’ F (should be 101.5), he was struggling to breathe, was looking blue around the lips and was collapsed.
We started the emergency treatments and attempted to lower his temperature.
He then started to have fits and passed bloody diarrhoea. Our efforts to save him failed and he died.
This dog suffered terribly. The owners had been distracted by their sick child at the hospital.
This was a really sad situation all round.
Dogs do not have sweat glands, so when they get hot they have to pant to cool down.
When they get very hot they get into a vicious circle problem when the effort in panting to cool down causes more heat and they just get hotter and hotter and will die unless treatment is given.
The early stages of heat stroke are easily treated giving cool liquids by mouth (even ice cream), a tepid bath (not cold) and using a fan. Care has to be taken not to get them too cold.
More severe cases need urgent medical care.
The commonest cause of heat stroke is animals being left in hot cars.
Every year the RSPCA, vets and other agencies give out warnings about this problem and every year dogs die horribly in cars.
It really doesn’t take long to happen.
Leaving a window slightly open isn’t enough. If it’s hot do not take your dog out if you have to leave him in the car.
Dogs can also get heat stroke by exercising in hot weather, especially if the dog is a brachycephalic breed like staffies, bulldogs and boxers.
Black, long hair haired or old dogs are more at risk. Heat stroke is an awful way to die. Please be hot weather aware.