An Important Message from Veterinarian Dr. Jeremy Deaton

We have just begun summer time around Cherokee County, and we have already had three animals that have suffered from heat strokes from being left in an automobile for only a short period of time. Dogs can’t cool themselves as easily as humans. Their cooling mechanisms are panting and sweating from the pads on their feet – neither of which helps much when they are trapped in an oven wearing a fur coat. Once their body temperature rises from the normal 101.5 to upwards of 105 degrees F, they can suffer brain damage or death in less than fifteen minutes.

Clinical signs of a heatstroke include excessive panting, pale gums, drooling, vomiting, and ultimately loss of consciousness or seizures. It is important that unless you have to stop, DON’T stop for any reason and leave your pet in the car. It only takes a few minutes for temperatures to soar in a car that is not running. Although dogs are notorious for those “sad eyes”, I’d rather face those and leave the pup at home than risking their life by leaving them in a car.

If your animal is suffering from heat stress at a gas station or restaurant, quickly grab a cold drink or ice and place it on the underside of your dog’s throat, this is where blood is returning to the heart and will cool the animal quicker. If you are out on the lake or near a pool, quickly place your animal in the water, keeping its head above water to begin the cooling process. You can also spray Isopropyl Alcohol on the foot pads to help cool the dog. If you see a dog locked in a vehicle, try and locate the owner quickly or contact a store manager or seek help from the local police. Heat stress is an emergency in both people and animals so act quickly.