Hot Dogs

I'm not going to lie, despite the nitrates and whatever else goes into hot dogs, I do love 'em. However, hot dogs belong on the grill, not on the trail. Working up a good sweat might feel good to you, but that's something dog's CAN'T really do, and their ability to deal with heat is limited.

First, I think it's good to understand that dogs normally have higher body temperature than humans. Their normal temp is between 99F (37C) and 102.5F (39C). Once a dog's temperature gets higher than 104F (40C), he or she can start to have trouble. 

Now, it's not entirely true that dogs don't sweat--they can sweat through their paws--but that only provides negligible cooling. 

Another way their bodies try to cool themselves is by dilating the blood vessels (vasodilation) in the ears and other parts to allow warmer blood from the core to get to the surface where the heat can radiate away.

But, the main way that dogs deal with excessive body heat is by panting.  When dogs pant, they breathe rapidly but shallowly, to increase air movement over their tongues, mouth and upper airway so that when the moisture evaporates it carries away heat. Their tongues will often enlarge and hang out of their mouths to increase the surface area. Dogs with short faces (pugs, bulldogs, boxers, etc) have less evaporative surfaces and will have an even harder time with the heat. And because evaporation is impaired on humid days, extra caution needs to be taken when the humidity is high.

These guys will have a harder time with the heat

So how can we know when our dog is struggling from the heat? The first clue would be to look at the temperature and use some common sense. 

Can a dog overheat in when it's in the 70's? Yes, so watch for excessive panting and a huge tongue. 

Can a dog overheat when it's in the 90's? Obviously--so be even more vigilant and even better, just don't let it happen.

As described above, a dog will start panting quite a bit to cool him or herself. You may also notice that the gums get very red and the heart rate accelerates. 

When the vessels dilate, the heart has to work harder to pump blood because there is now more surface area, and as moisture evaporates, dehydration can set in which will effectively decrease blood volume and make the heart work even harder. 

If symptoms progress to vomiting, drooling, or foaming, you've got a big problem. And if that goes to stupor, seizure or loss of consciousness, you've got an even bigger problem. 

Just like with humans, heat illness can go from mild to fatal, so you DO NOT want to delay in cooling your dog.

• First, and obviously, remove the dog from heat. 
• Next, get the paws in cool water. 
• Put a cool towel on the dog (but don't wrap it around the dog as that can trap heat), soak the dog with water and place him or her in front of a fan or AC.
• If possible, soak the dog in cool water such as in a bathtub or kiddie pool--but make sure he or she doesn't drown. 
• Cooling is the first priority and should be done before going to or calling your veterinarian, but that should be a very close second (even if he or she seems to be cooling down).
• Note; there is some controversy about using "cool" water vs "ice cold" water, with the theory that water that is too cold can lead to vasoconstriction (blood vessels getting smaller in diameter) which could slow the cooling down. For humans, prompt ice bath IS the treatment for heat stroke, and this is becoming the recommendation for dogs.

In addition to short-faced (brachiocephalic) dogs, puppies, older dogs, and overweight dogs are more susceptible to heat illnesses as are some dogs with thick coats.

Like many other types of illnesses or injuries, this one is preventable. Limit activity on hot and humid days, or get out as early as possible, and NEVER leave a dog unattended in a car. 

One other note about hot days--you also need to think about the surface temperature when your dog is out for a walk. Try the 7-second rule... if you put your hand on the pavement for 7-seconds and it seems too hot, then you've got to find an alternative walk on dirt or grass.

 

Every summer, dogs develop life-threatening heat illness because they'll enthusiastically chase every mile, every squirrel, and every stick without realizing their bodies are dangerously overheating. Knowing when to stop is your job.

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