Mustard & Pepper Summer 2024

Clinical signs of heat stroke include: • Restless and signs of distress • Unsteady on feet. • Bright red or blue mucous membranes • Excessive panting • Drooling • Incoordination • Collapse, unconsciousness and death If you suspect an animal is starting to feel the heat you need to act quickly to help cool the animal down: • Remove from hot area immediately • Cool the animal - cold compresses, hosing down • Cool environmental temperature - e.g. fan • Take and record rectal temperature and repeat taking every 5 minutes until it returns to normal, then record every 30 minutes • If the animal is not collapsed, then offer drinking water as soon as possible • Contact the vet as soon as possible • Once initial cooling has taken place and the body temperature reduced to normal range, stop the cooling process, dry the animal and even if the animal looks as though he is recovering, take to the vet for assessment as there may be underlying complications undetected Note: Be cautious about using cold water as cooling too quickly can be counterproductive as it can shock the system. Use lukewarm water wherever possible. Solutions to keeping your guests cool. The Met Office three month outlook, suggests that the UK is heading for a “hotter than usual summer”. Dogs struggle to thermoregulate once the environmental temperature exceeds 26C, so how can we do to help keep our dogs cool? • Exercise first thing before the environmental temperature rises

Are we heading for another heat wave?

by Meriel France

P redictions suggest the UK is heading for a hotter than usual summer, so whilst we dust off the shorts and throw a shrimp on the barbie, we must remember it’s not always such fun for our furry friends who just might be feeling the heat a bit too much. Dogs, like all other mammals and birds are endothermic or warm blooded which means they can maintain a constant body temperature in a changing environment. Dogs have an average core body temperature of about 380 C (100.4F) However, unlike humans dogs do not sweat to cool themselves, they have some sweat glands on their paws and nose but this is insufficient as a cooling mechanism. So when an animal gets hot it needs to dissipate excess heat from the body. The only internal mechanism for dogs is to pant. Panting is triggered by the thermoregulator centers of the brain and enables water evaporation via exhalent air from the lungs. Behaviourally dogs will attempt to transfer excess internal heat by contact with cooler objects, such as lying on a tiled floor or jumping into water. Fur, oddly enough can also act as a thermal regulator just like it insulates in the winter it can also protect from heat absorption. But dogs will need to make some adjustments to their coats to allow for cooling, hence the seasonal spring/ summer shedding in some breeds. Heat stroke or non-fever Hyperthermia occurs when an animal cannot accommodate excessive external heat. e.g. too much exercise on a hot day, restrictive access to water, confined to an accommodation unit or whilst being transported on a hot day. Certain dogs are at more risk as they are less able to regulate their body temperature. For example, obese animals, those with cardiac disease, the very young or old and brachycephalic breeds are most at risk. Heat stroke occurs when core body temperature typically reaches a temperature of around 40C (104F) at these temperatures the body starts to undergo physical changes. The brain, tissues and other internal organs can swell and abnormal blood clotting damages the heart, kidneys and lungs, leading to seizures and death. Normal temperature range for dogs 38.3-38.7 C

Cooling mats

Mustard & Pepper

21

Summer 2024