Imagine it’s a hot, sunny day and you’ve got a warm coat on. It would be difficult to keep yourself cool and comfortable. This is what summer weather can feel like for our pets. It’s easy for them to overheat and start suffering from heatstroke.
But what is heatstroke? How does it affect our pets and what can you do if they overheat?
Heatstroke is a serious illness which happens when your pet overheats and their body temperature rises. It’s an emergency situation and needs treatment right away.
Our pet’s small size and furry coats means they can’t cool down as easily as we can. Some pets are more likely to suffer from overheating:
Flat-faced breeds like Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Persian cats, and Netherland dwarf of Lionhead rabbits
Pets with very thick fur
Old or very young pets
Overweight pets
Pets with breathing or lung problems.
The signs of heatstroke are different for different species so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms to look out for in your pet.
Early signs
Panting heavily
Appearing to be upset or distressed
Dribbling more than usual
Foaming at the mouth.
It’s really important to know the early signs of heatstroke so you can get your pet help as soon as possible. If you don’t realise your cat or dog is suffering from heatstroke, they might start showing more advanced signs such as bright red gums, collapsing, blood coming from their mouth or nose, or even tremors and seizures.
Heatstroke is an emergency and your pet will need to see a vet as quickly as possible. Phone your vet right away and follow their advice.
The vet might advise you to give your pet some first aid. This will most likely be advice to gradually try to cool your pet down. You can:
Pour small amounts of cool water on them – don’t use ice cold water as this can cause shock. For small pets, it’s better to use a cool, wet towel to dampen their fur as pouring water on them can do more harm than good.
Put them in front of a fan.
You can drape a cold towel over your pet – although make sure not to leave this on for more than five minutes, as the towel will start to act as an insulating blanket and make the problem worse.
Let them drink small amounts of cool water.
Once their breathing has begun to settle, take your pet to your vet, even if they seem to have made a full recovery.
