Conservation of body heat is one of the dog’s best physiological assets but makes them vulnerable against heat stroke during summer season. They can endure out-of-doors even in sub-zero temperatures, dogs skin (fur) acts as an insulator “insulating jacket” that retains the warmth generated by its high metabolism rate.
Dogs generally do much better conservation of heat than cooling themselves, that’s why dogs are more prone to heat stroke compared to other domestic animals. In the US, about 50% of dogs who suffered heat stroke dies each each. It is critical to know how to avoid dog heat stroke during summer season. Two reasons why dogs are prone to heat stroke:
- Dog’s sweat glands are located on their pad, that’s why they cannot cool their body heat by sweating.
- They lose body heat mainly through panting. These quick attempts to rid body heat through evaporation by exhaling hot, moisture filled oxygen in and out can cause inadequate oxygenation of the body which makes them more vulnerable to fainting resulting in more progressive heat stroke.
How to keep your furry companion cool during hot weather to avoid dog heat stroke:
- Air conditioning – effective for husky and other dogs that thrive in cooler environments
- Spray misters – good for outdoor dogs
- Ample shade – good for outdoor dogs
- Dips in a fresh pool – good for outdoor dogs
- Gentle water spraying – good for outdoor dogs
Because the cooling system of the dog is relatively poor, certain summer situations can be dangerous and even life threatening. Keeping dogs cool during the hot season provides a way of evaporating its excess body temperature, ample amount of cool, cool drinking water should be accessible all the time. By doing all of these precautionary measures, we can keep our dogs away from heat stroke during summer season.