Pets also suffer from heat stroke: this is what you should do to avoid it, according to veterinarians

He summer It is a time in the year when heat waves They appear frequently and the thermometer can reach 40°C or more, depending on the area. Turning this station into a real challenge. This month, for example, Buenos Aires and 15 other provinces were in yellow alert Due to the high temperatures that were recorded, some locations reached 38°C.

High temperatures affect people and also our petswho face difficulties adapting to these extreme conditions as they do not have the same resources as humans to detect heat and protect themselves.

Veterinarians agree that animals, such as dogs and cats, are more vulnerable than us in these situations, mainly because they do not have the same ability to eliminate body heat.

The preventive measures are essential to protect them, such as ensuring their hydrationoffer them a stay in cool places and prevent them from being exposed to the sun during the most intense hours. And since they do not regulate their temperature like humans, they are more prone to heat stroke that can cause serious consequences if you don’t act quickly.

Symptoms of heat stroke

He “heatstroke” is the common name we use to refer to the hyperthermia. A condition that occurs when our animals they are unable to reduce their body temperaturecausing it to rise rapidly.

In dogs, for example, heat stroke can raise their body temperature to 42°C, when their normal average temperature is 38°C. These animals do not have the ability to sweat like humans: they can only eliminate heat through panting, sweat through the pads of their paws (and in contact with cold surfaces), or through areas with little presence of hair (such as the abdomen).

The first symptoms that you will see if your pet suffers from heat stroke will be:

• Very fast breathingforced and difficult, known as panting.
• Difficulty of movement.
• Stagger.
• extreme thirst.
• Excessive salivation.
• Great feeling of tiredness or weakness.
• Fast heart rate.
• Seizures.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea.

How to take care of our pets from the heat

To protect them from high temperatures and potential heat stroke:

• They should always have fresh water available.
• Never leave them locked in a car or in unventilated rooms.
• Avoid walks during intense heat hours.
• Prevent them from walking on hot surfaces, such as asphalt.
• Do not leave them on terraces or patios that do not have adequate shade.

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The dogs bulldogs, pugs or the Pekingese they are races branchycephalicespecially prone to suffer from high temperatures, since their narrow airways make efficient panting difficult. Therefore, it is essential that they always have access to fresh, clean water and avoid walks during the hottest hours of the day. Better choose to do it early in the morning or when the sun has already gone down, such as at dusk.

If your pet is a species or winter breedsuch as Saint Bernard dogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Siberian Huskies, or some cats such as the Maine Coon or the Norwegian Forest, due to their nature, They adapt easily to cold climates. And its thick fur can make it difficult to regulate your temperature in warmer environments. Therefore, it is important to keep them in cool, well-ventilated spaces, avoiding exposure to intense heat.

In the event that our pet suffers heat stroke, the first thing we would have to do is contact our veterinarian and inform you of the situation.

A first measure is move it to a cool and ventilated place. We must try to lower his body temperature gradual. For this, it is recommended wet your body with warm or cool water (not cold) and use fans to increase air circulation. We do not have to cover it with towels or subject them to extreme measures, such as baths in cold water or using ice.

It is also important to allow drinking small amounts of waterbut without rushing. You should not drink too quickly.