Heat stroke
| Heat stress is a potentially lethal condition and can cause multi-organ failure. Your animal need only be left unattended for a few minutes to develop symptoms in the wrong conditions.
Symptoms of heat stress are: panting and respiratory distress, excessive salivation, high fever, red gums, rapid heart rate, a staring or anxious expression, vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.
If your pet is displaying any sign of heat stress at all, their temperature must be reduced immediately by immersing in or spraying with cool water, or placing cold wet towels on the animal. We do recommend that you see a veterinarian urgently!
Here are some tips to protect your pet in the hot summer months:
- Do NOT leave your pet unattended in a hot car. Cars are potential death traps. Inside temperatures can rise to more than 60 degrees in only minutes.
- IF you MUST leave your animal in the car, open the windows and vents as much as possible without providing an escape route, provide fresh water and check the animal at least every 10 minutes.
|
- If your pet is left outdoors, they must be provided with shelter from the hot sun and heat. Outdoor kennels should be in a shaded area and should be well ventilated. Make sure there is always plenty of cool drinking water available.
- Keep long-haired pets well groomed. Long hair and matted hair may need to be clipped off to keep the animal cool. Locate your local groomer here.
- And as noted earlier, if your animal is displaying any sign of heat stress at all, their temperature must be reduced immediately by immersing in or spraying with cool water, or placing cold wet towels on the animal.
Please take care to keep your furry friends cool in Australia’s summer months!