Heat Stroke Seizures in Dogs
If your dog suffers a heat stroke, the most important thing you can do is remain calm, even though seizures can be terrifying to witness. Know that your dog is not in pain and isn't aware of what's going on, even if he appears to be. Your job is to first make sure he doesn't harm himself and then get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
-
Causes
-
Humans regulate their body temperature through sweating. Dogs can't sweat--their internal cooling system is maintained by their tongues, and panting is their version of sweating. According to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the healthy internal temperature for a dog is between 100 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The dog's cooling system will become strained at 105 degrees and damage to the organs is possible at 108 degrees.
Heat Stroke
-
If your dog is suffering heat stroke, he will pant rapidly and may have an anxious facial expression. His gums may turn a dull shade of pink. The skin will dry up and grow warm to the touch. He may froth at the mouth or vomit.
-
Seizure
-
A dog suffering from a grand mal seizure usually collapses and flails her legs. Typically, she will lose control of the bladder and bowels and the eyes remain open. A seizure normally doesn't last longer than two or three minutes.
What to Do
-
Make sure there is nothing near the dog that could cause injury. If the seizure occurs near potentially dangerous objects, remove the objects but don't touch the dog unless there is no other way to keep him from harming himself. Time the seizure so that you can describe the event to your veterinarian as precisely as possible.
Warnings
-
NC State University's Director of Veterinary Medicine, Brenda J. Stevens, observes that most people seem to know not to leave a dog in a parked car with the windows rolled up. But poor ventilation in a room on a hot day can also bring about heat stroke, particularly if the dog is overweight. Also, dogs that have suffered heat stroke in the past are more likely to have it again.
-
References
- Photo Credit dog image by Michal Tudek from Fotolia.com
