How to Care for a Puppy Suffering From Heat Stroke
Active and fun loving, puppies make great pets for individuals and families alike. Caring for a puppy involves providing water, food, shelter and safe conditions. Part of making sure that a puppy is free from danger is to avoid situations that may cause him to suffer a heat stroke. Closing a pup in a car on a warm or hot day or allowing him to exert himself in heated environments are two situations that should never occur. Heat stroke is a condition that should be addressed immediately for the safety of the pet.
Things You'll Need
- Electric fan or cool area where air is circulating
- Water dish with water
- Garden hose or a bathtub
- Cool water
- Rectal thermometer
- Telephone number for vet clinic or emergency vet telephone number
Instructions
-
-
1
Move your puppy to an area that is out of the sun. This can be inside, or in a shaded location.
Ensure that air is circulating in the area to which you move the puppy.
If possible, direct an electric fan on the canine to help with the cooling process.
-
2
Place the puppy in a bathtub and rinse with cool, not cold, water. If you are outside, use a garden hose to gently apply water to the puppy.
Concentrate on applying the water to the pup's head, neck and chest.
-
-
3
Check your puppy's temperature with a rectal thermometer, and record.
Normal body temperature readings for puppies older than 6 weeks are from 101 degrees to 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Puppies younger than 6 weeks usually have a normal body temperature of about 100 degrees to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
4
Continue applying water to the puppy, and checking her temperature, until you get a normal reading.
-
5
Call your local vet or nearest emergency facility, in order to get advice about how to proceed in caring for your puppy that was a victim of heat stroke.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Allow your pup to drink water, but don't allow him to drink it in excess.
Never use ice, ice water or cold water to reduce your pet's body temperature. To do so can cause the exact opposite effect you are trying to achieve. Use cool water only.
Even if you are able to successfully reduce your pet's temperature, you should still take her to the vet to make sure that no internal damage has been sustained from the heat stroke.
If you transport your puppy to the vet, bring along water for him to drink, or let him lick on ice cubes.
