Humans sweat to eliminate excess heat, and dogs pant to accomplish the same. Yet, when panting doesn’t help get rid of over-the-top body heat, a puppy might experience heatstroke that can quickly transform into a fatal condition if not addressed immediately.
A hot environment is the usual cause of heatstroke in dogs. For instance, leaving your dog outside on a summer’s noon without a shady place to rest and enough water to drink and other careless acts like locking your dog in a car with no windows open or taking it out for hiking on a scorching day can quickly take a toll on your fur baby’s health.
Pet insurance NZ helps you tackle such dog emergencies more effectively. Providing your fur baby quality medical care at affordable costs during unplanned vet trips is easy with cheap pup insurance. So, why not consider buying pet insurance to make life easier for your fur baby and yourself? sportsman biography Know More About Favorite Athlete. chicks info Recent Viral Information Here
In the meantime, learn the basic steps to take if your dog suffers from a heatstroke.
What to do if a dog is unconscious due to heatstroke?
Ensure that no water enters the puppy’s mouth/nose and follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Don’t submerge the puppy’s head in the water. It is best to keep the head in an elevated position to avoid the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia.
- Allow the puppy to drink as much cool water as it wants. It can help lower the rising body temperature. At the same time, don’t force your puppy to drink water if it is unwilling to.
Basic steps to be taken
Whether the puppy is mildly affected, conscious, appears alright, or not take adequate measures to ensure the puppy’s safety, follow these steps:
- Examine the puppy for signs of shock. Talk to your vet to know what to expect and how to handle the issue.
- Check your puppy’s body temperature every five minutes and continue feeding water (if the puppy is comfortable sipping) until the temperature drops below 103⁰ F (39.4⁰ C).
- There is little to worry about, even if the puppy’s body temperature drops to around 100⁰ F (37.8⁰ C). A mildly lower temperature is much better than dealing with high temperatures.
- Follow your vet’s advice to treat the shock if necessary. Otherwise, head to the nearest pet emergency clinic or your vet’s office for immediate medical assistance.
- Keep the windows open while driving to the vet to avoid health complications due to suffocation. Also, use a well-ventilated crate to help the puppy travel with little hassle.
Heatstroke can lead to various unforeseen health problems like brain swelling, renal failure, intestinal bleeding, abrupt changes in blood pressure, electrolyte deficiencies, and blood clotting abnormalities. It is precisely why you must exercise care and caution while exposing your puppy to humid or hot conditions.
You must take extra care if your pup is flat-faced or has serious respiratory conditions. Health issues are often unpredictable, which is why you should be financially prepared with pet insurance in NZ. Cheap pup insurance policies provide your puppy with basic health care and are inexpensive.
However, comprehensive plans tend to cost more but provide broader-ranging health benefits. Weigh different pet plans, assess your puppy’s health needs, and consider signing up for the policy that best fits your budget.
