Pets cannot regulate their body temperature as well as people, so are less heat tolerant and at increased heatstroke risk. Our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital wants to help by providing information on protecting your pet during Texas’ hot, humid summer days.

Your pet’s ability to thermoregulate

Humans have sweat glands all over their body that produce moisture that evaporates off the skin, dissipating heat, and allowing the body to cool. Pets have only a few sweat glands, mostly located in their paws, and must rely on less efficient cooling methods when the weather is hot and humid. These include:

  • Evaporation — Pets cool themselves mainly by panting. As they open their mouth and loll their tongue, moisture from the tissues in their mouth and their lungs evaporate, dissipating heat. 
  • Radiation — When temperatures are high, blood vessels in your pet’s extremities, ears, and mouth dilate and heat is dispersed into the environment.
  • Conduction — When your pet lies down with their sparsely haired abdomen on a cool surface, they are cooling themselves with conduction.
  • Convection — When wind or air from a fan moves over your pet’s body, heat dissipates through convection.

Heatstroke in pets

When your pet’s temperature rises above the normal range (i.e., 101 to 102.5 degrees) in response to excessive exercise or exposure to increased environmental temperatures without adequate cooling, heatstroke can occur. Signs include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, diarrhea, weakness, collapse, and seizures. While all pets are susceptible to heatstroke, certain pets, including obese pets, senior pets, brachycephalic pets, and pets affected by illness, are at increased risk. This condition detrimentally affects your pet’s whole body, including:

  • Brain damage — High body temperatures cause swelling, hemorrhage, and cell death inside the brain.
  • Respiratory distress — Lung tissue damage leads to respiratory distress.
  • Kidney failure — High body temperatures and dehydration damage the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
  • Gastrointestinal damage — Gastrointestinal tract lining damage allows bacteria to access the bloodstream, causing bacteremia.
  • Shock — High body temperature inhibits the heart’s ability to pump adequate blood throughout the body, leading to shock.
  • Clotting abnormalities — In severe cases, a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that can cause abnormal bleeding throughout the body, can occur.

Treating heatstroke in pets

When your pet overheats, their prognosis depends on their temperature level and length of time their temperature is increased. Heatstroke treatment for pets includes:

  • Active cooling — As soon as possible, start actively cooling your pet with lukewarm water or wet towels. Don’t use ice, which can bring their temperature down too quickly and cause shock. At the veterinary hospital, active cooling will continue until their temperature reaches 103.5 degrees, and then discontinued to avoid hypothermia.
  • Fluid therapy — Intravenous fluids are important to help replace lost fluids and to provide supportive therapy.
  • Oxygen therapy — Oxygen therapy may be necessary if your pet is in respiratory distress.
  • Cardiac support — Heart cells can become heat-damaged, causing arrhythmias, and medications to counteract this issue may be necessary.
  • Antibiotics — Broad spectrum antibiotics are often prescribed to counteract the bacteremia caused by gastrointestinal tract damage.

Preventing heatstroke in pets

A close-up image of a brown and white cat drinking water from a flowing stream in a blue pet fountain, demonstrating pet behavior guidance.

Pets can easily overheat in Texas’ hot, humid weather, but you can take steps to decrease their risk. These include:

  • Hydrating your pet — Ensure your pet remains hydrated by providing numerous fresh water sources throughout your home. In addition, ensure your pet stays hydrated while outdoors by frequently offering them water. Take water bottles and a portable bowl to ensure they can always drink.
  • Never leave your pet in the car — Many pets die every year when their owner leaves them in the car. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle quickly escalate to dangerous levels, so leave your pet at home if they can’t accompany you while you run your errands.
  • Avoid strenuous activities — Restrict your pet’s exercise on hot, humid days. When you are outdoors with your pet, let them cool down with  frequent breaks in the shade. If possible, avoid taking your pet outside during the hottest part of the day. Higher risk pets should remain inside the air-conditioning on hot, humid days except for brief bathroom breaks.
  • Ensure your pet is healthy — Pets are great at masking disease, and several medical conditions can put them at higher heatstroke risk. Bring in your pet for a wellness exam to ensure they are healthy and can adapt to the summer heat. 
  • Keep your pet at an ideal weight — Overweight pets are at higher risk for several health conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and arthritis. The extra fat layer acts as insulation, making them more prone to heatstroke. Monitor your pet’s weight and feed them appropriately to keep them at a healthy weight.
  • Acclimate your pet — Pets can take one to two months to fully acclimate to the increased temperatures, so ensure your pet has adequate time to adjust.

Protect your pet from the heat this summer to ensure they don’t experience any adverse effects. If you would like to schedule a wellness exam, contact our team at Memorial Villages Animal Hospital, so we can ensure your pet is ready for the Texas heat.