How to know if my dog ​​is hot?

With the arrival of high temperatures our dogs will also feel warm and we must be attentive to their well-being to avoid problems derived from the rise in their body temperature, which can become as serious as the potentially fatal heat stroke.This is what happens when, due to misinformation, the dog is left locked inside from the car, for example, or take a walk at undue hours.To prevent this from happening, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will see how to know if a dog is hot , as well as tips to keep it cool, independently of his mantle or his age.

What is the normal temperature of a dog?

The normal temperature of dogs is about 37.8-39.2ºC , therefore we should not take as a reference the human parameters.In addition to this data, before how to know if our dog is hot, we must be clear about the following concepts :

• Dogs' hair serves as protection from the sun and as a temperature regulator , so it is not recommended to shave it and it may be counterproductive to cut it in some breeds.We should always consult a dog groomer.
• Dogs cannot sweat as We do it for people, so they have to regulate their temperature through panting.Yes, they withstand the heat worse because when the ambient temperature approaches the body, cooling through panting is not as effective.For more information, see " How dogs sweat ".
• We must be especially careful with puppies, older dogs, those who pres understand some disease, obesity or overweight and those with flat nose, because they have more breathing difficulties.

Symptoms that indicate a dog is hot

If we wonder how to know if our dog is hot, we must attend to the following aspects:

• Reduction of activity .A dog that feel hot tends to decrease their movements.Yes, it is normal that we see him lying down, directly on the ground, or in shady and covered areas.
• The breath will be characterized by gasps , more or less intense, with the tongue out of the mouth.The gasps also occur when the dog is heated for having performed a physical activity of consideration.
• Reddened mucous , what we can easily appreciate in the gums by keeping our mouths open.

Observing any of these behaviors in our dog makes it clear that he feels heated.We must provide a fresh space, since a Excess heat capable of raising your body temperature could be dangerous, as we will see.

Consequences of heat in dogs

Once we have seen how to know if a dog is hot, we will discuss the consequences of an excess temperature, which can occur if a heated dog does not have the possibility of cooling.When it rises to at 40-43ºC the dog runs the risk of suffering a heat stroke , which is a disorder that can lead to death.It produces symptoms such as very reddened mucous membranes, intense gasps , thick saliva, breathing difficulties, vomiting and, finally, diarrhea, shock, seizures and death.It is a veterinary emergency.The first step is to try to lower the temperature of the dog and stabilize it, although, as we say, the heat stroke causes the death of a large number of dogs, so it is important to follow the measures we will see in the next section.

How to keep the dog cool in summer?

Preventing the dog from getting hot is very important since, as we have seen, if its temperature rises without the ability to thermoregulate, the consequences can be fatal.Explained already how to know if our dog is hot, by To detect this situation, and to avoid it, we must take the following measures:

• Never leave a dog locked in a car or in a place that can reach high temperatures.
• You must have fresh water permanently.
• In the same way, a good shadow is essential.
• It is not necessary to walk it or make it develop any intense activity in the hottest hours.
• We can cool it by wetting it with a sprayer or passing a very damp towel .Also, if we have a suitable place, we can offer you a hole or pool with water to cool to your liking.In addition, you can freeze the water to make ice cubes with which it entertains while cooling.
• Homemade dog ice cream is an ideal option to offer natural foods and keep the dog cool in summer.
• The use of fans if we do not have air conditioning at home can be very beneficial to prevent the dog from getting hot.
• As always, we must pay special attention to younger dogs , sick, elderly or overweight and, before any symptoms, go to our veterinarian.

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