If your dog is panting excessively, bleeding from the nose, has a high body temperature, is salivating excessively or his gums turn bluish purple or a vivid red, is dizzy, vomiting (especially with blood), then he could be suffering from a heat stroke.

If you suspect your dog is suffering from a heat stroke, you need to rush him to your vet. However, in emergency situations, you need to first bring the temperature down.

• The first thing you need to do is to cool your dog immediately. You could wrap her in a cold, wet towel, immerse her in a bathtub with cool water or hose her down with a pipe. You could even apply an ice pack to her head.
• Make sure that you maintain her circulation. Massage her legs and her body to ensure that she doesn’t go into shock.
• If she is able to stand get her to drink water. Make sure the water is cold.
• And most important of all, rush her to the vet. The home treatment is the basic first aid, but she needs to be checked by a vet. She could be put on intravenous fluids or medication. Your vet will know the best course of treatment based on your dog’s symptoms.

While summer is a time when dogs are prone to heat strokes, adequate care from us is what will prevent it. Most often, it’s carelessness on the owner’s part that causes heat strokes in dogs. Keep your dog hydrated and cool during the sizzling summer months and you will have nothing to worry about.