It was a hot April afternoon when I set out to do a spot of shopping. As usual, Hotdog, my black Labrador accompanied me. I headed to a shop on Khader Nawaz Khan Road. When I alighted from the car, I instructed my driver to park in the shade; I also rolled down the windows so that there would be fresh air circulating in the car. When I returned to the car, the driver and Hotdog were standing below a tree. We got into the car and I made a quick stop at another shop for five minutes, again ensuring that the car was parked in the shade and the windows were rolled down. Post darting in and out of the shop, we headed home. It was hot despite the air-conditioning. At some point, I pulled out a face towel to wipe my sweaty face and was alarmed when I saw blood on it. I peered into the rear-view mirror but discovered I wasn’t bleeding. Then where was the blood coming from? I looked down at Hotdog who was in my lap, staring out of the window and, to my horror, I discovered that he was bleeding from the nose. To cut a long story short, I called my vet and rushed there. They suspected a heat stroke but couldn’t rule out tick fever or other conditions. They drew blood from him and he was given meds to staunch the bleeding. It took almost six hours for the bleeding to stop. I took him home, he drank lots of cold water and went off to sleep. The next morning, I was told that he had no tick fever or anything else; he had suffered a heat stroke.
Summers in most parts of India are searing hot. And I learnt my lesson the hard way – you do NOT take your dogs out for drives during this time. This is a time when your dog should be inside the house, not outside. Ideally with the air-conditioner on. I didn’t know that cars heat up rapidly – a closed car can heat up to 45 degrees in just ten minutes. I was lucky that I spotted Hotdog bleeding and took him to the vet immediately. I remember a terrible case when I was visiting the vet once. A pet owner couldn’t find their dog for hours. When they finally did, he was lying in their car, dehydrated and close to death. Someone had left the car door open and he had jumped in. The door must have shut and trapped him inside. By the time they brought him to the vet, it was too late to save him.
But it’s not just about cars. Summer is a time you need to take extra care. Here are some tips to ensure your dog is safe and hydrated during summer
Always keep your dog indoors during the day. If you do not let your dog into the house or have a kennel for her, you need to ensure that there is a cool place on your veranda for her, a place with shade and breeze.
Make sure your dog is hydrated. Always check the water bowls to ensure there is water. Ideally, give him cold water. If you are going out, have not one but multiple bowls of water. Remember, some dogs tend to knock the water over, so it makes sense to have several bowls in different parts of the house. If you plan to take your dog out with you, carry a collapsible water dish.
Do not walk your dog during the day. If you plan on taking him for a long walk, do so early in the morning – around sunrise – or in the night. Daytime walks will dehydrate him. Not only that, the roads and pavements are very hot and can cause his paws to burn, and even bleed.
Go easy on the exercise. You need to cut the amount walks or ball throwing during this time. Just like we exercise less in summer, it’s the same for our furry friends. Often, when playing ball or tug with dogs, they are so excited that they don’t know or realise when they are tired and dehydrated. It’s up to us to ensure that they exercise in moderation.
What to do if your dog suffers a heat stroke
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.