How easily can dogs get heat stroke?

Dogs suffering from heat stroke can have elevated breathing rates, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising in the gums, lethargy, disorientation, and seizures. The most common cause of heat stroke or hyperthermia is leaving a dog in a car with inadequate ventilation. The dog's body temperature in this situation can elevate very rapidly, often within minutes. It is important to remember that dogs cannot control their body temperature by sweating, as humans do, because dogs have a relatively small number of sweat glands located in their footpads. Panting is their primary way of regulating body temperature. Other common causes of heat stroke include being left in a yard without access to shade or water on a hot day, being exposed to a hair dryer for an extended time, and excessive or vigorous exercise during hot temperatures. Excited or excessively exercised dogs are sometimes at risk even if the environmental temperature and humidity does not seem high, particularly if they are kept in a poorly ventilated environment or a dog house. Dogs with a restricted airway, such as brachycephalic breeds, are at even greater risk. In these breeds, clinical signs of heat stroke can occur when the outside temperature and humidity are only moderately elevated. Dogs that are muzzled can also be at greater risk, since their ability to pant is restricted by the muzzle.

It’s easy for our pets to overheat in warm weather. Unlike us, they can’t remove layers when it gets hot, and they don’t always have an option to move themselves to cooler places or avoid the sun. Animals are unable to cool down by sweating as humans do, so they are less able to regulate their body temperature. Dogs and cats can suffer from heatstroke, a life-threatening condition where the body temperature increases to a point where serious consequences, including organ failure and even death, can occur. It doesn’t always have to be ‘hot’ for an animal to develop heatstroke. Exercising excessively in warm weather, or being left in a warm or humid environment that is poorly ventilated can cause animals to quickly overheat. Animals that are overweight, flat faced breeds, or pets with thick coats are more susceptible to heatstroke. Old or very young animals, and animals with pre-existing conditions, particularly airway, lung or heart problems, are also at risk.