How to prevent heat stroke in pets

For pets that are sensitive to heat, the steamy summer months are not only uncomfortable, they are also the time when the risk of fatal heatstroke is highest. Thousands of pets die needlessly every summer from over-exposure to heat.

Heastroke is an emergency that needs medical attention as soon as possible. Even before you take your pet to the vet, however, you need to start cooling her body down by putting her in a tub of cool water, for example, or by applying wet towels or ice packs to her body

[edit] Signs of heatstroke

• Your pet pants a lot even when the temperature is cool.
• She appears tired during the warm months.
• Her gums are suddenly bright red.

[edit] Tips against heatstroke

• To encourage your pet to drink more, give it ice chips or ice cubes throughout the day. Many pets like crunching ice.
• Sprit it with a hose or encourage it to lie in a kiddie pool. Even sprinkling the grass where they play will keep them a little cooler.

• Replace electrolytes like calcium and sodium - add several tablespoons of an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte or Gatorade to your pet's water to replace these minerals.

• Check for dehydration - a quick test is to gently pinch the area between the shoulder blades. The skin should snap back into its usual position when you let go. Skin that stays in the pinched position for three to five seconds is a sign that your pet is dehydrated, and you will need to call your vet right away.