How can I prevent heatstroke for my puppy on our first boat trip?

You are a great pet owner for being concerned about this and planning ahead! In the oppressive heat, heat stroke can happen very quickly. Some dogs can learn to adapt to the heat and are better able to handle it (think dogs that work as partners for soldiers in Iraq or Search and Rescue dogs). Signs of heatstroke include: Increased heart rate Excessive panting Increased salivation Bright red tongue Red or pale gums Thick, sticky saliva Depression Weakness Dizziness Vomiting (sometimes with blood) Diarrhea As heatstroke progresses, it can cause seizures, coma, cardiac arrest, and death. Exercising early in the morning during the cooler hours, providing lots of fresh cool water and finding places to exercise in the shade (like a nature trail hike) can help keep your dog cool. Several companies make Cool Coats that reflect heat and funnel it away from your dog. Also, find other ways for your dog to get exercise or even exercise their mind. You would be amazed at how tiring this is for dogs- take a Nosework class and your dog can learn to find different scents and you can practice at home in the house. Pick up a few puzzle toys and let your dog learn to find food and treats in the puzzles. Also, you could see if your dog might enjoy a swim-- even a little splash pool at home can be fun for the dog or some hose play- Don't overdo a dog's can get very sick if they drink too much water when playing.

Your dog is not going to get heat stroke if he is out of the sun, in a well-ventilated area, and has access to fresh water. Heat stroke is an issue for dogs left in vehicles with the windows up, or dogs allowed or forced to run without rest during warm days. Moose will be fine, but it's great that you are concerned for his welfare:).

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Roxy. Cold fresh water and shade are the best things that you can do for her. Male sure to keep her quiet and do not exercise her during the heat of the day. Save walks, runs or playtime for the early morning or evening hours. There are not any supplements that I would add to her food or water. I hope this information helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Great question, this is very very important in Frenchies! 1. Air conditioning and staying inside on hot days 2. Very short periods of exercise and chasing balls to prevent excessive panting and swelling 3. A spray bottle with cool water/hose or sprinkler /kiddie pool for Frank to go in when he is hot. 4. Fans at Frank's level so he can cool himself 5. Lots of areas of shade outside 6. As soon as Frank looks tired (ideally before he looks tired) stop playing or running 7. Ice-cube treats (frozen chicken broath) Best of luck with Frank!

He is most likely getting so got because he is really anxious. Firstly you could use active cooling measures such as letting him sit on a damp towel and damping him slightly with a cloth or sponge. Secondly you could take him to the vet as they may be able to prescribe meds that will help control his anxiety, and thus make him cooler.

I would strongly encourage you only to take short walks and do it first thing in the morning or the evening when it isn't as hot. To help keep her cool outside, be sure there is plenty of shade and water as well as a fan for her to get access to. Preferably, if you can keep her inside during the day, I would. Signs of heavy panting and laying on their side panting a lot are both early signs that she is getting too hot. As a heat stroke progress, they can become non-responsive, the tongue can be bright pink/red to even purple if she is having trouble getting oxygen. The best thing to do is to try to prevent this from happening. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Keeping fans on to circulate the air and providing plenty of water are great ways to help keep Scout and Benny as cool as possible. I recommend opening any windows as well so that any breezes can help circulate air too. If you do these things, they should be safe to keep in the house in temperatures up to about 90 degrees. I would not play with them or exercise them in this heat as this can cause them to overheat. As a reminder, pets cannot sweat so they have to cool off by panting. If you think either of them are too hot, you can lay cool/wet towels over them and place them in front of a fan to try to actively cool them off. I would monitor them closely for excessive panting, especially if they are laying down and panting for prolonged periods. You can also examine their gum color and if it appears bright red, this can be a sign of heat exhaustion. If you see any of these signs, I would recommend having them evaluated by a veterinarian who can address their potential heat stroke. I hope this is helpful!