Your dog may enjoy a hot summer day, but too much heat can leave your pooch withered, or even suffering from canine heat stroke. If you suspect your dog has heat stroke, immediately take it to a cool location, douse your dog with cool water and turn on a fan for air circulation. Once your dog has cooled down, a trip to the vet will insure your dog does not have any other less-obvious effects.
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Appearance and Mental State
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A number of changes in your dog's appearance and demeanor can alert you to heat stroke. A bright red tongue, gums that are no longer pink but either red or pale, and other moist body tissues turning red are some of the tip-offs. Thick and sticky saliva is another sign, as is a dog that appears dehydrated. Mental tip-offs include a dog that begins to act depressed or has a change in its otherwise perky or outgoing demeanor.
Physical Behavior
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Canine heat stroke causes massive panting and drooling, as well as a number of other physical behaviors or symptoms. Others include an irregular or rapid heartbeat, having little to no urination, and having diarrhea or black or bloody stools. Your dog can suffer muscle tremors and seizures, or walk unsteadily as if it were drunk, unbalanced or very weak. Vomiting, often with blood, going into shock and dropping into unconsciousness or a coma are other signs.
Medical Symptoms
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Your veterinarian can further diagnose heat stroke by checking for a host of other symptoms. Dogs will have elevated temperatures, higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit. The dog can suddenly stop breathing, or experience a sudden heart attack or kidney failure. Heat stroke also causes liver cells to die off and makes your dog susceptible to diseases that break down the muscle tissues.
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