For Your Information

Please check this section monthly for useful information and tips.

This month's For Your Information is dedicated to helping you prevent your pet from having a heat stroke.

In hot and humid weather conditions a pet can over heat and suffer a heat stroke in a very short amount of time. A heat stroke can cause irreversible brain damage and even death. An animal cannot sweat, thus they cool themselves through panting. In extreme heat or if the pet is dehydrated, their panting becomes inefficient. If you feel your pet might be having a heat stroke, you should seek emergency help from a veterinarian immediately. Remember that even on cooler days, high humidity can cause your pet to overheat. Symptoms of a heat stroke are vigorous panting, laying on their side unable to stand, and possibly frothy foam around the mouth. However, some pets become severely agitated and some show signs of shock. Cooling down your pet should be done immediately with tap water. Ice or cold water is not recommended. Since a heat stroke affects nearly every system in the body, simply cooling your pet will not address all the potential harmful effects to your pet. Please seek treatment from a veterinarian immediately. Call us at 281-856-7023.