Protect your pet from the heat.

Sunny California certainly gets its share of hot days — and those hot days can mean trouble for your pet, especially if he doesn’t have ready access to water. Pet dehydration, which can occur regardless of the temperature, is a serious health threat which can contribute to the acute condition known as pet heatstroke. Thankfully, you can give your pet the treatment he needs for either of these conditions right here at The Goodland Pet Hospital in Goleta.

Why Proper Hydration Is So Important

Water serves as a critical component of all an animal’s tissues, from blood and organs to muscles. In fact, your pet is principally made up of water! Even a slight insufficiency in water content can, therefore, have devastating effects on an animal’s health. One of water’s many functions is to help the body maintain a safe core temperature range. As your pet gets hotter, he will try to cool himself through panting, which causes some of his body’s water supply to escape. Hot temperatures may also cause the water in his bowl to evaporate, leaving him critically short of this life-giving substance and helping to set the stage for heatstroke.

Causes of Heatstroke in Pets

Lack of water will cause dehydration, but it’s only one factor in the development of heatstroke. If your pet stays outdoors and doesn’t have access to shade, his core temperature can quickly soar over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point heatstroke takes place. The stifling interior of a hot car can bring this danger to the fatal stage in a matter of minutes, even if the windows are cracked. Even if your pet has water, that water won’t be drinkable once it gets too hot.

When to Seek Help: Telltale Signs of Dehydration and Heatstroke

When should you bring your pet to our clinic for dehydration or heatstroke treatment? Look for following signs of pet dehydration:

• Heavy panting
• Loss of appetite
• Reduction in skin elasticity
• Dry eyes, nose, or gums
• Fast heartbeat

Pets suffering from heat stroke may also show symptoms such as:

• Red gums
• Disorientation
• Seizures or fainting
• Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
• Tarry stools
• Muscle spasms