Updated guidance around Heatstroke in pets

Previous guidance for pets with suspected heat stroke was to douse them in tepid water to prevent cooling them down too quickly and minimize the risk that they go into shock. However, this has now been updated and the heat stroke guidance catchphrase is now ‘Get them wet, straight to the vet’

Symptoms of heat stroke can include drooling and panting, potentially unconsciousness and seizures. It is important to pick up on the signs early and actively cool your pet whilst you get in contact with your veterinary practice.

The most important advice regarding heat stroke is take sensible precautions to prevent it, however should you be in a position where your pet is suffering from heat stroke, we have a few tips to go alongside the updated guidance:

• Call your veterinary practice to let them know the situation and that you are on the way down with a suspected heat stoke case – for our Milton Keynes Veterinary Group family, if you can, please try to get to our main hospital at Walnut Tree where we have full facilities to help your pet
• Pour, hose or (if possible and safe to do so) immerse your pet in very cold water, ensuring their head if above water. Your pet should be under constant supervision throughout
• If using a hose pipe, make sure you run through the water until it is cold as often the water in the tubing can be hot in hot weather
• Do not drape them in towels
• Move them to a cool and shaded area
• Prepare transport for your pet by putting on the air conditioning or ensuring a breeze before loading your pet

Animal medicine will often use information gleaned from the human field to assess and update procedures in the veterinary world. Within human medicine, ice water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in preventing heat stroke, with a low fatality rate in younger, fit patients and no serious adverse events have been noted following this method.

For more information, click here for a great resource.

If you are concerned your pet is overheating or showing signs of heat stroke, please contact the surgery and we will be happy to help.