If you have a pet that gets outside at all when it's the warmer months, you need to be able to tell whether or not they have heatstroke. It's important to help your pet to stay cool and to treat them if they suffer from heat stroke. If your pet is suffering from heatstroke in Santa Clara, CA, the veterinarians at Silicon Valley Pet Clinic are ready to assist you.
How Do Pets Get Heatstroke?
Heatstroke happens when the pet's body temperature rises too high. While humans have many sweat glands that can help them to cool off in the heat, cats and dogs have very few. For this reason, they are more susceptible to heatstroke. They generally pant to cool off. When they do this, it allows moisture to evaporate from their mouth and cool them with it.
If the day has a high level of humidity, this can cause heatstroke in pets even if the temperature isn't that high. Your pet needs to have constant access to cool water on hot days. Without it, they can get heatstroke more easily. If your home has no air-conditioning, it can suffer from this condition. Never, ever leave your pet inside the car, even if it isn't that hot that day, as this can cause them to quickly overheat.
What are the Symptoms of Heatstroke in Pets?
If a pet is excessively panting or drooling, your pet may have heatstroke. If they are vomiting or having a hard time breathing, they have serious heatstroke that is likely urgent. They may start to feel weak or have diarrhea that may or may not have blood in it. If a pet is stumbling in the heat or seems to have bad coordination or collapses, this is a serious sign of heatstroke. Advanced heatstroke can also cause a pet to have seizures.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinarians in Santa Clara, CA
If your pet has these signs of heatstroke, you can get a towel wet with cool water and wrap them in it. Then, call our veterinarian. Call Silicon Valley Pet Clinic today at (408) 248-3844 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian.