Heat Stroke is a condition that occurs after exposure to excessive heat or inadequate or impaired heat dissipation  

If your pet has been exposed to excessive heat, such as being locked in a car on a hot day, consultation with a veterinarian should be sought

Prognosis is highly dependant on the amount of time that the pet has been exposed to severe heat and its body temperature

Our emergency team is available 24 hours daily, every day, to treat any type of emergency situation, including heat stroke

What is it?

• Heat Stroke is a condition that occurs after exposure to excessive heat or inadequate or impaired heat dissipation.  
• The duration to which an animal is exposed is variable, and severity is often dependent upon the environmental conditions, and animals body condition prior to exposure.
• Heat stroke can result from an increased metabolic rate, secondary to anesthetic agents (halothane anesthesia) or most commonly from closed environments with poor ventilation (closed cars even on moderately warm or seemingly cool days).
• This condition can also be the result of the decreased ability to cool, including respiratory obstruction or compromise.

Risk Factors

• Brachycephalic breeds (breeds with short, pushed in faces) such as Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, or obese dogs are at the greatest risk.
• Other risk factors
  • cardiorespiratory disease
  • long or thick hair coats
  • advanced age

Clinical Signs

• Panting
• Drooling
• Listlessness
• Muscle tremors
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of consciousness

Physical Exam

• Increased core body temperature (usually greater than 104.9 F)
• Increased heart rate and respiratory rate
• Bruising of the gums (also known as petecchiation)
• Brick red mucous membranes (gums and tongue)
• Other signs that may follow include
  • vomiting of blood
  • blood in stool
  • gray mucous membranes

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is often confirmed through history and physical exam.
• Your veterinarian will likely run a battery of blood tests (electrolytes, blood counts, blood gas analysis, coagulation panels) to quickly assess your pet’s condition.

Treatment

• Upon first noticing your pet is experiencing heat stroke, it is often advantageous to cool them using cool water.
• Seeking emergency veterinary care is advised strongly.
• Intravenous administration of fluids is typically performed to combat shock.
• Oxygen may be administered through a nasal catheter or an oxygen cage.
• Ideally, your pet’s body temperature will slowly be reduced. This is achieved via mechanical cooling (fans, cool spray, ice packs) and also chemically (medications including steroids).
• Your pet will be monitored for life threatening developments including cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) and thromboembolic events (blood clot formation).

Prognosis

• Prognosis is highly dependant on the amount of time that the pet has been exposed to severe heat and its body temperature
• Guarded to poor prognosis is assessed to animals that have sustained significant exposure.

Aftercare

• Your veterinarian may wish to repeat clotting profile one week after incident occurs.
• The underlying condition, if present should be addressed to prevent future episodes (i.e. correct the paralysis of the voice box (larynx) etc).

References

1. Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 5th edition. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders, 2000, 7.
2. Plunkett S. Emergency Procedures for the Small Animal Veterinarian, 2nd edition. London. W. B. Saunders, 2001, 74-76.