Until last week, veterinarians had been appreciating the mild summer for one reason in particular ---- dog-related heat stroke had not yet made its appearance. But once the heat returned, so did the instances of dogs overheating and dying.
Dr. Laura Laxineta of the Valley Veterinary Clinic on Jefferson Avenue in Murrieta said two dogs died last week from heat stroke.
"We think people aren't aware of how the heat can affect their dogs," Laxineta said. "To see two back-to-back was just very upsetting."
Dr. Amy Carr, however, who works at California Veterinary Specialists, a Murrieta emergency clinic, said she was surprised that it's taken this long for the problem to re-emerge.
"I'm waiting for them," Carr said. "Last year we saw about 100. It's most definitely (a problem)."
The heat does not affect cats the way it affects dogs because cats have a natural ability to know when not to exercise as well as when they should remain in the shade and rehydrate.
Dogs, on the other hand, contend with a series of characteristics that put them more at risk of suffering from heat stroke: their coats are thick and heavy; when they pant intensely their muscles can become overwhelmed and swell, which makes it harder for them to breathe and cool themselves down; and their need to exercise and play can override their internal warnings to be calm and cool.
"Especially if they're playing with their owner, they're so loyal they want to stay with them," Carr said. "I've literally seen black labs run themselves to death."
Animals who are left unattended in vehicles are at the most risk, Carr said. Even with a cracked window, a dog's life can become threatened in a very short time.
"If it's even 90 degrees outside, you probably have about 10 minutes before it heats up to the point that your dog is really distressed," Carr said. "Just the fact that he's panting in the car increases the heat inside the car; he can be really distressed within 30 minutes and dead within an hour."
But dogs who appreciate sitting in the sun also are in danger of heat stroke ---- and the risks increase for young puppies and older dogs, who sometimes lose the ability to sense they are overheating. Dogs with short noses, such as pugs and bulldogs, and dogs whose origins are from northern territories, such as Alaska, are at still greater risk of succumbing to the heat.
Veterinarians said that an overheated dog will pant heavily and collapse to the floor. As the dog's internal temperature rises, the dog will have seizures, vomit or have abnormally loose, bloody bowels.
A pet owner who finds his dog exhibiting the most mild signs of heat stroke should douse the pet with cool to tepid water immediately. Pet owners should not use ice water because it will cause the blood vessels to constrict and prevent the blood from cooling, experts said.
Once wet, the pet should be rushed to the nearest animal clinic with the windows rolled down, the veterinarians said. Air conditioning in the car is not recommended for the same reason that ice water is not advised.
Once admitted, the dog will receive intravenous fluids that will help cool the dog's internal temperature.
If the heat stroke is more severe, the pets could face multiple procedures, which could cost their owners upward of $20,000, or die.
"It's really a disaster when it happens," Laxineta said.
Prevention is key, pet experts said. Dog owners should provide plenty of shade for their pets and consider putting a block of ice in the dog's bowl in the morning and refreezing it at night, or leaving out a play pool of water for their dogs to soak in. Veterinarians also recommend pet owners bring their dogs inside the house during extreme heat, noting that 85 to 90 degrees is the maximum temperature that a dog should be continuously exposed to.
And pet owners should not take their dogs for runs or to play outdoors during the day because that's when it's hottest, said. Dr. Jim Wentzel of VCA California Oaks Animal Hospital in Murrieta.
"It definitely happens every summer, and it can be lethal," Wentzel said. "So it's best to watch your dog very carefully."
