After attending an advanced seminar on homotoxicological applications for endocrine disease in Denver last month, I was all set to tell you all about homotoxicology and its utility in so many of our pets. That is, I was all set until yet another dog was carried, by a panicked owner, through our doors - suffering from heat stroke.

Now, most of us know enough to agree that it’s a bad idea to strenuously exercise a dog when it is very, very hot outside. But a lot of pet owners don’t stop to think that even moderately warm weather can cause a dog to overheat, when warm weather is combined with high humidity. We need to remember that dogs can’t sweat when they get hot. The only ways they can get rid of excess body heat are by panting and by radiating the heat from the surface of their bodies.

Heat radiation works fine when you’re built "long and lean", and have a very short hair coat, like a Greyhound. But pets who are built more along the lines of my Lizzie (Cairn Terrier) or my Sofia (Bull Mastiff), with a more solid body core, have a harder time radiating heat effectively. And panting is a great cooling mechanism for a longer-nosed dog - but if you have a short little face, like a Pug (who also has a round little body - double whammy!), it is hard to pant enough to cool yourself down. Now, think about what happens when you add on a little extra weight, or a long thick hair coat, or both - it’s a recipe for disaster in the heat. (Lizzie just interrupted to say: If you think that hair insulates to keep a dog cool, go put on a fur coat, play a round of tennis, and then come and talk to me about how comfortable you are, if you‘re still standing up!)

What happens when a dog’s body overheats? The breathing rate rises, the heat starts pumping faster, blood is shunted differently to enhance cooling, and necessary body functions begin to shut down as the body temperature rises. The normal nice healthy pink tongue color turns red, then purple, as the body gets less oxygen. If we owners miss these signs, or just don’t have the sense to get our pet into cooler surroundings immediately, essential organs start to shut down - organs like the liver and the kidneys. Even the brain starts to swell. Very severely overheated pets can suffer permanent damage to these organs or can even die.

What are some easy ways to overheat? Exercising for more than 10 minutes in extreme heat or in heat plus humidity. Exercising on a heat-absorbing surface, like asphalt. Exercising with an owner who is doing moderate exercise that makes a pet run like the dickens to keep up - like biking, or rollerblading. Not having frequent access to cool water during and after exercise. Sitting in a car, even one that is parked in the shade with the windows rolled down, on a warm day.

What should you do if you think your pet has heat stroke? First, call your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Then, work as fast as you can to cool your pet down before you make the drive to the vet’s office. Turn on a cold shower or fill up a tub with cold water and dump your pet in. Or turn on the garden hose and wet your pet down thoroughly. As soon as your pet's’ color starts to pink up and the breathing slows down, wrap a wet cold towel around her and get her into the vet immediately. Away from home? Find any water source you can - even an icky, algae-laden pond is OK - and get in with your pet to soak her down. You can buy water to pour on your pet, or a bag of ice to slide under your pet, to continue the cool-down while on your way to the vet’s office. Don’t let your pet drink a large amount of water, though - this will usually cause vomiting.

Your vet will follow up with needed care once you get your dog there. You’ll have plenty of time to plan how to avoid heat stroke ever again while treatment is underway! Appropriate car may involve further cooling, or an IV and fluids, and medication to slow damage to important body organs. Some pets may even require hospitalization and 24-hour monitoring, until all their vital functions return to normal.