Heat Stroke in Dogs – What You Should Know

Humans are not the only ones on the planet that can fall prey to heatstroke.  Dogs and other animals can find themselves in this heated situation as well.  Because many dogs live outdoors they are more susceptible to having a heat stroke.  In fact, heat stroke in dogs happens more often than you might think.

A dog’s normal temperature is already higher than humans, coming in at around 101 degrees so excessive heat and certain medical conditions can be extremely dangerous for them.

Heat stroke in dogs is medically known as hyperthermia and this usually occurs if the dog’s temperature is 106 or over.  This can be very serious and lead to multiple organ malfunctions.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Excessive panting

Dehydration

Excess drooling

High body temp

Unconsciousness

Muscle tremors

Seizures

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Reddened gums

Small to no urination

Sudden kidney failure

Breathing distress

Vomiting

Blood in stool

Changes in mental status

  

Causes and Risk Factors of Heat Stroke in Dogs

Excessive heat

Upper airway disease

Poisoning

Excessive exercise

Overweight

Thick hair coat

Age-related problems

History of heart disease

As you can see there are more reasons than just excessive heat that can cause a heatstroke in your dog so knowing what to look for could very well save their life!

Initial Treatment for Heat Stroke in Dogs

Of course you want to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible; however, there are things you can do to help your dog beforehand.  The temperature of your dog will let you know how serious or minor the overheating is.  A rectal thermometer can be used for this determination.

First, remove the dog from the hot area if they are in the sun.  Move inside whenever possible.  Next, you should put cool wet towels around the dog’s neck, under their armpits, and their hind legs.  This will start cooling them down and give them some relief.

If your dog is small enough to be put into the bathtub with cool water, that is best.  Add a pinch of salt to help replace some of the minerals they have lost.

You don’t want your dog to get aspiration pneumonia so be sure and keep its head elevated while in the tub.

Doing these few things may help your dog survive until they reach the vet.  If your dog is unconscious, then skip this step and head right to the vet.  In either case, a trip to the vet is in order.

Dogs need plenty of water and shelter from the heat so it’s important to think about where their shelter outside is and how many hours per day they may be in the sun.  Think about what time of day the sun hits their shelter.  If its morning time they should be fine, but if the hottest part of the day shines on their shelter then it’s probably too hot for some dogs.  Improper shelters are one of the main causes of heat stroke in dogs. 

This problem can be fixed by simply turning their dog house to face another direction or building some kind of canvas or wood awning that protects them from the sun.

Other reasons for heat stroke in dogs can be poor health issues.  These are usually respiratory issues that stop them from being able to pant correctly or problems like breathing too fast.  Problems like these can cause a dog to overheat and experience the same symptoms as a dog that was left out in the heat too long.

Keeping your dog’s immune system healthy includes keeping their blood, respiratory, digestive tract, and other functions operating correctly.  This can be helped tremendously with health supplements.  Natural supplements can help with these problems and also help become an organic immune booster as well as being natural antibiotics and antiseptics.

Dogs truly are man’s best friend and they are great companions.  They are part of your family and understanding how to recognize and treat heatstroke in dogs will hopefully keep them in your family for years to come.

Pet Owners Favouring Organic And Natural Options For Both Themselves And Their Animals

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.

 Increasing numbers of pet owners are paying more attention to what they are feeding their dogs, cats and horses, with many turning to organic, natural and herbal alternatives.
According to recent research from the United States, spending on nutraceuticals and pet care supplements is expected to continue rising throughout 2011, with sales predicted to reach $1.6 billion by 2015, a 27% increase from 2010. The senior and joints category is especially buoyant, accounting for approximately one-third of retail sales of dog supplements, one-fifth of sales of cat supplements and almost one-third of horse supplement sales.

Brookby Herbs founder and Managing Director, Jackie Rive, believes that the growing popularity of these pet care supplements is due to an increased awareness of alternative treatment options in general.

‘More and more people throughout both New Zealand and the rest of the world are now taking an interest in using non-pharmaceutical treatment options to care for their own health as well as the health of their families,’ explains Jackie. ‘Pets are an integral part of many households so it comes as no surprise that people want to include them in their quest for healthier living.’

‘There has also been something of a backlash against unnatural processed foods recently,’ she adds. ‘Individuals are becoming much more aware of where their food and supplements come from and just how much they are contributing nutritionally. This new found attitude is crossing over to how they look after their pets and is driving purchases of natural and organic products.’

Jackie also points out that the fact that herbal supplements are gentler and often involve fewer side effects than the conventional pharmaceutical medicines is also a draw card.

‘Of course, the first step should always be to take the pet to the vets if there is anything wrong,’ says Jackie. ‘However, more veterinarians both here and overseas are now recommending herbal treatment alternatives for certain conditions. It is becoming widely accepted that they can be kinder on the organs, such as the liver and kidneys, than some of the pharmaceutical options.’

For more information on Brookby Herbs, visit http://www.brookbyherbs.co.nz/
Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals

Coughs & Colds Are Doing The Rounds: How To Combat Them With Herbs

By Jackie Rive at www.brookbyherbs.co.nz 
Helping horses and dogs live healthier and happier lives, naturally.

I've heard a lot horse owners complaining about the coughs and colds that seem to be doing the rounds at the moment (not just the horses either, the owners seem to be suffering as well!) So I have pulled together a brief outline explaining which natural herbs can be used effectively to help combat colds and viruses. I hope you find it of some use in battling those nasties!

Four different categories of herbs are utilised to help combat the common cold.

First, herbs that stimulate the immune system to fight the infection are used during and possibly to prevent colds. Echinacea and Asian ginseng are two examples in this category.

Second, herbs that promote a mild fever, hence sweating (known as diaphoretics) may be useful. Because a fever is a sign of the immune system working, it may be that diaphoretics are also immune stimulators like the first category. Elder, boneset and yarrow are three examples.

The third category includes herbs that may directly kill the viruses that cause colds, based on test tube studies. Goldenseal, myrrh and usnea are examples.

Finally, some herbs are used just to alleviate symptoms such as sore throats. These herbs tend to be high in mucilage and are soothing and anti-inflammatory or have tannins that are astringent. Marshmallow and red raspberry are two examples. Symptom-relieving herbs may have other active constituents and mechanisms of actions. As you can see in the following list, many herbs fit in more than one category, such as goldenseal (immune stimulating and antiviral).

Immune-stimulating:

Asian ginseng, astragalus, boneset, echinacea, eleuthero, goldenseal, hyssop, linden, schisandra, wild indigo.

Diaphoretic:

Boneset, elder flower, hyssop, linden, yarrow.

Symptom-relieving Astringent (soothe sore throat):

Blackberry, blueberry, red raspberry.

Mucilage (soothe sore throat):

Marshmallow, mullein.

Reduce nasal stuffiness:

Eucalyptus, peppermint.

Relieve aches and pains:

Meadowsweet.

Miscellaneous sore throat relief:

Sage, yarrow.

Brookby Herbs have developed natural herbal products to help your animals combat colds and viruses. For horses we offer Echinacea Organic Plus, a natural antibiotic that also boosts the immune system and Breathe Free, a natural expectorant for treating respiratory problems such as viral coughs and colds. It will help to soothe away any irritations and unblock the airways.

Organic Immune Booster for dogs is a certified organic blend of herbs which enhances your dog's general well-being and protects against common dog health problems like kennel cough symptoms.

Visit www.brookbyherbs.co.nz for a full range of natural organic herbal health blends for animals.