25/05/2026
We hope you're enjoying the sun but please be mindful of your pets in this weather☀️🥵
Heat stroke in pets is a life-threatening emergency. Immediately move the dog to a cool, shaded area and call your vet. ☎️Begin rapid, gradual cooling by wetting their body with cool (not ice-cold) water, placing them in front of a fan, and offering them small sips of water.
At-Home First Aid: Cool First, Transport Second
The longer a dog’s body temperature remains dangerously elevated, the higher the risk of severe organ damage. Follow these critical steps:⚠️
Move to safety: Get your dog out of the sun and into an air-conditioned room or a well-ventilated, shaded space.⛱️🌴
Wet the body: Pour cool water over their body, specifically targeting the neck, belly, and paw pads. You can also let them dunk their head if they are conscious.🚿
Avoid ice baths: Never use ice-cold water or ice packs. Extreme cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which actually traps heat deep inside the body and can shock the dog.🚫
Promote evaporation: Place a fan directly on the wet fur. Do not wrap the dog in wet towels, as this can trap heat rather than allowing it to escape.🌬
Offer hydration: Offer small, frequent sips of cool water. Do not force them to drink, as this can lead to choking or water inhalation.💦💧
Monitor temperature: If you have a pet thermometer, monitor their re**al temperature. Stop the active cooling process once their temperature drops to about 103°F (\(39.5^{\circ }C\)) to avoid cooling them too far into hypothermia.🌡🤒
Veterinary Care
Even if your dog seems to recover and their temperature returns to normal, heat stroke can cause silent, devastating internal injuries (such as kidney damage or neurological issues).😢
You should transport your dog to your veterinary emergency hospital as soon as you have initiated cooling. Turn on the car’s air conditioning to keep cooling them during the trip. We will step in and take care of your pet🏥👩⚕️
☎️Thurles - 0504 24401
☎️Cashel - 062 63492
24 hour emergency care available 🏥
