The spring and summer are great times for you and your pet. The warmer climate and longer days give you and your dog more chances to get outdoors and exercise. However, this also puts your dog at a greater risk of heat related illness. One of the most common is heatstroke. While humans have somewhat efficient cooling systems, dogs do not. They are able to sweat our of their feet, but rely mostly on panting to reduce heat. To make matters worse, most dogs have coats designed to trap heat to their bodies. Do some breeds have a higher chance of getting heatstroke? Yes! Short nosed breeds, like Boxers, are more susceptible to heatstroke than other breeds because their reduced airways limit the amount of hot air they are able to exhale. Double coated breeds, such as German Shepards, are more susceptible because their coats retain more heat than other breeds. How do you recognize heatstroke in a dog? A dog experiencing heatstroke will start out with heavy panting which is often accompanied with excessive saliva. This can be easily confused with the regular panting that may result from the heat or from exercise. The key here is to look for panting or saliva production that is above normal. The second stage is a bit more pronounced. Your dog will most likely experience one or all of the following symptoms; grasping for breathe, glassy eyes, and red gums. The dog will appear physically weak and may have trouble standing on their own. In later stages, your dog may experience diarrhea, vomiting, or seizures. Obviously, you want to identify heatstroke in the earliest stages possible. If you even suspect that your dog is suffering from heatstroke, the best course of action is to begin treatment and observe the dog. How do you Treat a dog with heatstroke? The treatment of heatstroke is somewhat obvious. Your dog is suffering from too much heat, so it is your job to cool your dog down. Be careful not to introduce extreme shifts in temperature. For instance, do not throw your dog into a tub of ice water. Sever temperature shifts can be as dangerous, if not more, than the original problem. To cool your dog down, try one of the following: immerse your dog in cool water in the bathtub, kid's swimming pool, sink, etc. hose down your dog with a garden hose that was allowed to run a couple of minutes place water soaked towels on your dog's head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Resoak the towels as they heat up. If your dog is suffering, this may take as little as a couple of minutes. turn on the air conditioner or fan and place your dog in front of it allow your dog to have fresh cool water Take your dog to the vet as soon as the heat has gone down. Heatstroke can lead to several serious problems. How do you help your dog avoid heatstroke? The best way to stay away from heatstroke is to be informed about the problem. Monitor your pet while exercising and on hot days. Become familiar with your dog's normal reaction to the heat and exercise. Never leave your dog in the car unattended, even if the windows are rolled down. Also have fresh cool water available to your dog. Most dogs are more concerned about pleasing their master than doing what is right for them. Make sure your dog is ready for the activity that you are about to perform. Take the heat of the day into consideration. Remember that older dogs are more susceptible to the heat than younger dogs.