No, not the kind we usually think of – I am referring to a very specific and dangerous condition - hyperthermia, commonly known as heat stroke.
Hyperthermia is an abnormally elevated (hyper) body temperature (thermia) accompanied with physical and neurological symptoms. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated.
Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are less severe forms of hyperthermia. Normally when the body generates heat it is usually able to dissipate that heat through the skin or through the evaporation of perspiration. Extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous exercise can set up conditions where your body’s core temperature rises and is unable to dissipate it.
Dehydration is another cause of heat stroke and if you are dehydrated you will be unable to sweat fast enough to cool your core temperature.
Those that are most susceptible to heat strokes are:
- The elderly
- Those with heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases
- The very young
- People taking medications that make them vulnerable to heat stroke
- Athletes: do not exercise outdoors during the hottest time of the day – usually from noon until 3-4 pm. Drink a glass of water prior to exercising and then drink some water every fifteen minutes while exercising. One way to judge if you are drinking enough water is that your urine should be clear. If it is not, then you need to start drinking water.
- People working outside that physically exert themselves under the sun
Also, please, if you love your animals do not take them in the car with you. Even if you leave your pet in the car with the windows cracked they will die from the heat within 3 minutes. The interior of a car shoots up to over 120 degrees in that time. It will fry their brain and they will die. Please, for their sake, leave them at home.
Make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water too.
If you do suspect you or your pet are having some kind of heat prostration immediately get in the shade or go inside. A cold shower or cool compress to the back of the neck will help lower your core temperature. For your pet, cool compress to the pads of the feet and on their neck and on bare skin areas such as the stomach and tops of the legs will help.
Signs of heat stoke in your pet can include:
* Panting
* Sweating
* Salivating
* Difficulty in breathing
* Vomiting
* Bloody diarrhea
* High body temperature (above 40 degrees Celsius or 104 Fahrenheit.
* Increased heart and respiratory rate
* Mucous membranes bright red
* Capillary refill time very fast ( less than 1 sec)
* Dehydration
* Depression , lethargic ( acting drunk )
* Shock
* Seizure ,Collapse, or coma
(Special thanks to: http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-heatstroke.htm)
