Healthcare - Health Tips - Pet and Vet

by Sarah K. Crisp and Capt. Thomas A. Kohler
Fort Gordon, Ga., Veterinary Treatment Facility

Most soldiers are trained to recognize and treat for heat injuries of their fellow soldiers. Pets are at a greater risk of suffering heat injuries because they cannot tell us what is wrong.

The Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks (or CTT manual, as it is commonly referred to) teaches that the first five symptoms of heat exhaustion in humans are profuse sweating with pale, moist, cool skin; headache; weakness; dizziness; and loss of appetite.

Figuring out Fido's heat-injury symptoms may be a bit harder. Dogs and cats pant rather than sweat to cool themselves. However, panting is a less efficient way for the body to reduce its temperature. Therefore, the onset of a heat-related injury might come on more quickly for a pet than a human.

Signs your pet is having a heat injury include:

• A bright red tongue
• Thick, sticky saliva
• Rapid panting
• Weakness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and shock

If your dog is experiencing a heat injury, you can lower its temperature by hosing it off with a garden hose or placing it in a sink/tub of cold water. Move the animal to a cool environment after wetting it down.

Contact your veterinarian to seek additional guidance.

Some good advice, included in some Army installation regulations, includes:

• Animals fenced outside for periods longer than two hours should have shelter such as a doghouse.
• Regardless of whether there is protection from weather, animals should not be maintained outside in weather that is extremely hot or cold for the local climate.
• Offer animals plenty of fresh, cool water and keep them indoors as much as possible during hot summer days.

(Adapted from the Fort Gordon, Ga., Signal)

Health Tips from Army Medicine
April 2003