— Summer safety
Heatstroke:
every minute counts.
In the Greek heat, heatstroke is deadly and progresses very fast. Learn to recognise it and what to do in the first minutes.
Suspected heatstroke? Start cooling and call us NOW.+30 6981010706
Symptoms
- •Heavy panting, excessive drooling
- •Red or dark gums, hot body
- •Unsteadiness, weakness, confusion
- •Vomiting or diarrhoea (possibly bloody)
- •Collapse, seizures, loss of consciousness
First aid
- •Move immediately to a shaded, cool place
- •Wet with cool (NOT ice-cold) water — neck, armpits, groin, paws
- •Use air flow or a fan so the water evaporates
- •Offer a little water if alert
- •Transport to the vet immediately while continuing to cool
- •If you can measure the temperature, stop cooling when it falls to about 39.5 °C: over-cooling worsens the outcome
What NOT to do
- •Don't use ice-cold water or ice — it causes vasoconstriction
- •Don't wrap in a wet towel — it traps heat
- •Don't submerge the head (risk of inhalation) and don't force the pet to drink
- •Don't wait for it to «recover on its own» — precious time is lost
- •Even if it seems to have recovered, it must be examined by a vet
Prevention
- •NEVER in a parked car, not even briefly
- •Walks early morning or late evening — not at midday
- •Always available shade and fresh water
- •Extra care with brachycephalic breeds, pets with breathing problems, obese, elderly and pregnant pets
- •Avoid intense exercise in the heat: even healthy, active dogs get heatstroke, especially in the first hot days without acclimatisation
In an emergency, don't lose time.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. See how to reach us right away.
Emergency casesInformational material — does not replace immediate veterinary care.