What to do in the event of a heat stroke?

In dogs and cats heat strokes occur especially when they are left in closed and poorly ventilated environments. As in a parked car during the summer days. As far as dogs are concerned, when they are subjected to excessive strain (racing behind vehicles or bicycles) on particularly hot days, the animals cannot balance the increase in body temperature through sweat as man does, the only means at their disposal is the increase in respiratory rate which, however, in many cases is not enough.

When the animal is locked inside the car, it starts to get hot. It shakes, feels suffocated, the mucosa turns red, the eyes pop out of the orbits, the tongue dangling. The increasingly heavy breath overheats the air in the cockpit and burns the oxygen present. Death is by asphyxiation.
It is necessary to intervene promptly with ice water packs on the head, and immerse the animal body in cold water, to try to bring the temperature back to normal values.

Immediately go to the veterinarian, and in the meantime subcutaneously inject corticosteroids to counter any cardiovascular collapse.

A very important recommendation in order to prevent these accidents. Never leave the animals in the car in the hot months, or at least park in the shade and with the windows open. Do not leave them for long and never put them under excessive strain on summer days.