MARIETTA, Ga.,None — A local veterinarian says she has treated several dogs for heat-related illnesses in the past few days.
Two of the dogs died as a result.
Dr. Ashely Mazza told Channel 2s Diana Davis that one of the dogs was walking with its owner on Kennesaw Mountain.
They were probably about an hour into their walk and suddenly their dog collapsed, said Mazza.
Another dog was left in the yard all day. The owner's well-intentioned precautions were not enough.
Put a bowl of water with it, came home after work and it was collapsed, said Mazza.
A third dog was left in a car.
Probably wasnt in there even 15 minutes and came back out and her dog was collapsed, said Mazza.
The normal body temperature for dogs is a few degrees higher than humans. It doesnt take long to overheat. Dogs arent as efficient as humans are at cooling their bodies.
The only place they sweat is the pads of their feet, you know, and thats just not enough, so the main way they get rid of heat is by panting, said Mazza.
Mazza said prevention is the best medicine and offered these tips: make sure your dog is gradually acclimated to the heat; overweight and flat-faced dogs are most vulnerable; offer lots of cool water; allow dogs to get wet when possible.
Act quickly if your dog becomes overheated. Get the dog wet, give it room temperature water to drink and get to the vet, said Mazza.
The sooner you start the cooling process, the better their chance of making it, Mazza said.