Heat Stress & Heat Stroke
When summer arrives people are told to stay in the cool, drink lots of fluids, and avoid exercising in the heat of the day.
Despite our best efforts, people still tend to be affected, whether by dehydration, lack of sleep, or reduced appetite. But what affect does summer heat have on greyhounds, and what can we do to help them best cope?
Keeping Cool
Probably the biggest difference between us and greyhounds is the different ways in which our bodies work to maintain a stable operating temperature. For humans, body sweat is used to cool our skin, but greyhounds can’t sweat all over like we do, instead only sweating through glands on the pads of their feet and nose. Greyhounds instead rely on evaporative cooling from their respiratory system – panting to move air across wet membranes.
This system of cooling has limitations and has important consequences for the greyhound. Firstly, the evaporation can only occur if the humidity in the air allows it – the higher the humidity the less this system works. So when in a confined space such as a car, trailer or kennel, humidity can increase quickly as evaporated water from the greyhound stays in the air.
The second problem with this sort of cooling is that it can lead to huge losses of body fluids and can alter the acid-base balance in the dog’s blood from the increased amount of oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs. These changes are hard to measure because you may not be able to actually see them.
What will you see?
- Heat Stress – panting, salivating, increased heart rate, listlessness, vocalisation/whining
- Heat Stroke – excessive or loud panting, thick saliva, vomiting, diarrhoea, wobbliness, strange behaviour, seizures, collapse, and death
What can you do?
- Stop all exercise
- Move to a shaded area or, ideally, into an air-conditioned area
- Provide plenty of cool, fresh water
- Provide plenty of ventilation to move evaporated fluid away and to drop the humidity levels
- Gently cool the greyhound – they can lay on wet towels, be wiped down or hosed with cool water. Make sure if you are using wet towels or ‘Cooling Coats’ that they feel cool to touch and that there is a breeze or ventilation as these methods rely on evaporation for their cooling effects too – if they dry out or there is no ventilation then it’s similar to wearing a blanket or rug.
- Avoid using iced water on the greyhound’s body as this can cause the blood vessels in the skin to contract, which will slow the cooling process down because the hot blood is no longer coming to the surface where it can lose heat. Iced water can be used on the feet though, and covered ice packs can be placed in between the dog’s thighs and in their ‘arm-pits’.
What if I think a greyhound is moving into heat stroke?
Heat stroke is more serious as there can be delayed complications due to organ damage. The priority is to lower the body temperature quickly, but care has to be taken not to cause hypothermia (too cold) in the process. Any dog with a rectal temperature over 41.6 degrees is considered dangerously hot.
These dogs need to be taken to the vet immediately, where cold intravenous fluids and cool water enemas can be done. The vet can also monitor for complications and give medications to aid in preventing some of the consequences of a body temperature that’s too high – such as brain swelling and shock.
Finally, monitor your greyhounds closely for the longer-term effects of hot weather. You need to be watching food intake, water intake, body weight and coat condition.
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Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Boofa
Croc ARP
Meet Croc! He is enthusiastic and happy about everything and anything! He takes everything in his stride and will happily fit in to most homes. Croc may suit living with or without a canine pal of any size or breed and children aged 10 years and older. Sorry no apartments for his active boy.
Croc is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Chandler ARP
Meet Chandler, no he isn't like the Chandler from friends, he is quite the oposite really. He is an introvert and enjoys the quiet life. He finds new people and new environments a bit scary and takes a hot minute to warm up to people, then he becomes friendly and personable. Chandler may suit living with or without a canine friend of any size or breed and children aged 10 years and older, he may find the smallest children too scary. A quiet home will be best for this Chandler.
Chandler is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you wil be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Cait ARP
This is Cait, she is a mature lady in more ways than one- she will be turning 9 years old in May, she has a cute grey face, and she acts like a lovely older lady. She is very sweet, calm and quiet, when she chooses her person, she looks lovingly into their eyes. Due to her friendly nature, she may suit many home types from dogs of any size or breed, to children aged 5 years or older and may even be OK with living with the elderly. She may also be OK to live in an apartment.
Cait is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Dancer
Dizzy ARP
Meet Dizzy, she is quite the introvert and can be cautious and anxious of new people and environments. She will require a quiet home and understanding owner to give her time and patience to guide her into pet life and help find her inner confidence. Once she warms up to you, she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, just look at those gorgeous eyes, once she trusts you she is very sweet and personable. Dizzy may suit living with or without a canine friend of any size or breed and may do best in a home with older children aged 10 years and above as he may little people a bit scary.
Dizzy is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We havebehavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain withtheir racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they arebrought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adoptingthis dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you willbe adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Kensi ARP
Beautiful Kensi is quite big for a female greyhound; she weighs well over 30kg! Don't let her size deter you, she is as sweet and friendly as they come, and we even think she may be OK to live with children as young as 5 years old. She may also be OK to live with or without a canine brother of any size and breed.
Kensi is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Molly Moo ARP
Meet the sweetest girl, Molly Moo! She is a bit of an introvert and can be a bit cautious and anxious of new people and environments, but she tries really hard to be brave. Once she trusts, you are welcome into her 'circle' with her gentle friendly nature. She is easy to handle and walks well on the lead. With her puppy years long behind her, she is longing for her own plushy bed for her to sleep for hours on end! She may suit living with or without a confident canine companion of any size and children aged 10 years and older. Due to her gentle nature she may suit living with the elderly.
Molly Moo is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Harrison ARP
Meet handsome Harrison or Harry for short, he is a lovely fawn boy who is at the perfect age for adoption, he will likely happily sleep for hours and only wake up for walks and food! Harry is looking for a home with or without a canine friend of similar size and children aged 10 years and older.
Harrison is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Maddy