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The Nashville Humane Association was highlighted in the Winter 2009 American Humane, Protecting Animals publication. We invite you to read the article, and learn more about how NHA fulfills its mission and thinks outside-of-the-box.

Don’t Be A FOOL – Keep Them COOL

There are Tethering Laws designed to protect animals from summer hazards like high temperatures, inadequate ventilation and cruel confinement because heat stroke (also known as HYPERTHERMIA) is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention since it can result in the death of your dog.

When a dog is exposed to high temperatures, heat stroke or heat exhaustion can result. Once signs of heat stroke are detected, there is little time before serious damage - or even death - can occur.

Dogs do not sweat through their skin like us humans do. Dogs release heat primarily by panting. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the internal body temperature begins to rise. Once the dog's temperature reaches 106 degrees, damage may become irreversible. Although the normal human temperature is 98.6 degrees, the normal canine temperature is anywhere between 99 – 102 degrees. On a day when the temps are in the 80’s & 90’s, an increase in body temperature is not hard to achieve.

Unfortunately, too many dogs suffer from heat stroke when it could have been easily avoided.

There are ways you can prevent heat stroke from happening:

-Keep fresh cool water available at all times
-Do not leave your dog tied out / on a chain all day when you are at work. Tie out dogs account for a significant number of heat related deaths because the animal was unable to get to fresh water or shade
-Never leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day. Even with the windows down, cars act like an oven. Temp can rise to dangerous levels in a very short time so please don’t risk your animal’s life and take them on errands.
-Restrict their outdoor activities to the cooler hours of early morning or late evening.

Signs to look for:

-Lying down and unwilling, or unable, to get up
-Thick Saliva
-Dizziness, Collapse or Loss of Consciousness

What to do if YOU suspect Heat Stroke:

-Move your dog out of the heat immediately, but DO NOT move to a drastic change of cooler temperature and call / visit your vet immediately!