Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke and Water for Wildlife
By Karen Scheuermann
Most of this information is about humans, dogs, cats and cases in Australia. Let us start with humans since it is
more familiar. You will see all of these conditions in humans in long distance runs in late spring, but heat stroke
less often in well run races.
Signs of Dehydration
• Lack of tears when crying
•
Sleepiness or tiredness, decrease in
activity
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Irritability and fussiness
•
Decreased urine, dark-colored urine
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Dry, sticky mouth
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Thirst
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Headache
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Dizziness or lightheadedness
Treatment for Dehydration
• Move to a cool, shaded area or go to an air-conditioned place.
•
Provide cool fluids and encourage sipping. Water is the best choice. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol, or
large amounts of sugar (such as sodas, fruit punches, and sweetened iced teas).
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body gets too hot. Without proper treatment, heat exhaustion can progress to
heat stroke, which can be deadly. Learn the signs of these heat illnesses. If you see any of these symptoms in
members of your family, stop your activities and take steps to cool the affected individual down immediately.
Warning Signs of Heat Exhaustion
• Increased thirst
•
Weakness
•
Tiredness
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Dizziness or fainting
•
Muscle cramps
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Nausea or vomiting
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Irritability
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Headache
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Heavy sweating
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Cool, clammy skin
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Paleness
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Fast and weak heartbeat (pulse)
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Fast and shallow breathing (panting)
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An increase in body temperature
Treatment for Heat Exhaustion
• Stop any physical activity.
•
Get the person out of the heat, and into an air-conditioned area or a cool, shady place.
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•
Have the person sip cool, non-alcoholic beverages.
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Apply cool water to the skin or have the person take a cool shower or bath. You can also fan the person.
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If the person does not feel better within 30 minutes, contact a health professional.
Warning Signs of Heat Stroke
• Hot, dry, red skin with no sweating
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Rapid breathing and heart rate
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Severe headache
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Weakness and dizziness
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Confusion and/or unconsciousness
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Nausea and/or vomiting
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High fever (over 103 degrees Fahrenheit)
Treatment for Heat Stroke
• Heat stroke can be a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call 911 for immediate medical help,
while you begin cooling the individual.
•
Get the person to a shaded or air-conditioned area
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Remove unnecessary clothing.
•
Cool the individual immediately, as best you can. You can place them in a tub of cool (not cold) water or a
cool shower, spray them with cool water from a garden hose, or sponge them with cool water.
•
You can place ice packs wrapped in cloth on the person's wrists, ankles, neck, armpits, groin, and/or back.
These areas have many blood vessels close to the surface of the skin.
•
Do not give the person fluids to drink.
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Outdoors/Archives/2010/Heat-Related-Illnesses.aspx
In Australia, people help their animal friends by placing some bowls of water out around gardens and help keep
them hydrated, but it may fly in the face of our “keep them wild” policy in California. Australian rehabbers receive
hundreds of animals that come into care because of heat stress. Animals will also start to become easy prey while
they are on the ground searching for water. Nocturnal animals e.g. possums, wander around during the day.
Others are lethargic and do not try and get away from you. Start with placing a cool, wet blanket over the animal.
http://www.wildliferescuers.org.au/heat_stress
Possums will either climb down or fall out of the trees due to the heat. Birds will pant and open their wings away
from their body, which is a sign of heat exhaustion. You can cool them off with a wet towel and place them in front
of a fan or fill a light spray bottle with room temperature water (not from the fridge) and lightly spray the animal
to assist in reducing the body temperature. You can also wet the animal with a damp sponge. The animal should
not be returned outside until it is dark as possums do not have good eyesight and will just curl up in a ball back in
the heat if it is not dark enough.
http://www.rspcavic.org/health-and-behaviour/native-and-introduced-animals/heat-stressed-wildlife
Cats may have sunken eyes, lethargy, loss of appetite, dry mouth, and depression, elevated heart rate, and
decreased skin elasticity (check for tenting).
http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/dehydration-cats
Dogs commonly succumb to heatstroke, especially in the hot summer months. Why? Dogs can't cool themselves
off as well as we can. While horses and humans sweat all over our bodies, dogs and other mammals can only cool
off through their paws and primarily, through panting. Panting removes heat from the body through an
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evaporative effect, but when it's hot and humid outside, your dog may not be able to keep up, leading to a
dangerous rise in body temperature. The hotter and more humid it is, the more the risk increases. Veterinarians
define heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia or heat prostration, as abnormally increased body temperature
caused by environmental conditions. A dog's normal body temperature is about 101.5 degrees. If it gets above 105
degrees, it's considered an emergency. As a dog's internal temperature rises above 105 degrees, she can
experience severe brain, kidney and liver damage. Excessive heat can also lead to a coma or even death.
Signs of heatstroke in dogs include: distress or panic, increased panting, drooling through the nose or mouth, or
excessively dry nose or mouth, rapid heart rate, warm, dry skin, seizures, unsteadiness or collapse, gums that
appear purple or bright red in color, due to inadequate oxygen, vomiting or diarrhea. Place wet towels over the
back of the neck, in the armpits and in the groin region, and wet the ear flaps and paws with water. Use cool or
temperate, not frigid, water. If you use an outdoor hose, test the temperature of the water before using it; the
water could be hot from the sun. If available, position a fan to blow air on the dog. Don't put your dog in an ice
bath or use ice-cold water. It would seem natural to use the coldest water possible, but this will actually cause
blood vessels near the surface of the skin to constrict, trapping heat and preventing the dog from cooling off.
http://www.southernstates.com/articles/heatstroke-prevention-dog.aspx
Heat Stress in Wildlife
Heat stressed animals will appear lethargic, unresponsive or confused, pant with their mouths open, convulse or
become unconscious, may appear on verandahs, come down from trees, lose fear of people.
http://www.mrwn.org.au/how-you-can-help/hot-weather-alert
•
Heat Exhaustion – Most animals don’t or can't sweat enough to cool off resulting in fatigue, cool skin. Even
though the animal is cool to the touch, the core needs to be cooled down, need oxygen to maintain brain, liver
and kidney tissues. Owls’ normal temp is 104-5; woodpecker 106-7; hawk, heron, falcon, blackbird, 108;
titmouse, crow, sparrow 110-111. Some animals lick themselves to cool off. Vultures urinate on their legs.
•
Heat Stroke – skin is hot. Body temperature continues to rise, and animals become unconsciousness.
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Cool the animal down using cool, not cold, water externally, water blankets, and fans. Allow the animal to
stand in water. When cooled down, administer balanced fluids (equivalent to plasma) such as Lactated
Ringer’s Solution. Ask a fawn specialist for advice until it can be transferred. Avoid water since it will dilute
electrolytes.
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Give fluids PO, or SC if necessary, at a rate of 5% body weight, until urine is clear and watery. With birds there
should be a urine portion as well as urates. Look for updates in the new Basic Rehabilitation Manual due in
2014. Fluid Therapy for Wildlife Species, IWRC, 1999
Water for Wildlife: See page 8 in the link below for an escape ramp for animals that fall into swimming pools or
stock tanks. You can use 1/2” square plasticized hardware cloth instead as it is rust proof and easy to bend.
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/lwm/aem/docs/olson/bciwaterforwildlife.pdf
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