HEAT STROKE

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If it is very hot and the cat is panting take a close look in his mouth. If the tongue is red and the cat is drooling he may be suffering from heat stroke. Cats cool themselves by increasing the air over their tongues and by salivating on their fur to cause evaporation. When the cat’s body temperature goes over 106 degrees he may stagger, vomit and produce bloody diarrhea. His lips will turn blue or grey before digressing into a coma.

Mild cases require only that the cat be moved to a cooler area and given water, but if his temperature has exceeded 104 degrees then you should cool him by immersing him in cool water or wrap him in cold wet towels. If the cat is near collapse a cool water enema will help speed the cooling. Cats who suffer from upper respiratory problems are quicker to succumb to heat stroke and one of the results of overheating is that the throat swells, compounding the problem for a cat whose breathing is already impaired.

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