Hot Dogs & Cool Cats

Chillin' safely with your pets this summer

If you have a dog, cat or any other type of pet, you will want to take some precautions with regard to summer heat. We will talk about how to avoid the dangers of summer heat and what to do if your pet suffers heatstroke.

Pets in the car - Stay out of the oven!

One of the biggest causes of heatstroke in pets is leaving your pet in a car. Leaving your pet in a parked car when it is about 90 degrees outside, will bake your pet alive in a short amount of time. This is because the temperature inside the car will become much higher than 90 degrees in only a few minutes.

Your pet can quickly suffer brain damage, or die from heatstroke or suffocation in such conditions. Dogs can endure these conditions even less than other pets. A panting dog produces heat and humidity every time it pants to lose heat, and this hot, damp air will re-circulate in the small space of a car and will quickly build to frying hot temperatures! Note that parking the car in the shade or leaving the car window cracked open slightly will not be sufficient help for such fast and extreme increases in temperature.

In addition, know that leaving your pet in a car makes it very vulnerable to thieves - thousands of pets are stolen each year from unattended or unlocked cars. Furthermore, in many states, it is against the law to leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the animal, this includes the danger posed by summer heat. Therefore, always avoid leaving your pet in a car, and especially in the heat of summer!

Pets at Home - Precautions and Prevention

At home, there are many ways to prevent summer heat from damaging or even killing your pet. For dogs, doghouses are not the best shelters during the summer as they can trap heat. You will want to make sure your dog has some other oasis in the backyard, such as a shaded resting area by a tree. You may also want to get a child's wading pool for your dog and fill it with some water, in case your dog wants to cool off when it gets very hot. Of course, also prepare a large bowl of fresh water for your pet each day. Lastly, do not tie up your pet outside! If its leash gets tangled, it can cut itself off from access to its water dish and shade. And if you are not home to rescue it, the consequences can be fatal.

In the home, make sure that any cages and tanks do not receive direct sunlight through a window. Always make sure that your pet has access to water, and make sure the water is kept clean and fresh. In addition, make it a habit to regularly check the temperature in your pet's cage or tank to ensure that the temperature in the cage or tank does not get too high. Inexpensive stick-on thermometer strips from your local pet store are easy and convenient for monitoring temperatures for most kinds of cages and tanks, not just aquariums.

Consider trimming or shaving the coat of a longer-haired pet. It will feel much more comfortable, and you will have less shedding to contend with. It is also wise to avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings when the sun's heat is less intense. Try to avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt, concrete or sand which can burn your pet's paws.

Heatstroke - The Signs and Treatment

If you think that your pet has been exposed to high temperatures, be alert for these signs of heat stress: heaving or heavy panting, glazed or widened eyes, rapid pulse, restlessness or lethargy extremes, dizziness in the form of unsteadiness or staggering, excessive thirst, excessive salivation and drooling, vomiting, or a deep red tongue. As the heat stroke advances its mouth can become very dry and pale in color and it will quickly become unconscious and collapse. Keep in mind that if you have a short-faced dog such as a bulldog, Pekingese or boxer, it will have an especially hard time in the heat because it does not pant as efficiently as longer faced dogs.

If your pet shows symptoms of heatstroke, you must lower its body temperature immediately but in gradual steps. First, move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Next, apply cool - not cold - water all over its body gradually. You can do this by slowly immersing it in a shallow tub of cool water or running cool water over it gradually from a pitcher or faucet (not a hose). Make sure the water gets to its skin and does not just roll off its fur. Pay close attention to the undersides - the stomach and around the legs. If there is not a sufficient running water supply by the pet, at least wet some towels (or use ice packs if available) and apply them to your pet's head, neck and chest.

Finally, let your pet drink small amounts of cool water, or chew on or lick some ice cubes. If your pet is unconscious and not able to drink, at least run some water over its tongue and mouth, but be careful not to run it down its throat as you do not want to choke or gag your pet! If your pet does not get better quickly and if the heat stress was severe, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. But remember that you need to start the cooling-down process before seeing the veterinarian.

Observing these common sense ideas concerning summer heat and pets will help to ensure that your best friend leads a healthy and comfortable life. If you have any questions regarding summer heat and your pet, just ask us and we will help you any way we can.

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