You know better than to go outside in summer’s oppressive heat and over-exert yourself, but are you being just as protective with your pet?
Summertime may seem like the perfect time for your dog to get plenty of exercise, but it can be a dangerous time too. Your pet can tire and overheat quickly in the hot weather and high humidity.
Experts offer up this advice to keep your pets safe this summer:
Summertime may seem like the perfect time for your dog to get plenty of exercise, but it can be a dangerous time too. Your pet can tire and overheat quickly in the hot weather and high humidity.
Experts offer up this advice to keep your pets safe this summer:
- Don’t leave your pet in a parked car. Temperatures in a car can rise rapidly on a hot summer day, even when the windows are cracked open. Your pet could suffer severe organ damage or even die depending on how long they’re left in the car and how high the temperature is inside.
- Give pets plenty of water and provide shady spots to keep cool. Try putting some ice cubes in a water dish to help them keep cool and hydrated. And don’t banish your dog to their doghouse, where air flow is stifled.
- Limit their physical activity during days of high heat and humidity. As you may know, dogs pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs. But that becomes a lot less effective when it’s really humid. The best time to have them exercise is either early in the morning or during the evening hours.
- Pets with white-colored ears are more susceptible to skin cancer, so limit their exposure to the sun.
- Walk your dogs on grass instead of asphalt and concrete surfaces, which can burn their feet if hot.
- Keep them hydrated! If traveling with pets, be sure to give them lots of opportunities to drink up.
- Don’t rely on fans to cool down your pet. Fans aren’t nearly as effective with pets as they are with people, especially dogs, who sweat primarily through their feet. The key to their comfort is a cool setting overall. Installing central air conditioning can be a great way to help keep your pet cool all summer long.
- Be cautious of heat stroke/heat stress. Telltale signs include a rapid heartbeat, heavy panting, difficulty breathing, glazed eyes, fever, dizziness, excessive thirst, lack of coordination, vomiting and a deep red or purple tongue. Very young and very old pets are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, as are overweight animals and those with respiratory or heart issues. And cats and dogs with short muzzles typically have a harder time breathing in extreme heat.
- If your pet appears to be suffering from heat stroke, immediately move them to a cool area. Gradually lower their temperature by applying cool water all over their body and applying cool, wet towels to areas like the back of the neck, paws, and ear flaps. Give them access to fresh, cool water but don’t force them to drink. If your pet’s condition doesn’t improve after taking these steps, take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.