We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. No matter what the weather, the best way to ensure the comfort and safety of your pet is to keep it where you are comfortable and safe in your house.
Your pet should have easy access to your house during weather extremes: the hot, humid days of summer or the icy, cold days of winter.
Summer heat puts extra stress on your pet friends. Because of this, it is best to keep them inside where shade, water and cool air (either from air conditioning or open windows) can comfort them. If your pet is outside all day, make sure he/she has a shady, grassy area (pavement tends to heat up in warm weather). Check at different times of the day to make sure the area is constantly shaded. You may need to provide extra water in summer. Try larger water containers, or special devices that attach to an easy-to-reach faucet for unlimited access. Most veterinarians don’t recommend shaving dogs or cats, since the hair helps them insulate against heat. Heavy-coated breeds of dogs and cats are especially prone to heat illness, especially in hot, humid climates. Many heavy-coated dogs appreciate a wading pool to loll in on extra-hot days. Other animals with an increased risk of overheating include senior pets, puppies and kittens, working pets and flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Pekes, and Persians. If your dog or cat is used to running errands with you in your car, leave it at home during hot summer days. Even with the windows cracked, your car can reach 130 degrees inside in less than 30 minutes. Don’t risk giving your pet heat stroke! Jogging or biking with your dog can be dangerous in hot weather, Just as your body temperature rises during exercise, so does your pets. But unlike you, dogs and cats don’t sweat. They must pant to rid their bodies of excess heat; an ineffective means of cooling off in the air outside is as warm or warmer than inside the body.
Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat. Take these simple precautions, provided by the ASPCA experts to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.
Visit the vet for a spring or early summer check-up is a must.
Made in the shade, your pets dehydrate quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors Make sure your pet have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
Know the warning signs — “symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.”
Make a safe splash — do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool — not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from its fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that can cause stomach upset.
No parking — Remember a parked car can become a furnace in no time — even with the windows open. Leaving pets in cars is illegal in many states.
Street smarts — when the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your dog’ body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
