The summer months can be uncomfortable (especially this year
in Lexington)—even dangerous—for pets and people. It's difficult enough simply
to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really
get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused
power outages, sometimes with tragic results.
We can help you keep your pets safe and cool this summer.
Follow our tips for helping everyone in your family stay healthy and
comfortable when the heat is on (and even if the power isn't).
Practice basic summer safety
1. Never leave your pets in a parked car
Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air
conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly
to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a
car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes.
After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer
irreversible organ damage or die
2. Watch the humidity
"It's important to remember that it's not just the
ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet," says
Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane
Society Veterinary Medical Association. "Animals pant to evaporate
moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the
humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature
will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly."
Taking a dog's temperature will quickly tell you if there is
a serious problem. Dogs' temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104
degrees. If your dog's temperature does, follow the instructions
for treating heat stroke.
3. Limit exercise on hot days
Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and
duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days,
limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful
with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and
short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very
hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible.
Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.
4. Don't rely on a fan
Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for
instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don't cool off pets as
effectively as they do people.
Provide ample shade and water
Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has
protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves,
add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they
don't obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact,
it makes it worse.
Whip up a batch of quick
and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You
can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water,
whether your pets are inside or out with you.
Keep your pet from
overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the
Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they'll stay cool (but
usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn't find baths stressful,
see if she enjoys a cooling soak.
Extreme temperatures can
cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a
rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever,
dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or
purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.
Animals are at particular
risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not
conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some
breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short
muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.
Move your pet into the
shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head,
neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small
amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.
Prepare for power outages
Before a summer storm takes out the power in your home, create
a disaster plan to keep your pets safe from heat stroke and other
temperature-related trouble.
Taken from The Humane Society
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