“This extreme heat and humidity can pose health risks for people, but it’s also a dangerous time for our pets,” said Laura Bevan, Eastern regional director for The Humane Society of the United States.
Hot weather tips
Never leave your pets in a parked car. 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. If you see an animal in distress in a parked car, contact the nearest animal shelter or police.
Shade and water are a must. Anytime your pet is outside, make sure he 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.
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, which are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets that typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible.
Recognize the signs of heatstroke. In case of an emergency, it's important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. When in doubt, contact your veterinarian immediately. Some signs of heatstroke are: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.
If you think your pet is suffering from heatstroke, act quickly! Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to his head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let him drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take him directly to a veterinarian.
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Excellent advice BJ. M gets so mad when she's parked in the grocery store parking lot and sees a doggie in a car. She's just talked about having slips of paper run off on the puter so when she sees that happening, she can leave a paper on their windshield explaining the dangers of what they are doing. So, she's doing that today. She said their isn't much she can do anymore. but she can do that.
ReplyDeleteI think that's a great idea! People don't realize how quickly the temperature in a car rises. It's always sad to see the number of dogs who are left in a car for only a few minutes and succumb to heat stroke.
DeleteHi Bunny, Mom just put a bigger fan in my room (bathroom) cause it doesn't have an air conditioning vent - just a ceiling vent/fan to the roof, and it's been getting kind of warm in there. Since I'm a hyperthyroid cat, I already have an extra warm metabolism. The fan really cools down the room and makes me more comfortable, until I feel like getting dressed and joining my peeps in the rest of the apartment...
ReplyDeleteCokes
Cokie the Cat: Hollywood Insider
www.cokiethecat.com
@cokiethecat
Hi Cokes - I'm glad to hear your mom took some extra precautions to keep you cool (not that you aren't already cool). ;-)
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