We all know it’s important to stay cool and hydrated as temperatures are expected to reach nearly 100 degrees, but your pets also need the same treatment.
Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors.
Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot, the ASPCA says.
The most important thing: Do not leave your pets in your car on hot days. Even with windows cracked and the air on, it’s too hot for them in there.
If it’s 80 degrees outside, it can quickly get up to over 100 degrees in your car.
A quick trip into the grocery store with your pet in the car could be deadly for them.
Research organization, VeterinaryClinic.com, released the following graphic to help owners better understand what the car will feel like for their pet.
If you see a dog left inside a car on a hot day, take down the make, model and plate number and contact the managers of the nearest business.
If there isn’t a business nearby, contact a non-emergency number for law enforcement.
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.
If you suspect your dog is having a heat stroke, the Red Cross recommends the following:
1. Get your dog out of direct heat.
2. Check for shock. Signs include: collapse, body temperature 104° F+, bloody diarrhea or vomit, depression stupor, seizures or coma, excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, salivation.
3. Take your dog’s temperature.
4. Spray your dog with cool water then retake temperature.
5. Place water-soaked towels on the dog’s head, neck feet, chest and abdomen, turn on a fan and point it in your dog’s direction, rub Isopropyl alcohol (70%) on the dog’s foot pads to help cool him but don’t use large quantities.
6. Take your dog to the nearest veterinary hospital.
During a heat crisis, the goal is always to decrease the dog’s body temperature to 103° F in the first 10-15 minutes.
Once 103° is reached, you must stop the cooling process because the body temperature will continue to decrease and can plummet dangerously low if you continue to cool the dog for too long.
You can also download the Red Cross’ Pet First Aid app on iTunes or Google Play.
