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| | Summer Heat – Protect Your Pets | | | By Faith Harper
Cats and dogs can suffer in the hot weather just as much as people can! Our beloved animal companions are very susceptible to heat stroke…even at temperatures as low as 80 degrees!
Fortunately, there are some basic precautions you can take to keep them cool, comfortable and safe all summer long! - Know the signs of heat stroke.
If your pet is suffering from heat stroke, their panting will become really quick and forceful. Their eyes will widen, and they may drool or salivate excessively. They may feel dizzy and weak, which can result in them staggering or even collapsing. As the heat stroke advances their mouths can become very dry and pale in color and they will quickly become unconscious.
- If you see any of these signs in your pet, bring them to the veterinarian right away if at all
possible. If a vet can’t be reached, do your best to cool them down in the meantime but putting them in a tub of cool water or running cool water over them. Make sure the water hits their skin and doesn’t just bead off their fur. Pay close attention to their undersides…their stomachs and around their legs. Run the water over their tongue and mouth, but be careful not to run it down their throat…you don’t want to choke or gag them!
- An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure…do everything you can to keep them from entering the danger zone to begin with!
- Never leave your pet in the car…even with the window down. A panting dog produces heat and humidity every time they breathe out…this hot, damp air will re-circulate in the small space and will quickly build to frying hot temperatures! Not in the shade, and not even for a few minutes…pets are as susceptible to heat stroke from sitting in the car as a newborn baby.
- Consider trimming or shaving the coat of a longer-haired pet. They will feel much more comfortable, and you will have less shedding to contend with. Just make sure to leave enough hair on to prevent sunburn!
- Walk your pet during the cool morning or evening hours after the sun has set. It will be less taxing for both of you!
- Don’t tie up your pet outside!
If their leash gets tangled, they can cut themselves off from access to their water dish and shade. If you aren’t home to rescue them, the consequences can be fatal.
- Make sure your water bowls are the heavy kind they cannot tip over. A full bowl of water can become an empty one with the wrong nudge of a nose!
- Keep the water as cool as possible! Leave the bowl in the shade to keep it from overheating and evaporating. Freeze more water
in small plastic butter dishes to make an extra large ice cube that will last for hours.
- My A/C repair guy assured me that the water from my air conditioner drip line is some of the cleanest water available. You can leave a water dish underneath the drip line for a continuous supply of clean drinking water!
- Keep a shady area available for pets to lie in when outside.
If you don’t have trees, invest in a doghouse, storage shed, or even a small pop up tent for your pooch to lie in. Cats don’t need as much space; trailing vines planted along your fence line will give them a nice shady spot to hide in!
- If you bring your pet hiking or camping, make sure to carry a collapsible water bowl with you.
Many of them can be folded and tucked inside your pocket or even hung on your belt. When you stop for a water break, make sure they get some too!
- Keep your air circulating whether inside or out…if you don’t have a/c make sure to have fans or open windows to catch the breeze. If you are camping, don’t leave your pet in an enclosed tent or cabin…it can be just as dangerous as a parked car!
Faith Harper is a freelance writer who resides in Houston, TX. She can be reached at WredenHarper@aol.com
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