Some parts of the country are getting cooler and some parts are experiencing heat waves. It’s important to remember that our pets can suffer heat stroke and become extremely ill during the hot summer days.
Here are 5 tips to prevent heat stroke
1: Bring outdoor pets inside and give them access to cold water, a cool place to hang out, and limit physical activity till it cools off outside. Even if your pup wants to play fetch and run around, do what you can to keep her calm until it’s nice enough to go play in the yard or take a long long walk. No matter how much your cat whines and scratches at the door, keep him inside too.
2: Avoid dehydration by having fresh water available at all times and shady spots in the yard to hang out. When it’s really hot, limit the outdoor time and keep the water bowl in the house fresh and clean. Toss a few ice cubes in it to help keep it chilled.
3: Limit playtime during the hottest times of the day. Early morning and late evening are the best times to take the long walks, a jog, or a trip to the dog park. The ground is a little cooler, the temperature isn’t as high as it was, and the sidewalks shouldn’t be burning anymore. Test the sidewalk with your palm and if it’s too hot to touch then maybe a quick walk to go potty is enough till later. A hot sidewalk can burn the foot pads of your dog and cat.
4: Never ever leave an animal alone in a parked car. On a hot day a parked car can become an oven. Even with the windows open the temperature of the car can become unbearable and heat stroke can happen within minutes. A car’s temperature can raise or drop several degrees in a few minutes so even a car that was blasting the air conditioning can become hot in about 5 minutes. In other words, don’t do it!
5: If your pet has been outside or if it’s just very hot in the house watch out for the following symptoms of over heating: excessive panting or difficulty breathing, mild weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stupor, and/or seizures. If your pet has any of these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.
Thank you so much for reporting on the dangers of keeping dogs in hot cars! Every year around the country, dogs die after being locked inside cars while their owners shop or run other errands. These tragic deaths are entirely preventable.
Red Rover operates the My Dog is Cool Campaign to let people know that leaving a dog in a car for even “just a few minutes” may be too long. People who want to learn more about this issue, and educate others, can find downloadable fliers and brochures on our Web site: http://www.MyDogIsCool.com
Thanks again for this lifesaving segment!