Tips for Keeping Your Pet Safe in Summer
- NEVER leave your pet in a car! Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can rise dramatically within minutes on a summer day. The temperature outside may be a comfortable 85 degrees, but inside the car, the heat can rise to as high as 120 degrees in a half hour. Your pet can suffer organ damage or even die from the heat. Leaving a pet inside a vehicle that is running with the air conditioner on is also a bad idea. Your car and pet could be stolen, or the engine might overheat and die, leaving your pet trapped in the hot car. Don't do it.
- Provide plenty of fresh water and a shady area when your pet is outdoors during summer. Dog houses can be stifling and hot, so use a beach umbrella or tarp to create an airy place where your pet can get out of the sun.
- Take your pet out for a romp during early morning or evening hours, rather than midday, when the sun is hottest.
- Keep your pet off the hot sidewalk and on the grass as much as possible to protect his paws from being burned by the hot surface.
- Limit your pet's exercise on extremely humid days when he might not be able to cool himself adequately through panting.
- Watch for signs of heat stroke - rapid panting, rolling or glazed eyes, lethargy, unusual thirst, lack of coordination, staggering, falling, excessive salivation, vomiting, discoloration of the tongue, a seizure, or passing out. If you notice any of these signs, take your pet's temperature to see if it is over 104 degrees, which may indicate heat stroke.
If your pet suffers from heat stroke, bring her to a cool place, and place cold towels or ice packs around her neck and upper body. Give her an ice cube to eat, and call your veterinarian right away.
