Hot Dog!

High Temperatures and Your Pets

Sun lovers are hoping for a forecast of temperatures ranging from the low 80s to low 90s. Other people, less enamored with the heat, are groaning. But it's pets, not people, that have the most to fear.

Dogs are particularly prone to heat effects. Our best buddies, always eager to hop in the car, go for a walk or play a game of catch, no matter what the temperature, can suffer when we forget the potentially deadly effects.

Pets can die of heat stroke as easily as human beings. And they're exposed to deadly temperatures far more often. A stay in a stifling hot car or sizzling pickup bed, an exuberant game of catch or a walk on hot asphalt can easily result in injury - even death. When it’s getting into the 80s, it's too hot. Even the upper 70s can do it.

Leaving the windows open won't cool a car enough to make it safe for your dog in a heat wave. All that will do is give thieves a chance to take your car or pilfer valuables, potentially including your dog. The temperature inside a car in the summer heat can soar to 170 degrees and can cause heat stroke and death in minutes.  

Leaving dogs tied up outside is a threat as well. They can panic and strangle themselves. They can die of heat stroke if they become too tangled up to reach shade. They can also knock over their water dishes and suffer dehydration.

Aging and ailing animals are particularly vulnerable. Keep them inside. A downstairs or basement room where it may be cooler is best.

If keeping an animal outside is unavoidable it is essential that shade and water be available. Set up a flat hose with small mist jets in the shade area to provide a cooling effect. Some dogs enjoy children's wading pools, filled with two or three inches of water. Just make sure it is changed regularly to keep it cool. However, don't leave animals unsupervised near a swimming pool, because dogs have been known to drown when they couldn't get out. Providing moving water will often help encourage animals to drink more. Dogs and cats seem to have an innate sense that drinking from moving water is better. It's also important to avoid walking dogs on hot asphalt, concrete, tin or steel, because it can burn their pads. If you can't walk barefoot on it, don't expect them to.

Letting them play strenuously during the heat of the day is also a bad idea. Animals should get their exercise during the early morning or late evening hours. A lot of dogs, if you take them out and throw balls for them, will run themselves into heat stroke. I had a dog earlier this year that did that.

Symptoms of heat stroke include excessive panting, difficulty breathing, rapid heart and respiratory rates, excessive drooling and weakness, stupor or collapse. If you suspect a problem, rush your pet to a vet immediately.



-Some information taken from "Heat Poses a Hazard for Pets" by Nicole Montesano