- The hottest days of summer can be dangerous for furry family members.
- Here are some tips on how to keep your pets safe in heat from experts and our meteorologists.
The hottest days of summer can be dangerous for furry family members. With some areas of the country capable of reaching triple-digit heat during the summer months, a fun family outing on a beautiful day can quickly become an emergency for certain pets.
Here’s What To Know From Experts At The Humane Society Of The United States And The ASPCA:
– Keep an eye on the humidity as well as the temperature. “Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly,” Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, told The Humane Society.
– Animals with flatter faces like pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats can be more susceptible to heat and humidity because they cannot pant as well as other breeds. The ASPCA says that if you have this type of pet, keep it in an air conditioned room during hotter days, or consider another breed if you live in a very hot area.
– Trim longer hair on dogs, but don’t shave them — and keep cats well brushed.
– Be aware of hot concrete or decks on paw pads! They can burn easily.
– A general rule of thumb: If you are hot and sweaty, your dog or cat is probably hotter than you are. While cats tend to find their own shade if they are outdoors, dogs are more willing to run around and can exhaust themselves. Limit exercise on hotter days. The best time for outdoor activity on hot days is usually in the early morning or late evening.
– And never leave your pets behind in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
Symptoms Of Overheating In Cats And Dogs:
For dogs, overheating comes with excessive panting, refusing to walk, red ears, gums and mouth, and excessive drooling. Some dogs can also lash out aggressively if they are extremely uncomfortable. If your dog is overheating, they likely need emergency care.
For cats, overheating looks like restlessness, panting and/or red or grayish gums. They can also get lethargic and vocalize a lot. If you suspect overheating, bring them to an air conditioned area, offer water and wipe them down with a cool, wet towel. And of course, contact your vet.
What Weather.com Pet Owning Meteorologists Say:
Meteorologist Kait Parker, mom to 14-year-old big boy labrador, Bruce says, “Keep dog paws safe from hot pavement. Either have booties for them if you’ll be walking across a hot surface like a parking lot, or carry them until you’re back to a cooler surface like concrete or grass.”
Dina Knightly, senior meteorologist, says just the basics with “lots of shade and water with limited outside time” are enough for her two cats Tiger and Bear.
Meteorologist and Corgi mom to Jesse, Butter and Pixel, Danielle Banks has a practical tip, “Several companies make special ‘chilled’ water bowls for pets. You can put the bowl in the freezer overnight so the gel pack in the base of the bowl has plenty of time to freeze. It will stay cool for a very long time!”
More Things To Check Out On Pet Safety:
READ: How To Plan For Hurricane Season With Pets
IN-DEPTH: Signs Of Heat Stroke In Dogs
WATCH: How To Calm Your Dog During A Thunderstorm
WATCH: Can All Dogs Swim? No. Here Are Some Safety Tips
Senior producer Niki Budnick writes about breaking news, pets, home and garden, wellness and more for weather.com.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
Credt: Source link