Heat Can Be Deadly to Your Pets! Do's and Don'ts for Avoiding Heat-Related Injuries

Do you realize that during these "dog days of summer" your pet is wearing a fur coat?!? These coats trap heat next to the skin. Dogs, cats, and other small mammals are unable to perspire. They depend upon panting and dilation of their skin blood vessels to rid their bodies of excess heat. Brachycephalic breeds of dogs (eg. Pugs, Pekinese, bull dogs) can easily succumb to the heat due to their short noses and narrow airways. But ANY dog is at risk given the wrong conditions.

Heat exhaustion occurs when your pet is effected by the heat and significant dehydration occurs, leading to lethargy and weakness. Heat stroke is when the heat and dehydration are severe enough to cause organ damage. Dogs and cats can die from heat-related episodes.

The following is a list of Do's and Don'ts to observe during these hot days of summer.

DO's
Ø Provide good ventilation, plenty of shade and fresh, cool water. An air-conditioned environment is ideal. If it is too hot for you at home, it is too hot for your furry pet!

Ø Remember that hot air rises. Your basement may be the coolest place for your pet if you do not have air conditioning.

Ø Dogs and cats may go under sofas and chairs where cool air is trapped by the fabric. Make sure that you keep an eye on your pet and provide plenty of water.

Ø A child's shallow swimming pool filled with cool water and placed in a shady spot gives a pet a place to cool off when housed outside.

Ø A summer haircut can help cool your long-haired pets.

Ø White hair coats or non-haired areas of your pet's body can be sunburned. Shade must be provided and apply 45 SPF or greater sun block to non-haired areas exposed to the sun.

Ø A plant sprayer may provide a cool mist and source of water for your pet on walks.

Don'ts
Ø Never keep your pet restricted to a poorly ventilated or enclosed area in extreme heat, to include: enclosed cars; garages; kennels; homes with poor ventilation.

Ø Do not walk your pet on hot asphalt.

Ø Do not jog with your pet in the heat.

Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, red gums and tongue, loud noises when breathing, skin warm to the touch, difficulty breathing and distressed attitude or loss of consciousness. Heat stroke can also cause shock, bleeding, seizures, coma and even death. If you think your pet may be suffering from heat stroke, rinse the pet with cool (not ice cold) water. If you are going to use a garden hose to cool your pet, make sure that you run the hose until cool water is available. Then transport your pet to a veterinarian immediately. It is critical that a veterinarian examines your pet as soon as possible because damage to internal organs is a common complication and may not be apparent by looking at your pet.

- Source: Animal Emergency Center