Summer Time Pet Care

The following information is from the AAHA Pet Care Library and is provided as a service of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

Signs of Heatstroke

• Panting
• Staring
• Anxious expression
• Ignoring commands
• Warm, dry skin
• High fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Summertime living is a lot easier for humans. Humans can put on shorts and are not stuck wearing the same flea-bitten fur coat they slept in all winter all summer, too. Humans don't have to wait for somebody else to open the door when it hits 90 degrees in the backyard. Humans have sandals to protect their paws from the scorching pavement.

Here are some ways for considerate humans to make summer happier and safer for pets.

• Never leave your pet in the car. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in minutes, even with the windows rolled down. If you need to run some errands, leave the furry ones at home.
• Keep your pet leashed to keep her/him from getting lost, fighting other animals, and/or eating and drinking things that could make him sick. (Cats can learn to walk on a leash, too.)
• Water, water everywhere. Whether indoors or out, both you and your pet need access to lots of fresh water during the summer, so check the water bowl several times a day to be sure it's full. If you and your furry friend go out for the afternoon, take plenty of water for both of you.
• Pets need sunscreen, too. Though all that fur blocks some sun, your pet can still get sunburned, particularly if he has light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it causes in people, including pain, peeling, and skin cancer. So keep your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you do go out, rub sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of the ears, the skin around lips, and the tip of the nose.
• Keep your pet well groomed so his hair can do what it's designed to - - screen out the sun and insulate from the heat. If your pet has extremely thick hair or lots of mats and tangles, the fur may trap too much heat and may need to be clipped.
• Watch out for antifreeze. Hot weather may tempt your pet to drink from puddles in the street, which can contain antifreeze and other chemicals. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that animals like, but it's extremely toxic. When you're walking your pet, don't let him sneak a drink from the street.
• Be cautious on humid days. Humidity interferes with animals' ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our pets only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of excess heat, they pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.
• Make sure your pet doesn't overexert. Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps his body stay cool, overdoing it can cause overheating. Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure your pet has plenty of water. If he's panting a lot or seems exhausted, it's time to stop.
• Take it easy on pets that can't deal with the heat. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can't pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight dogs are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.
• Bring them inside. Animals should not be left outside unsupervised on long, hot days, even in the shade. Shade can move throughout the afternoon, and pets can become ill quickly if they overheat, so keep them inside as much as possible. If you must leave your pet in the backyard, keep track and bring him/her in when you can.
• Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, you must act quickly and calmly. Call your veterinarian immediately. (Our phone number is (503) 234-9229.) Lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is at the clinic, treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage.

  Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention, and your pets depend on you to keep them out of harm's way.

From HealthyPet.com.