Hot Dog! Keeping Your Pet Safe During Warm Weather
It’s important to consider pet safety year-round, but especially when the temps start to rise. Keeping your pet safe is a must for outdoor enjoyment, and the team at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital is here with some simple suggestions!
Heat Stroke Awareness
Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when the body overheats. Because pets don’t sweat like humans, they must rely on limited mechanisms, like panting. Each year, hundreds of pets succumb to heat stroke because they were left outside or in a confined space (like a car). It’s absolutely crucial to protect your pet by never leaving them in a parked car or chained up outdoors.
The symptoms of heat stroke in pets include:
- Excessive panting
- Bright red tongue and gums or pale gums
- Drooling
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
- Weakness
- Collapse
Heat stroke is a veterinary emergency. If you observe any of the signs listed above, please get your pet to an air conditioned area right away. While you contact the clinic, help your pet cool down by placing a damp, room temperature (never cold) towel on their body.
Keeping Your Pet Safe While Outdoors
There are many ways you can prepare your pet for the heat of summer. Consider the following:
- Provide shade. When going to the beach, park, or other outdoor area, take along some sort of shade (e.g., a pop up canopy or umbrella). In the backyard, you can create your own designs using various canopies and easy-to-care for trees.
- Water is a must. No matter where you go, provide your pet with plenty of water, including trips in the car or playtime outside. To keep water cool, add some ice or treat your pet to a frozen pet treat!
- Cool activities are possible. Even when it’s hot out, there are numerous ways to have fun with your pet while staying comfortable. Create an outdoor water park using sprinklers or a kiddie pool. Visit a shaded park with a pond or head to the mountains, where you can take in the cool air and great views with your best four-legged friend.
-
Indoor fun is essential. When it’s too hot to be outdoors, don’t forget that you can also have fun inside with a DIY agility course for your dog. For feline owners, try various cat trees and perches, as well as several new toys and interactive games for those long days inside.
Despite the heat, it is still possible to enjoy the great outdoors while keeping your pet safe. At All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to help! Please call us with any questions or to schedule an appointment.