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Hot Tips for Keeping Your Pet Cool During The Summer
It is important to be conscious of your pet's
health and well-being during the summer
months.
While summertime is often a time
to relax, play sports, enjoy picnics, trips to the
beach, BBQ's and backyard parties, the summer months can also offer some
potential hazards
to our precious pets.
Here are some simple tips
to protect your pet from the dangers of hot weather.
* If you leave your dog or cat outside during
the day, be sure to that your pet always has shelter available to protect it in
the event of extreme temperatures and inclement weather. Provide fresh water
that they can easily get at to keep them hydrated.
* Asphalt and concrete can get very hot and
burn the pads of your pet's feet. Be very careful
about how long your pet may be exposed.
* Be aware that older and overweight pets are
more likely to overheat in hot weather. Flat-faced breeds such as Persian cats,
pugs and bulldogs are particularly at risk. If your pet has a heart condition or
lung disease, he should be kept in a cool air-conditoned environment.
* Never leave your pet in a parked car, even if
the windows are cracked. Your pet is still in danger of overheating or suffering
from heat stroke during hot summer days.
Parked cars:
Leaving your dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the window left a few
inches open), can cause heatstroke within minutes. A parked car, with windows
open, can become a furnace on a hot summer day. Even with the windows
slightly open, the temperature inside a car can soar to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
or more within minutes. These conditions can kill a pet within 10 minutes or
less.
Leaving your dog in a car parked in
the shade does not assure that your dog will not become seriously overheated.
Shaded cars may still get very hot and the sun may also move enough to change
shaded areas into sunny ones. Dogs left in parked cars also risk being harassed
or stolen.
Airplane Travel: To help prevent your dog or cat from overheating when
traveling by airplane, avoid transporting your companion animal in the cargo
section of the plane during hot weather. Always
take into consideration both the departure and arrival temperatures. If your
must transport you dog
or cat in the cargo section, take a direct, early morning or late evening flight
whenever possible, as layovers, delayed take-offs, and mid-day travel (when the
temperature is hottest) can all pose an increased risk.
* Heat exhaustion is often caused by over-exercising or running with a dog
during hot weather. Both heatstroke and heat exhaustion can result in brain
damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time. Always bring cool
water along when walking, running or hiking with your dog during hot weather.
If you exercise with your dog, go in the
early morning or evening hours, instead of during the middle of the day when it
is the hottest. To cool off an overheated dog, offer him plenty of water, then
wet the dog's body and paws with cool water, then use a fan. A dog's normal
internal body temperature is between 100.5 degrees F and 02 degrees F. If the
dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary
attention immediately.
* Keep your pet well groomed. Short hair helps your pet stay cool, but don't
shave off all of his hair. A pet's coat will protect against the sun.
* Every summer, puppies, dogs and small children accidentally drown in backyard
swimming pools
when left unattended. To help prevent such a tragedy, always keep fenced-in
pools locked securely
when not being used and keep pets and small children away from unenclosed and
unoccupied pools.
* People treat their lawns with pesticides and fertilizers, which can cause
severe intestinal upset in dogs and cats when ingested. Keep your pet away from
unfamiliar yards and grassy areas.
* Don't let dogs ride in the back of pickup tricks or open vehicles. Prevent
your dog from hanging his
head out of a moving car or truck window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, small
pebbles and other
debri can injure his eyes and he is also at risk of jumping out of the vehicle.
Also, closing automatic car windows while your dog is hanging his head out of
the car window can cause him or her serious harm.
Never allow your dog to ride in the back of an open pickup truck, unless he is
safely secured by a padded harness to the center of the pickup "bed" with
specially designed tethers. (Also, make sure to provide a thick comfortable
padded surface or dog bed to prevent any injury or discomfort to your dog's
joints.)
* Avoid exposing your puppy or dog to fireworks
noise, as fireworks can result in serious (and often longterm) phobias.
Unfortunately, in many communities, firecracker noise often begins weeks before
the July 4th holiday. Keep evening walks with your dog very brief, and never
leave your dog outdoors in your yard or property if there is any risk of
exposure to firecracker noise. When indoors, try to disguise outdoor noises with
music, television, radio or air conditioners. (This also works well when there
are
thunder storms!)
* Companion animal theft is unfortunately a serious problem in this country. The
number of companion animals that are stolen from backyards and from outside
stores and supermarkets increases dramatically throughout Spring, Summer and
Fall. Even the "safest" neighborhoods are not immune to this growing problem.
The bottom line is: never leave your dog unsupervised if there is any risk that
your dog could be harrassed, poisoned or stolen. Be sure to attach your dog's
identification tags (along with his Rabies tag) to his collar. ID tags won't do
any good being left in a desk drawer at home. Special tattoo ID and microchip ID
are also recommended.
* If taking your pet to the beach, be sure to provide a shaded area and plenty
of fresh drinking water.
Be sure to thoroughly rinse after bathing in chlorine or salt water.
* Be sure to have your pet in for his yearly check up with your vet and include
the test for heartworms
if he is not on a yearly medication. Your vet can recommend a program to combat
flea and tick problems.
WARNING: Signs of heat exhaustion include open mouth breathing and
lethargy.
If you check your dogs gums, you may find they're very red and very dry,
and the animal may also be non respondent to you. Seek medical attention
immediately!
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