Never leave your pets
in a parked car
Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air
conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly
to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a
car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes.
After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer
irreversible organ damage or die. Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot
car by taking action or calling for
help.
Watch the humidity
"It's important to remember that it's not just the
ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet," says
Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.
"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."
Taking a dog's temperature will quickly tell you if there is
a serious problem. Dogs' temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104
degrees.
Limit exercise on hot
days
Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and
duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days,
limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful
with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and
short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very
hot and can burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible.
Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.
Don't rely on a fan
Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for
instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don't cool off pets as
effectively as they do people.
Provide ample shade
and water
Any time your pet is outside, make sure they have protection
from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to
water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct
air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it
worse.
Cool your pet inside
and out
Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter
popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And
always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.
Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling
body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in
cool water, and they'll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If
your dog doesn't find baths stressful, see if they enjoy a cooling soak.
