Warm Weather and Your Pets

Living in sunny Arizona is truly amazing, but if you have outdoor pets there are definitely special precautions to take to help them stay comfortable.   According to the ASPCA “Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat,” says Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, “and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly.”

I have found that my dogs have acclimated to the weather fairly well, but during the summer months here are some tips to remember…

1. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun and be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.

2. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.  Dogs can’t perspire, like humans do, to cool themselves, so they have to pant to cool themselves. If the air that they are taking in is too hot the panting has little cooling effect and the dog quickly overheats. Many people think their dog will be okay if they leave the windows open, but even with the windows wide open, the car can quickly become hot enough to cause heatstroke, brain damage, and even death.

3. I exercise my dog in the early morning or late evening.  Keep in mind that asphalt can get very hot during the summer and it can get hot enough to burn a dog’s pads.  I have found that the best way to check the ground heat is to just touch it with my own hand.  If I can’t keep my hand (or foot) on the ground for more than three seconds, it’s probably too hot to walk my dog.  Also be sure to take a bottle of water along for you and your pet!

4.  If your dog loves to swim in your pool, be sure to rinse them off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from their fur.

5.  If your dog’s hair can be trimmed, a lightweight summer hair cut it great.  Some dogs like Labradors, that have a double coat, should not be shaved, but regular grooming should help out.  Don’t trim the hair shorter than an inch though because they still need protection from the sun.

According to the ASPCA watch for these warning signs… “Dr. Lila Miller, ASPCA Vice President of Veterinary Outreach, states “symptoms of  overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.” Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.”

I know this sounds like a lot, but I will say that my dogs moved to Arizona from a climate of an average of 65 degrees and they did just fine.  In fact, sometimes I catch my dog sleeping in the sunshine when he has loads of shade on the patio!

For more information go to www.bestfriends.org or www.aspca.org.