How to Keep Your Pets Cool During the Dog Days of Summer
15 Julio 2024 - 8:00AM
The dog days of summer are here, bringing scorching temperatures
and heat-related safety hazards that put our four-legged friends at
risk.
“Unlike humans, our pets do not sweat and cannot regulate
temperatures as efficiently as we do,” said Dr. Robin
Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “That makes
dogs especially vulnerable to heat stroke and other dangerous
symptoms, which can be fatal.”
“This summer, we’ve already seen extreme heat and natural
disasters cause widespread power outages across the country,” she
added. “Make a plan for keeping yourself and your pets safe and
comfortable during an unexpected outage.”
American Humane is sharing more veterinarian-approved tips to
keep pets happy and healthy this summer:
- Adjust exercise time: Try to take your pets on
their walks in the mornings or evenings when it is not as hot
outside. Limit their time outside during high temperatures because
your pet is outside in dangerous circumstances.
- Check the pavement: Check the pavement with
the back of your hand. If it is too hot, get your pet shoes to
protect their paws or carry them to a patch of grass.
- Know if your pet is high-risk: Some breeds, as
well as elderly and overweight dogs, are at high risk for
overheating. Talk to your veterinarian to see if your pet
qualifies.
- Check for signs of dehydration: If you gently
pinch your dog's skin near its shoulder and the skin goes back into
place, your dog is hydrated. If the skin stays pinched or returns
slowly, your dog is dehydrated and should be taken to a
veterinarian immediately.
- Be aware for signs of heat stroke: Signs of
heat stroke in pets include excessive panting, lethargy, stumbling,
dark or bright red tongue or gums, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, and
seizures. If your pet shows these signs, take them to the vet
immediately.
- Do not leave your pet in a car: Leaving a pet
in a car for even a brief period can have a deadly outcome. If you
see a distressed dog inside a parked car on a warm day, immediately
call your local animal control or law enforcement for help and stay
with the animal until help arrives.
- Temporary relief: Apply cool water to your
pet's skin with a bath hose or sponge. Allow your pet to drink cool
water in small doses; if your pet drinks a lot of water in a short
amount of time, it could get sick.
About American Humane: American Humane is
the United States’ first national humane organization and the
world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the
humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe
each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane has been First to
Serve™ the cause of animals and for over 145 years has been at the
forefront of virtually every major advance in the humane movement.
For more information or to support our lifesaving work, please
visit www.AmericanHumane.org, follow us
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CONTACT INFO:comms@americanhumane.org