Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During Summer Heat

The better part of the USA is dealing with an extreme heatwave this week, and temps in Detroit are expected to be in the triple digits on Thursday, with a dew points in the tropical range.

So, here are some tips for keeping your pets (and maybe yourself!) safe in this summer heat. Please feel free to add your suggestions!

Also, PLEASE read these tips at the ASPCA web site.





  • If you have indoor pets, PLEASE be sure that their crate and/or cage or aquarium or living space is NOT in the path of direct sunlight.
  • Be sure to provide plenty of water for your animal. If you're both away from home, carry a bottle or container filled with fresh, cool water.
  • Leave your pets at home if possible (no car rides!).
  • If you must take your pet along for the ride, don’t leave your pets alone in vehicles. Even with the windows open, a parked car can quickly become a furnace in a very short time (minutes).
  • Exercise your pet in the cooler temps of early morning or evening; or forego exercise in this heat. Pets' paws can sustain burns or injuries on sidewalks and asphalt. Rethink the necessity for a walk in these high temps.
  • Provide plenty of shade for outside pets. Bring your pet inside during the heat of the day and let them rest in a cool part of your house (basements are very cool if you don't have a/c).  
  • Older and overweight pets are more susceptible to heat exhaustion, so take special care!
  • Watch for signs of heat stress—heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red tongue.
  • If you believe your pet is suffering from heat exhaustion, contact your veterinarian right away—it could save your pet's life. You can help bring your dog’s body temperature down by sponging it down with cool water, but don’t try to place him in a bath or douse him with buckets of water since this can send a pet into shock.
Here's a product for your pup that you might be interested in checking out -- it's a "Canine Cooler" bed. (I'm thinking of getting a couple of these for the greyhounds that work the summer events for Michigan ReGAP.)

Stay cool, be safe!

4 comments:

  1. Hello Quasar and Star!! THIS is a Wonderful and very Timely Post.. I always worry that dawgs will get left in HOT CARS.. AND TRUCKS when the temps rise.

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  2. Have a well ventilated dog house placed in the shade or on a patio for them to retreat to and a water filled cool bed, as you mentioned, is helpful.

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  3. @KevinHarrison, Thanks for your kind comment. I am sorry to say that I accidentally deleted it! Best wishes to you, and again, thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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