Hot weather tips

Summer is here and it is going to be hot for the next few months. While the heat and humidity of summer can be uncomfortable for people, it can be downright dangerous for pets. Human bodies come equipped with a pretty efficient cooling system that allows us to maintain a safe temperature, but our pets are not so lucky, relying almost exclusively on panting to cool their bodies. This method of cooling is at best inefficient, and during periods of extreme heat just plain inadequate. Combine high temperatures, hot sun and outdoor activity and a dog or cat can overheat beyond its ability to cool down. Some simple precautions can help keep your pet safe this summer.

If a pet is going to be left outside for any length of time, be sure it has plenty of water and shade. More water than usual should be provided, if possible in a tip-proof dish so that it can’t be spilled. Try using more than one water bowl, and place them in an area that will stay shady all day. Remember that shady areas will move during the day as the sun’s position in the sky changes. Be sure your pet has access to the shade all day.

Dogs need exercise in the summer but it should be limited to the morning before it gets hot, and in the evening after the sun is down. You be the judge of when your dog has had enough. A dog will overheat well before a person, but will want to keep going as long as you do. Know when to take a break and always have water for the dog.

Pavement heats up fast in the sun and can burn a dog’s feet. A simple test is to place the palm of your hand or your bare foot on the pavement. If you don’t want to walk barefoot on it, neither does your dog. Plus, the dog is a lot closer to the hot pavement then you are, and the heat rising from it will affect him more than you.

Dogs with pushed-in faces, such as pugs, pekinese and bulldogs, are more at risk for heat related problems because their panting is not as efficient as other dogs, and doesn’t cool them as well. That is one reason that football fans are used to seeing UGA, the Georgia bulldog, relaxing on bags of ice during early season games when temperatures on the field can be over 100 degrees.

Pickup trucks are popular and a lot of people like to ride around with the dog in the back of the truck. This can be dangerous in a lot of ways. In hot weather the bed of a truck, especially a dark colored truck, can get very hot in direct sun and can burn the dog’s feet. A loose dog can fall, jump or be thrown from a moving truck. If you want to let the dog ride in the truck bed, consider using a wire crate that will allow plenty of air flow while keeping the dog safe. Be sure to secure it to the truck.

Signs of overheating and what to do

If your dog does get overheated, take steps to help him cool down. Moderate overheating from activity in hot sunny conditions can be dealt with easily by slowing the dog down and getting him into a place where he can cool off. Away from home, a shady spot out of the direct sun where he can be kept inactive will give a dog’s body a chance to cool down. At home, bring the dog inside where it is air-conditioned.

Water: Small amounts of water – enough to keep the mouth and tongue wet – are fine, but it has been suggested that drinking large amounts of water while panting heavily can lead to bloat, which can kill a dog. After the panting has died down, the dog can drink and rehydrate itself.

More serious overheating can occur quickly in the summer heat and can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Signs of a more serious problem include heavy panting, hot dry skin, glazed eyes, unsteadiness or staggered movement, vomiting, pale lips and gums or a deep red tongue. If your dog develops symptoms of heat related problems, you need to act fast to cool it down.

Get the dog into a cool area – shade or an air-conditioned place.

If there is water available, wet the dog down. Evaporative cooling works best. If there is a fan available, direct the airflow onto the dog. If a fan is not an option, fan the dog with whatever is handy.

Use a garden hose to keep a flow of cool water running over the dog.

If there is a bathtub available, immerse the dog in cool, not cold, water

Ice packs can be applied to the dog’s head, neck and chest.

Give small amounts of water.

Take the dog to the vet. Cooling efforts should begin as soon as the problem is noticed. Do not put off treating the problem while driving to the vet. Any delay in cooling the dog can be costly.

While the information in this article focuses on dogs, it applies equally to other pets – cats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc. It just seems that dogs are more at risk for heat related problems than other pets. Cats that go outside are not confined and can move about to find a shady spot to relax the day away. In any event, if any pet displays symptoms of heat problems, begin cooling it down immediately and in serious cases take it to a vet for a checkup.