Summer Heat Tips

DO NOT leave your pet in a vehicle during summer months. The temperature can get as high as 120 degrees in a very short time. After only ten minutes, your beloved pet could easily suffer heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and could even die. It is not a good idea to leave your pet in a vehicle running and the air conditioner on either. If your vehicle stalls your pet could die.

Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, and/or vomiting.

If you pet shows signs of heat stress, move him or her to the shade or an air conditioned area and apply cool water over his body to gradually lower his temperature. Apply cold towels or ice packs to his head, neck and chest only. Let him drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Get him to a veterinary as soon as possible.

If you see a pet in a vehicle alert the store manager and if the owner does not promptly appear, call the police.

Plenty of fresh water should be provided, replenished often, along with shade to help your pet stay cool. Some dogs enjoy soaking and playing in kiddie pools. Do not let your pet have free access to a regular, adult sized pool - they can easily fall in and drown before you miss them.

When exercising your pet on hot days, remember that pavement gets very hot and can burn the pads of your pets feet. If it is to hot for your bare feet, it is to hot for your pet. Limit exercise to early morning hours on very hot days, especially with older pets, overweight pets, those with short noses, and those with thick coats.

Apply sunscreen to pets with short or very little hair on parts of their body and those with light colored noses and ears. Pets can get sunburned too.

Fleas and ticks are worse in the summer months so be sure to use a good quality protection on your pet at the recommended intervals on the directions accompanying the treatment.