Pet safety tips for the summer

No doubt you know it’s HOT outside.  July has come in HOT, hotter than usual I believe.  With that said, we need to be aware of our pet’s special needs during this time.  Here are some quick tips and tricks to help your pets Keep Their Cool and remain healthy.

DOGS IN CARS

I know this should go without saying but PLEASE DON’T LEAVE PETS IN YOUR CAR during the day.  Evenings are sometimes too hot as well.  Even if you think they will be okay because you’ve parked in the shade and the windows are ¼ of the way down, and you’re just running inside the store for a quick minute, it is still too hot for your furry friends.  Temperatures inside your car can quickly spike, and dogs don’t sweat like humans. They pant to lower their body temperature.  So image they are locked inside a car, panting away, recycling very hot air.  This panting gives them no relief at all and heat stroke can happen quickly and can permanently damage a pet’s health.  Even a few degrees of change to a dog’s normal body temperature can quickly result in coma, organ dysfunction, permanent brain damage or even death.

It’s best to leave your little fur buddy at home, inside with the air conditioning or fan going.  He’ll be happier and healthier for it.

HOT PAVEMENT OR BLACKTOP

We all know sidewalks and parking lots get hot in the summer.  But also, be aware of the amount of heat generated on sand and metal (think man hole covers or plates in the streets or sidewalks) We may be tempted to take our dog to one of the dog-friendly beaches around town, but please be aware that the sand can get very hot.  If you must walk your dog across a vast sand field to get to the water, think about getting them some booties to wear, or if possible, carry man’s best friend to the waters edge.  Also remember that a dog’s paws may be more susceptible to burning after swimming.

If you notice any of these signs, please get your dog to the vet for immediate attention:

-Your dog is limping or not wanting to walk;

-Licking and/or chewing their feet;

-Any color change in their pads;

-Any missing parts to their foot pads or blistering (this is the most serious)

I like this test to see if a surface is too hot to be walking your dog on, I call it the 5-Second Rule: Place the back of your hand on the surface in question.  If you can’t hold your hand their comfortably for 5 seconds, it’s too hot to be walking your dog on it.

Remember that dogs that are low to the ground get a double whammy with the heat from the surface reflecting up onto their belly.  They can be more easily overheated.  If you must walk your dog in the heat, try to do it early morning or in the evening when it has cooled down.  Let him walk on the grass as much as possible, and as a professional dog walker and pet sitter, I always carry fresh, cool water for my dog clients.  Some not only drink the water but also enjoy a little poured onto their neck or back.  Delicious.  We take lots of breaks in the shade, grassy areas preferred.  We also do the “shade spot dance”, we walk quickly from shade spot to shade spot.  That helps keep us both a little cooler.

HUMIDITY LEVELS

This is something I never really thought about until doing research for this blog.  We all know that a dog’s main way of cooling themselves off is by panting.  As your dog pants, the moisture and heat on his tongue and in his mouth evaporates, which in turn helps to regulate their body temperature.  It’s a dog’s version of sweating, which they do through their paw pads and within their ears as well.  But when the humidity level is high, the saliva doesn’t evaporate as quickly, so the doggie cannot cool himself off as rapidly.  Be careful that the dog is not over exerting himself.  Keep playing fetch and other vigorous games and play to cooler weather, and make sure he is not spending too much time outside.  Just like humans, dogs would rather be inside by the fan or enjoying the air conditioning.

AVAILABILITY OF WATER

Okay, this should also go without saying but I’ll say it anyway, your pets need access to fresh, clean water always.  As a pet sitter it boggles my mind when I get to a client’s home and their dogs or cats water bowl is nearly empty, dirty, grimy or nowhere to be found.  Really, how hard is it to remember to give your pets fresh water every day?  Please wipe out the bowl each time you refresh their water, and wash it with hot soapy water every couple of days, you wouldn’t want to drink out of a dirty glass, would you?    And on that topic, ceramic, glass or metal bowls are much better for your pet’s health.  They don’t develop cracks, flakes or gunk like the plastic ones can.  Those cracks or scrapes in plastic bowls harbor bacteria.  Pets need fresh water wherever they spend time, that means if they’re outside most of the day, have fresh water available for them.  Maybe even in more then one spot.  If they are mostly inside the house, same thing applies, have water available inside the house.  Bottom line keep water available for your pets wherever they are.

A fun thing to try would be to make ice cubes to add to their water out of beef or chicken broth.  Look for low sodium broths or make your own.  This may encourage your pets to drink a little more water then usual which is a good thing in the heat.  We want to be sure they do not get dehydrated.

ACCESS TO SHADE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

Even if your doggie spends his days inside the house, sometime the sun can come through the window and really heat up the room.  Make sure Fido has access to a room that is shady during the day by keeping the drapes or blinds fully or partially closed.  That practice also helps keep the temperature down inside the house.  My blinds and drapes are closed each day during the hot days of summer to help regulate the temperature in my home.  Helps keep down the cooling costs also.

If your dog spends most of his day outside, it is imperative he have access to shade.  A covered patio with an outdoor fan would work well.  Shade trees, even a dog house in the shade could work.  And again, make sure they have access to cool, clean water.  Be aware of the way the sun moves throughout your yard during the day and verify there is water in a cool location always.

You can also find cooling mats online or in pet supply stores.  Most contain a cooling gel that do not require them to be refrigerated or frozen.  Check into elevated pet beds by Coolaroo, http://coolaroousa.com which are elevated for good air circulation around the bed and are covered with a breathable fabric for your pet’s comfort.

AVOIDING HEAT STROKE

All these tips are ways to help your pets avoid Heat Stroke.  If you see the following symptoms in your pet, please get them to a vet immediately:  excessive drooling; excessive panting; weakness; staggering; increased heart rate; bright or dark red tongue and/or gums; vomiting; bloody diarrhea; temperature over 104 degrees; collapse, seizure or coma.  Some pets are more susceptible to overheating; those with flat faces and short noses, otherwise known as brachycephalic breeds, for example.  Also, young and old dogs and cats or those that are ill or have a chronic health condition or are overweight can be more easily overheated.  You can try to cool down your pet by first moving him into an air conditioning space or into the shade.  Offer him small amounts of water, a large volume of water could cause him to vomit which could lead to dehydration.  Apply cool, NOT COLD, towels or use a gentle hose spray on his head, neck, feet, and area underneath their front and back legs.  DO NOT submerge your pet into cold water or ice water, this could send him into shock.  Check temperature, if it is at or below 104 degrees, stop the cooling process as dropping the body temperature too low leads to other issues.  Get the pet to the vet immediately.

Keep these tips in mind as you enjoy your warm summer with your pets.  Plan your fun times for the cooler parts of the day and keep them short.  You want your furry best friend to enjoy your times together.