07/28/2021
PLEASE READ, REACT, AND SHARE!!
Hello Clients, Friends, Family and hopefully people that we don't know yet! Welcome to week one of our awesome educational series we are starting. I thought with the weather this week, this topic would be spot on!
We are going to be talking about walking/exercising your pets in HOT weather.
Some of you may not know but our "cooler/ nicer days" to us don't actually mean the same to your pets.
Okay, let me explain a little more in detail.
First off I want to talk about surfaces our pets walk on.
--Blacktop/Asphalt, on an 85 degree day, that surface can actually be up to 143 degrees.
-- Concrete/ Cement, on a 95 degree day, that surface can actually be up to 125 degrees.
-- Grass, yes, grass, on a 95 degree day, that surface can actually be up to 105 degrees in the sun and 91 degrees in the shade.
-- Sand, on a 90 degree day, that surface can actually reach temperatures that vary from 120-130 degrees.
Now I know that all of our pets have schedules and we have a desire to do those fun activities, such as walking, running, playing fetch, ect. However, on days hotter than 80 degrees all owners need to be conscious on, how long we are doing these activities and where we are, location wise.
A good way to see if conditions are okay to walk/ exercise your pet is to take the back of your hand and place it on the surfaces that you will be performing activities. If your hand can stay on that surface, COMFORTABLY, for longer than 10 seconds you are okay to continue.
Dogs, whether they are double coated (dogs that shed) or a dog that get a haircut, that are groomed on a regular (4-8 week schedule), have an easier time regulating their body temperature. ***This doesn't exclude the information above this just means they can cool off a little quicker once in an environment that allows them to do that. ***
Other than hot temperatures, what are the other risks?
--Heat stroke/ overheating. But what are the signs?
Heaving panting
Excessive thirst
Bright red or dark gums
Excessive drooling
Weakness/ collapsing
If this happens what can we do?
Move your pet to a cool room/location
Put cool towels on neck, arm pits, between legs, and on paw pads.
Give your pet cool-NOT COLD- water to drink.
and
*CONTACT YOUR VET*!
Please remember to always call your vet.
Hopefully this helps sheds a little light and gives you a good resource to refer back to in the upcoming days.
Can't wait to be back next week with even more information for everyone!
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