06/17/2024
🔥The Heatwave is Here! 🔥
If you can't take this heat, neither can your family pets! Extreme heat is not only dangerous for us, but for them as well. Overheating can result in a life-threatening emergency called heatstroke, (caused by prolonged exposure to hot or humid environments), which can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage and even death in our furry friends.
Many experts are predicting a heatwave with temperatures expected to remain in the 90's and feeling more like 100 degrees with the humidity for most of this week. It is important to keep your pet(s) safe when these temperatures climb!
All these tips are especially important for short nose dogs or older dogs who may have trouble regulating their temperature.
1. NEVER leave your pet in a hot vehicle - EVER - Even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open. 🚫 🚙
2. Limit exercise on hot days. Exercise in the early morning or evening hours and make sure to adjust the intensity and duration of exercise on hot days. 🚷
3. Walk your pet in the grass if possible, to avoid any hot surfaces burning their paws. You wouldn’t walk barefoot on the hot ground-Don’t make your dog suffer through it! 🐾
4. If your pet is outside, make sure you provide ample shade and have access to plenty of fresh, cool water. Shade from a tree is best as a doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible and make sure it stays cool as it can heat up fast! 🌳💦
5. Watch the humidity! High humidity amplifies the impact of high temperature on your pet. These humid conditions hamper our pets ability to cool themselves, and their body temperature can skyrocket very quickly—to dangerous, or even lethal levels. ❌
6. Keep them cool with some cooling products! Don't rely on a fan to keep them cool as fans don't cool off pets as they do us. This is because pets respond differently to heat than humans do. Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet. Try to keep them in cooler areas of your home during the hotter days or check out cooling mats and vests for your pet(s). 😎🆒
⚠️While the above are hopefully some helpful tips, here are signs of heatstroke:⚠️
‼️‼️ Heavy panting and unable to calm down-even when lying down, glazed over eyes, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizures and unconsciousness. ‼️‼️
🐾If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, try these helpful steps:🐾
1. Your first step is to get them out of the sun immediately. Move your pet to a shady or air-conditioned area. If you're in a car, turn on the air conditioning.
2. Cool your pet down by putting cool water on their chest, armpit areas and paws. Remember to use cool to lukewarm water to avoid the risk of shock. Unlike humans who sweat to cool down, dogs release heat through their paw pads; so make sure their paws are uncovered, and if available, apply rubbing alcohol to their paw pads. You can also try placing them in a bathtub of cool water. Again, not cold as it will shock their system.
3. Take their temperature if you can. A re**al temperature above 103°F can indicate heatstroke. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool your pet down by the methods listed above and seek veterinary care immediately.
4. Give your pet small amounts of cool or room temperature water every few minutes, but don't force them to drink.
5. Seek veterinary care.
Stay safe and aware while out there everyone!
