Hot Weather Tips for Pet Parents by Bode

Hot Weather tips for Pet Parents

With sun comes heat, especially in Arizona, and with heat comes concern for pets. Furry babies, like pet parents, can easily fall victim to overheating, dehydration, sunburn, and parasites. Here’s how to protect your furry babies this summer.

PROVIDE Water & ShELTER

• Provide plenty of cool, fresh water. Ice cubes are a cool refreshing treat in any pets’ water dish.
• When it gets very hot, water additives may be beneficial. Consult your veterinarian before trying additives or dietary supplements.
• Make sure your outdoor pets have plenty of shade such as covered patios, trees, or igloo/dog house. 
• In extreme temperatures bring your pets indoors to the coolest part of your house during the heat of the day, especially if they are older or overweight.
• Snub-nosed dogs such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus—and those with heart or lung diseases—should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• I personally love my mom for shaving my extra hair off for the summer months!

TAKE HeaLth PRECAUTIONS

• Having a barbecue? Keep matches, lighter fluid, charcoal, citronella candles, and insect coils out of pets’ reach.  Otherwise, I might try to make them a toy or a treat!
• Do NOT apply sunscreen or insect repellent to your pet unless it is labeled for use on animals. Ingestion can make them sick. DEET, which is used in insect repellent, can cause neurological problems.
• Establish a summer grooming regimen. Good grooming can avoid summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Consider trimming Fido and even Miss Kitty, if she is longhaired, to a one-inch length, which can help prevent overheating. Never shave pets down to the skin because they will be robbed of their protection from the sun.

PLAY IN THE SHADE

• Avoid the heat! Play and exercise your animal in early morning or at night.
• Walk your dog in the grass or keep pavement walks short. Paws can get burnt. Hot asphalt or pavement can raise body temperature. Consider protective booties for extended walks.
• As your mother may have said, wait 30-60 minutes after a meal before going for a run with Fido. Never run Fido when it is humid.
• When walking your dog, avoid areas that may have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Never let your pet drink from puddles. Be alert for automotive fluid leaking from vehicles. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal.
• If you suspect that your animal has ingested poison call your veterinarian or:
  • ASPCA Animal Control Poison Control Center            (888) 426-4435
  • Pet Poison HELPLINE™                                                 (800) 213-6680

PLAN AHEAD FOR Vacations

Vacationing with your pet can be a great experience, but plan your route ahead, and locate animal-friendly hotels or campgrounds.

• When camping, be sure you know the leash policy since a citation can be costly.

• Be considerate of other campers and clean up your pet’s potty waste.
• Allow enough travel time to include potty breaks and exercise for your pet.
• Carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water for your pet.
• Double-check the condition of collars and leashes so you don’t risk losing your pet.
• Take your dog to the beach only if ample shade, fresh water, and a place to rinse the dog after an ocean swim are available.
• Never leave your pet in the car! Even parked in the shade with windows down, the car can become a furnace in no time flat. Shade moves, and lowered windows are potential escape routes.

PREVENT Pesky Parasites

• A visit to the veterinarian for a check up in spring or early summer is a must. Add to that a test for heartworm if your dog isn’t on year-round prevention.
• Ask your doctor to recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.
• During the height of parasite season, check your pet at least three times a week and after outdoor activities. Effective control of external parasites means treating the pet AND the pet’s environment. Be sure the product you use is labeled for the species it is to be used on.

KNOW THE SIGNS & WHAT TO DO

Dogs and cats don’t have sweat glands so they can dispel heat only by panting and through the pads of their feet. Stay alert for signs of overheating in pets, which include:

• Excessive panting or difficulty breathing

• Collapse
• Bloody diarrhea or vomit
• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiratory rate
• Discolored gums
• Salivation
• Depression, stupor (acting drunk), seizures, or coma

To treat, do the following:

• Get you pet out of direct heat.

• Spray the animal with cool water. If using an outdoor house, run the water for a minute or so to cool it off before spraying your pet. Spray for a minute or two.

• Place water-soaked towels on the head, neck, feet, chest, and abdomen.

• Turn on a fan and point it in the animal’s direction.

• Take the animal to the nearest veterinary hospital.

Take your pet to veterinarian as soon as possible. Many consequences of heat stroke don’t show up for hours or days. Some of these conditions can be fatal if not treated.

CONSIDER THE PURR-FECT SOLUTION

Leave your pets home with a pet sitter. A professional will pamper them and give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are safe, happy, and healthy. Like my mom or dad! lol!