Keeping pets summer heat safe

Summer in Maricopa is tough on all of us. But think how you’d feel if you were covered in a thick coat of fur, didn’t have any shoes and stuck outside in 110 degree-plus heat. Fact is, as the thermometer pegs in the triple digits, risks of pets suffering or dying from heat increases dramatically.

Here are a few tips from the Arizona Humane Society to keep your four-legged friend safe and healthy during these hot months:

• Keep pets indoors whenever possible.
• Provide all pets access to cool drinking water at all times (even when they are indoors).
• If your dog must stay outside, be sure his water is in a non-metal, spill-proof container.
• Outdoor dogs may enjoy a baby pool filled with fresh water to relax in as the temperature climbs, but be sure to keep
the pool in the shade.
• An in-ground swimming pool is NOT sufficient for drinking water. It contains chemicals that can be harmful or fatal
to your pet.
• Be sure your outdoor pets have shelter that is ventilated and has adequate air circulation, preferably in an area that is
shaded all day.
• Never tether your pet outdoors! He can easily become tangled in the rope or chain, thereby prohibiting his access to shade and water. (The AHS responds to countless calls about dogs in this predicament every summer and, sadly, most dogs have died by the time rescuers arrive. )
• Walk your pet early in the morning or in the cooler evening hours, never during the heat of the day. The hot pavement, which can reach 160 degrees, will burn and blister your dog’s paws. If your dog must walk on hot asphalt, outfit him with protective boots for his paws.
• Do not exercise your pet strenuously. Avoid extra-long walks, hikes or excessive play. Just like people, our pets can
suffer heat exhaustion by over-exerting themselves on a hot day. But unlike people, they cannot speak up when they
need water or rest.
• Never leave your pet in a parked car. Even on an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car will reach 102 degrees in less than 10 minutes, and will exceed 120 degrees in 30 minutes. On a hot summer day, the temperature inside a parked car will reach 200 degrees in minutes.

Pet owners can also help protect their pets by knowing the signs of heat exhaustion, which include loud, rapid panting; rapid pulse; glazed eyes; excessive salivation; elevated body temperature; excessive whining or agitation; staring; and vomiting.

If your pet shows these symptoms, he could be in danger. Cool your pet down. Place him in the shade and apply cool water to his body, especially his head, feet and groin. Give him small amounts of cool water to drink. And most importantly, seek immediate veterinary care.

File photo

(A version of this article first appeared in the June issue of InMaricopa the Magazine)