Keep your pets cool during dog days of summer
It's been a really hot summer, with temperatures in the 90s for days on end. It's the middle of August and there are several weeks of summer left to go. Even if temperatures go down to the 80s, it's still hot outside.
As we enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures, we need to continue to protect our companion animals. The Humane Society of the United States and the American Kennel Club offer tips for keeping our pets safe in the summer heat.
During the summer, you may be tempted to take your pets with you in the car as you run errands. Rebecca Simmons, outreach communication coordinator for the Companion Animals section of the HSUS, cautions against this.
Simmons states, “On a warm, sunny day, windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels.”
The temperature inside your car can reach 120 degrees within a matter of minutes, even if the car is parked in the shade. Leaving the windows partially rolled down doesn't help.
Dogs are designed to conserve heat. Their sweat glands, which are on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days. Panting and drinking water helps cool dogs, but if they have only overheated air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes.
Dogs, and other pets, left in hot cars, even briefly, can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and even die.
According to Simmons, the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures include heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue and unconsciousness.
Simmons advocates helping the animals in parked cars.
“Get involved. If you see a pet in a parked car during a summer day, go to the nearest store and have the owner paged. Enlist the help of a security guard or call the local police department or local animal control office.”
If your dog shows symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, Simmons lists the following steps that may save your companion animal's life:
• Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
• Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet's head, neck and chest or immerse her in cool (not cold) water. Let your pet drink small amounts or water or lick ice cubes.
• Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately.
In addition to playing it safe, and leaving our dogs cool and refreshed at home while we run our errands in the heat of the summer day, we need to remember to:
• Provide our animals with plenty of cool, fresh drinking water.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn your dog's paws.
• Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days, taking our dogs for their walks in the early mornings or evenings when the sun's heat is less intense.
Living in the Midwest, chances are we'll still have some hot days ahead. We have several weeks yet to keep our dogs out of the summer heat and our birdbaths full (and out of the reach of our dogs) to help the birds with the heat.
If your dog needs a summer bath, join The Buddy Foundation and Jimminy Clippers at our annual dog wash sponsored by Knuppers Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Small dogs $15, medium dogs $20, and large dogs $25.
Save the Date
The Buddy Foundation Dog Walk is Sept. 9 at Twin Lakes in Palatine.
• Contact The Buddy Foundation at (847) 290-5806; visit us at 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights; or online at thebuddyfoundation.org.